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BURLINGTON, N.C. — By 6:00 a.m. Monday, a woman sat in a shelter on Burlington’s South Worth Street waiting for her bus.

She was the first rider for Burlington’s new bus system — Link Transit — and she plans to be a regular.

“Thank the Lord there’s a bus here now,” Nicole said.

The Burlington woman, who preferred not to give her last name, said she struggled to find reliable transportation to and from her job at Best Buy. She said she could not afford a car of her own.

“It’s been really tough getting back and forth to work because you never know if someone’s going to pick you up or drop you off,” she said. “So at least now I know I’ve got a concrete way to get to work.”

Link Transit’s website clearly states its goal: “To improve the quality of life for residents and visitors by providing a safe, reliable and cost effective mobility solution.”

Link Transit driver Marvin Mitchell said he moved his family from New York to Burlington to take a job with the company. He said he worked 11 years as a bus driver in New York City, but he feels he can make more of an impact in the Burlington area.

“It’s an awesome feeling because that’s somebody who’s going to use the service every day,” Mitchell said, speaking of Nicole. “Now she can get to work no worries, and home no worries.”

Link Transit serves Burlington, Gibsonville and Alamance Community College. For the month of June, rides are free. For more information on routes and fares, visit LinkTransit.org.