The morning sky was still dark when passengers huddled at the Indianapolis Red Line station in Broad Ripple.

At 6:55 a.m., the bus approached the platform. The doors swung open, and IndyGo employees on board enthusiastically welcomed the first passengers of a much-anticipated rapid-transit service that officially launched Sunday morning.  

Morning passengers were curious and excited about the $96.3 million bus system under construction since last June, getting up early to see it in action for the first time.

The morning mood was positive. Parents taking their kids on the bus for fun. People who live or work on the Red Line route riding a bus for the first time. Frequent bus users testing out the system or getting where they needed to go. A pair of friends dressed in red handed out red licorice to passengers. 

But later in the day, as ridership swelled, a few troubles arose. Passengers on platforms were either forced to either squeeze into the sea of people or wait for the next bus to arrive. Riders learned quickly not to stand in the doorways, marked with yellow paint, or they would get hit with the opening and closing doors.

On two occasions, the buses appeared to hit something on the ground just south of the 54th Street and College Avenue station. Parts of the median in the center of the dedicated bus lane had come off their track and were raised off the ground. 

During one ride, passenger Jacob VanderHaeghen and his 5-year old daughter, Cece, were standing in a doorway when they heard a “loud bang and shudder,” VanderHaeghen said. He said he thought a tire blew out, and Cece asked what it was. 

As the bus slowed to stop at the College Avenue and 54th Street station, a high-pitched scraping noise was heard. Some white smoke billowed from near the floor.

When the bus stopped, some passengers got out to inspect what happened, discovering a bent piece of metal hanging off the ground from the center pivot joint that allows the two-section, articulated bus to turn.

A man bent down, yanked off the piece and handed it to the driver, and the bus continued on its path. 

The strips got detached by cars that drove over them, IndyGo media director Lauren Day told IndyStar on Sunday. There was no significant damage to the buses, she said.

The bus line facilities team will head out to fix the strips to make sure those are flat and in place on the road. 

The long-awaited Red Line is here

When the first bus departed at 7:03 a.m., the enthusiasm was evident. 

Vicki Mills, 66, and her husband, Mike, were two of the handful of first Red Line passengers. They brought their bikes to see how the racks at the center of the bus would work. The buses only have two racks where users roll them up and lock their front wheels in place. 

“My husband decided a long time ago that we were going to be the first riders of the Red Line,” Vicki said.

The couple live close to the 66th Street and College Avenue stop, but they didn’t ride the IndyGo bus before the Red Line because it wasn’t as convenient. The Red Line is a fixed-route, mass transit system known with many features similar to light rail including frequent service, dedicated lanes and standalone stations. 

Mike said he expects they will become bus riders now that Red Line is here. 

“It will save you $20 in parking every time you want to come downtown,” he said. 

Don Able, 69, was another first passenger. He lives about eight blocks from the 66th Street stop and has been recovering from back surgery, so he couldn’t walk or ride his bike to the station. His daughter offered her car so he could drive and park near the stop. 

“I’ve been hoping that transit would improve for a long time,” he said. “It’s about time something has happened.”

Able said he has been to many mass transit meetings and was bothered by people who seemed to rebuff public transportation because they could just drive their cars. He has been watching the Red Line progress intently. 

“It’s an important thing to do; it’s a lot more sustainable,” he said,referring to the environmental benefits of public transportation and electric buses. 

Dressed in red for the Red Line

Laura Otten, 59, and her friend, Paul Overhauser, 61, got on the bus at the Broad Ripple Avenue stop, dressed in red to show support of the Red Line. Otten opened up a red drawstring bag to reveal fun-size Twizzlers, Cheez-It crackers and red Jolly Rancher candies. 

“Red Vines for the Red Line!” she exclaimed. She said they got on the bus because they both enjoy doing fun things around town. As passengers got on and off, Otten offered them treats. 

At 38th and Meridian streets, a lot more people got on the bus with more than 30 people on board at its peak.

Keith Paschall, 38, lives at 33rd Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Street and regularly rides the Route 6 and 34 IndyGo buses. He is a music producer and photographer and frequently goes to shows. 

“After a show it’s difficult to catch a bus,” he said. “It would take at least an hour to get back home from Fountain Square and then a 30 minute walk.”

Red Line issues: Four accidents, running late and the other kinks Red Line drivers are working out

Now with the Red Line, his trips would be quicker. 

Almost exactly one hour after departing the 66th Street and College Avenue station, the bus arrived at the University of Indianapolis stop. No one still on board wanted to get off, so the driver made a U-turn further down on a small side street and headed back north. 

On a different bus departing north about 9:10 a.m. from the Fletcher Place station, more than 20 passengers were on board. 

One woman timed the ride on her phone and snapped a selfie with her husband. A man in the back of the bus quietly read a comic book. A little girl with her family exclaimed loudly, “I love riding the Red Line, Daddy!” 

One rider said the Red Line will cut his commute in half from one hour to 30 minutes. He lives on the south side and normally takes the 31 bus to his job at a brewery. Now he can get off at the 9th Street and Capitol Avenue stop. 

William Whitmer, 24, was riding on the bus with his roommate. They live a block away from the station at Meridian and 22nd streets. 

“I was a little skeptical at first, but after doing research, I was really convinced,” he said. “I can take it regularly to where I work.”

He said he is considering getting rid of his car because he pays more than $300 for car payments and insurance, and a bus pass would cost $60 a month. 

IndyGo keeping tabs on troubles

Jerome Horne, an IndyGo ridership experience specialist, said he was taking note of any problems on the rides.

Many people talked about how there were only two bike racks and how the bikes swayed during turns and blocked the aisle. Horne said IndyGo would likely adjust the angle of the racks. He also noted that the real-time on-board screens weren’t working.

Buses were at full capacity at almost every stop Sunday, and some riders may have been asked to get off the bus and wait for the next one. For the safety of the passengers and to keep the line running at a 10 to 15 minute frequency, IndyGo staff may ask riders to wait, said Day, the IndyGo spokeswoman. She said IndyGo is planning to have additional buses out on Labor Day to meet the ridership demand.

A hit and run downtown involving a Red Line bus was also reported Sunday. A vehicle turned in front of the bus near Circle Center Mall, leaving minor damage on the front right side. But the bus did not have to come out of commission and everyone on board was fine, Day said.

“Motorists need to pay attention,” Day said. “You need to be looking both ways everywhere but especially near bus-only lanes.”

Troubles aside, the riders Sunday were a testament to the Red Line’s appeal.

Vanderhaeghen and his daughter live near the 42nd Street and College Avenue station. They spent the morning riding the Red Line for breakfast at Lincoln Square Pancake House near the stop at 22nd and Meridian streets, a visit to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis at 30th and Meridian streets, and to pick up groceries at 54th Street and College Avenue.

Neither seemed bothered by the problems with the pivot joint.

“It’s been a no car day!” Cece exclaimed.

Her father said they love the Red Line.

“So far it’s fairly convenient,” he said. “It’s busy, and it’s free. We plan on using it for most everything we need.”

IndyStar visual journalist Kelly Wilkinson contributed to this article. 

Contact IndyStar reporter Kellie Hwang at 317-444-6032 or kellie.hwang@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KellieHwang.

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