Fair Lawn Revamping Minibus Service

Fair Lawn's free minibus service will discontinue its constant loop around the borough this fall in favor of a new call-ahead service which will pick up riders at their doorsteps.

"The current operation is not efficient," Acting Borough Manager Jim Van Kruiningen said.

Under the proposed new system, which is expected to start October 1, riders will have to call 24 hours or more in advance to schedule a pick-up by the minibus. The bus will come right to their front doors, take them to their destinations, and come back again at a set time, officials said.

The service will remain free.

Resident Ruth Gormanns said she thought the plan was "wonderful."

Mayor John Cosgrove said they had wanted to revamp the service because of a change in the borough's demographics since the route was first designed.

The new system would save on fuel, as the bus doesn't always have riders, and would be better for seniors and other residents who may have trouble walking from their homes to the bus stops, Van Kruiningen said.

The borough has planned to buy a new minibus, which they may have by the time the service change happens.
 
Officials may also expand the service by offering trips to malls in Paramus once or twice a month.

After 90 days, officials plan to review the service and decide if any other changes are needed.