We’ve commuted to and from work on them, used them to run errands, put their passenger-hauling capability to work, ridden them in annoying traffic, loaded them up with groceries and beer, tested how easily the folding bikes fold (and ride), and run the e-bikes’ batteries down to officially see how long they last on one charge. ![]() Our experienced testers spent many hours and miles using these bikes for their intended purpose. One of these bikes should meet your needs and your budget. By now, you should have a pretty good idea of where you stand. And while a $500 city bike is easier on the wallet, it might not offer the best features for longer commutes or those with mixed terrain. So while a $6,000 custom commuter bike might make you starry-eyed, there are plenty of sub-$1,000 possibilities that fit your needs. These are just a couple of the improvements for 2022 to make EZ Rider more user friendly and a nicer place to work.As with most things we buy, our final decision is based not only on what we want but also on what we can afford-and somewhere in the middle is the best option for the money and the riding you do. You will notice more and more new buses throughout the two cities as well as friendly, careful drivers. 116.ĮZ Rider management has been very proactive during the past three years in securing funding to replace its aging fleet of both fixed route and para-transit vehicles. At EZ Rider there’s a new staff member, Melissa Jimenez, on hand to walk potential passengers through their routes and help facilitate satisfactory riding experiences. “I would most definitely recommend driving for EZ Rider to a friend because you can make great money, the free insurance even allows you to talk to counselors if you need to, and your uniform is provided and cleaned at no cost.”Ĭlimbing aboard EZ Rider requires a prepaid ticket which can be obtained from H-E-B, city halls in both Midland and Odessa, Midland College, Odessa College, Casa de Amigos, the senior centers in Odessa and from several other community organizations. “I like being able to interact with the community, communicate with passengers, and see different parts of Midland and Odessa,” Mitchell said. Since he drives a smoke-free vehicle, he says the job helped him quit smoking. Mitchell is behind the wheel of one of the newer buses on Route 4 Monday and Thursday and Route 6 Friday and Saturday. A family man, he has been able to work nearly full time and says the overtime pay is “amazing.” Formerly a caterer for five years, he was attracted by the wages and especially the free insurance. Jayvis Mitchell has been driving a fixed route for the past 8 ½ months. With a CDL license, Carrillo has also spent weekends carrying teams from Laredo to Houston and from Presidio as a driver for All Aboard America charter buses. He likes the new, colorful uniforms and is proud to be a bus driver. Over the years he’s seen better buses added to the fleet and always wants to see more. He caught COVID on the job, he believes, despite wearing gloves and masks, so he substitutes for other drivers who get sick and must quarantine. He sometimes helps out on Fridays and Saturdays, especially during the pandemic. ![]() until 3 p.m., so passengers going to work can catch his bus on Midland Route 3 beginning at 6:10. (He previously worked for 23 years for Walmart with the same focus.) He gets up early Monday through Thursday and works 5 a.m. Julian Carrillo has worked for EZ Rider for 10 years, and he’s all about customer service. ![]() So, who are some of these dedicated individuals who have been as dependable as postal carriers? They can’t drive and many are in wheelchairs. In my opinion, that puts the drivers just below health care workers as essential,” he added. “We serve groups of people who have no other transportation options,” says Douglas Provance, general manager of the Midland Odessa Urban Transit District, which operates EZ Rider in both cities. “That makes the drivers essential to their lives. Furthermore, 60 to 80 people per day take our buses to dialysis centers alone.
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