Local HOA's to be asked to Fund Turtle Express

I was thinking, just for imaging and marketing, couldn't they come up with a better name for a shuttle service than Turtle Express? People want to get placesquickly, you know? Why not Roadrunner? There's a reason why Greyhound bus didn't choose the Basset hound or chihuahua as their mascot.

I don't see the average HOA signing up for this. However, some like Watercolor or Gulf Place make more sense.

Kiosks ain't cheap. Ads considerably to the cost.

Low riders were due to the lack of advertising, word of mouth, general knowledge, confusion that it's free, etc. I'm betting the bike path didn't get much traffic the first year or two.

I love the idea and feel it should be expanded and funded by the TDC.

I don't see the average HOA signing up for this. However, some like Watercolor or Gulf Place make more sense.

Kiosks ain't cheap. Ads considerably to the cost.

Low riders were due to the lack of advertising, word of mouth, general knowledge, confusion that it's free, etc. I'm betting the bike path didn't get much traffic the first year or two.

I love the idea and feel it should be expanded and funded by the TDC.

Good assessment. I just don't agree on the funding part. It's a business, run it like one.

Funding by any tax dollar would be wrong. The ridership was very low based on what I saw (two to three per ride). I'm sure there are conflicting numbers to support the success, but if it was successful, charge for the ride. Supply and Demand.

Demand just isn't there. Tourists will continue to drive here (not using the airport), bring down three to five vehilces per family and expect locals to accomodate their fleets. They don't care about driving to and from dinner, etc. I'm willing to be DUI Arrests were down too... That's because it is not a focus. Notice that NOW FHP is out ticketing drivers on 30a and 98, not this past summer.

It appears to be a rolling advertisement for the shuttle company. Doubt they are really worried about ridership as long as they can get their costs covered. If businesses will not cover cost they will try other means. Pushing the idea that HOAs should pay for it will get a lot of people saying that businesses or taxes should pay for it. Pretty clever ploy.

It should be business supported only. Use it for their employees, make Seaside and Watercolor kick in a chunk to park their employees off site. More parking, more dollars. I damn sure wouldnt pay for it, but have people pay a buck or two if they use the service. Common sense?

Seaside shuttles in employees from the lot on 283 in season and on holidays. WaterColor employees park at corporate office on Watersound Pkwy, at offices behind Publix or scattered here and there. They don't have as many businesses as Seasid and not as many visitors who are not staying there.

The only thing that will work is if it is subsidized. They already tried that and were told no. One issue is that they only want to serve hwy 30a and the TDC is mandated to serve all of South Walton.

I was thinking, just for imaging and marketing, couldn't they come up with a better name for a shuttle service than Turtle Express? People want to get placesquickly, you know? Why not Roadrunner? There's a reason why Greyhound bus didn't choose the Basset hound or chihuahua as their mascot.

Now that is funny!

Yeah, bad name. Call it the Drunken Tourist Express.

It's sad, but John G. got it right. Tourists bring every damn vehicle the family owns. They don't need a shuttle. Just drink and drive. It isn't like law enforcement works the beaches during the summer anyway.

Does the TDC pay for any portion of the shuttle? I would think the TDC and County could afford to fund this program for tourism. Why not?

Does the TDC pay for any portion of the shuttle? I would think the TDC and County could afford to fund this program for tourism. Why not?

good question. No good answer. TDC wouldn't even allow information about it to be posted on its website. is. I'd like to see information about ways other tourist destinations have implemented public transport and how long it took for strong buy in. It's unfair to say the program doesn't or can't work if we have nothing to compare it to. Regarding HOAs, Sandestin implemented its program a year earlier. Apparently enough members of the HOA saw the value of reducing traffic that they at least gave it a try.

We never tried the shuttle. The closest it came to us was Whiskey Bravo. We would have had to drive. Then where would we park? I thought it would be tacky to park at Whiskey Bravo and then go somewhere else. We thought about parking at Publix. But that would be just as far as driving to Seaside. And both parking possibilities require getting into the traffic jams on 30A westbound in Seagrove and at the intersection of 30A and 395.

The TDC can't do it because the shuttle only serves a small part of the county. That is also why they can't support stuff that only pertains to 30A. Exceptions are made for events on 30A and stuff that can benefit every bed tax collector in the county.

The TDC can't do it because the shuttle only serves a small part of the county. That is also why they can't support stuff that only pertains to 30A. Exceptions are made for events on 30A and stuff that can benefit every bed tax collector in the county.

What? By that criteria there is very little the TDC could fund. How can they consider building crosswalks that will be used by a couple of subdivisions for instance? Or, "neighborhood accesses in general? By definition they only "serve a small part of the county." How many TDC projects benefit every bed collector in the county? I would appreciate further clarification on this comment.