Whether it's going to Walmart to pick up groceries or to the mall to go shopping for clothes, the Muncie community uses the MITS transportation system on a daily basis.
However, recent problems with the federal budget, elimination of the Public Mass Transportation Fund and property tax legislation have MITS officials like assistant general manager Mary Gaston uncertain about its future cuts and service plans.
"There's a lot of uncertainty on all sides," Gaston said. "It makes it so hard year after year to plan anything in the future or know where we might have to make cuts or if we'll ever be able to expand. It's just difficult."
Officer Ragland, a man who patrols the MITS station on a daily basis, said there are a lot of people who depend on the MITS for transportation purposes.
"For some people, it's their only way to get to and from work and get to the grocery," Ragland said. "It's really important for a lot of people. A lot of people can't afford cars anymore, and for 18 dollars a month, you can ride the bus all you need to."
Ragland said if MITS were to ever disappear due to cuts in its budget or other issues, there would be a lot of people who would not be able to travel through the Muncie area.
"There would be a lot of people who couldn't travel from one end of the town to the other without bicycles or cabs," Ragland said. "They would probably stay more in the area where they live."
Muncie residents would be severely affected if MITS were to close. A man named Robert who is physically disabled and a 15-year MITS rider named Cheryl Sumpter are a few of these people.
Robert said despite the fact he uses the bus about twice a month, it is convenient for him due to his disability and income.
"With the bus, I can go to the store, pay for the necessities that I've got, and turn around and pay regards to my family members in the nursing homes," he said.
Sumpter, however, uses Muncie's transit system because her family doesn't have a car to get around the Muncie area.
"I use MITS to get about everywhere," Sumpter said. "Especially for groceries, laundry, and shopping because we don't have a car. So pretty much anyplace that is far away, we use MITS."
"If I didn't have MITS, I would walk," she said.
Despite recent issues with funding cuts, Gaston said she doesn't see MITS going out of business, but there would be changes in bus services.
"While I don't foresee MITS going out of business, reductions in funding would have corresponding reductions in the amount of service that can be provided to the community," she said.
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