That would encourage the thousands of resort employees to use buses for their jobs, many of which extend over odd hours. Extending service to 3 a.m. will also cover nightclub workers and patrons who shouldn't be driving in the first place. Provide storage areas on board for passengers' coolers, beach chairs, umbrellas, toys and bicycles. People on their way to beaches are seldom empty-handed. DART First State has taken the first step to making the beach highways safer and less congested.
Fewer cars means cleaner beach air too.
Beach bus service is a fine idea. But this initial approach is short of the mark. It must be operated for longer periods to work to everyone's benefit. Even the school board members, who should rise above such petty regionalism, were split. But in the interim, board members cobbled together a compromise all of them could support and they sold it to residents.