By Cindy Schroeder
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LUDLOW - TANK's decision to cut weekend bus service to Ludlow, Bromley and west Covington, starting today, upsets riders such as Barbara Donovan, who rely on public transportation because of age or disabilities.

"I went on disability in 2000 because of poor eyesight," the 47-year-old Bromley woman said. "I depend on TANK buses for getting wherever I need to go. I use them to go to church, the grocery, for doctors' visits, to see family and to do volunteer work. It upsets me that all the people being affected by this are people with disabilities and people who can't get around any other way."

The TANK board voted last month to cut Saturday and Sunday bus service on the No. 3 Ludlow route serving Ludlow, Bromley and west Covington, effective today.

Ludlow City Council and Covington City Commission, concerned about the impact the service cuts would have on senior citizens and disabled riders, passed resolutions asking the TANK board to reconsider. Ludlow City Clerk-Treasurer Paul Weekley said he has a list of a dozen names of people who say TANK buses are their only way to get to the grocery or doctor.

But TANK officials, faced with rising insurance and labor costs in recent years, stood by their decision. They said the route they're eliminating isn't cost-effective because of low ridership.

Canceling weekend service on the No. 3 Ludlow route cuts 12 service hours a week for a yearly savings of $47,000, said TANK spokeswoman Gina Douthat.

David Braun, TANK's general manager, told Ludlow City Council Thursday that he will look into other transportation options, including possibly running the Southbank Shuttle through Ludlow, Bromley and west Covington on weekends. However, July would be the soonest any changes could occur, he told concerned Ludlow residents.

"There is a possibility we will look at working something out to provide some level of service," Douthat said.

Ludlow Mayor Ed Schroeder said some residents have talked about circulating petitions to get TANK to reconsider the cuts.

"The saddest point is TANK never notified us at all," Schroeder said. "They never sent us a letter saying they were considering this or that it was coming up at all. I just found out by chance the day before the board voted on it."

Douthat said TANK went door-to-door at Ludlow businesses telling them about the cuts in service. TANK also had fliers on the No. 3 Ludlow route buses with a phone number and e-mail address that notified riders that the route "was being looked at for modifications."

E-mail cschroeder@enquirer.com