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Jolley Trolley Not So Jolly

By Donna Malloy

The Jolley Trolley is suffering from an identity crisis. With that said, I will tell you what our Jolley Trolley is not. Our beach trolley:

  1. Is not a commuter trolley.
  2. Does not follow an "exact" schedule.
  3. Is not capable of safely driving from North Mandalay Avenue to Sand Key and back within one hour without speeding.
Let me first explain that I am a big fan of our local trolley. So when my six- year-old nephew, Miles, had enough sun exposure one day, I decided a trolley ride would be an entertaining alternative.

Out on the curb the four of us stood; Miles, my sister Maureen, Mom and myself. A little after 2 p.m., the yellow trolley rounded the corner of Mandalay Avenue as we fumbled for the correct change.

Upon boarding the trolley, I asked the driver if I could pay with five, $1.00 bills vs. the exact change of $1.25 each. He said that would be fine.

A sweaty walk in the park and four butter pecan ice cream cones later, we were ready to head home. As I checked the trolley's schedule, I noticed that the fare for my mom (over 65 years old) and nephew (children four to twelve) should have been .60 cents vs. $1.25 each.

So, as we boarded the next trolley, I asked the driver if we could just pay the difference since we paid too much on the way into town. He curtly stated that he could not make any change and that I would have to go to the office and talk to the manager. The driver also said that the discount for seniors and children started after 4 p.m., which was not stated in the brochure. End of story.

One of my former managers had a saying whenever you approached him with a problem: "Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?" Even though he eventually was fired for being part of the problem, nonetheless, it is a constructive mantra to live by.

With that said, here are some constructive solutions to help the Jolley Trolley get back on track:

  1. The trolley should stick to its original purpose; "to enjoy a simple pleasure of times gone by," as stated in their brochure.
  2. Trolley drivers should stop speeding down Bay Esplanade in order to make up for lost time.
  3. A recorded story of Clearwater Beach attractions could alleviate the drivers' need to talk to tourists and locals if they're having a bad day.
  4. Trolley billboards could advertise that they distribute local discount coupon books to all trolley riders from cooperating businesses on Clearwater Beach and Sand Key.

And lastly, here are five good reasons why you should ride the Jolley Trolley:

  1. You will save gas money.
  2. You won't have to put quarters in the parking meter every hour.
  3. If you've had a few cocktails, the trolley can safely drive you home.
  4. The trolley makes Clearwater Beach a better place.
  5. The trolley keeps us connected as a community.

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