To the Editor:

I've been reading in the past weeks about the commuter cards the Mackinac Bridge Authority issues. I'm a commuter. I'm a year-around resident of Mackinac County who crosses the bridge to get to work, and crosses again to get home, as do many others who work or own businesses, or go to school. We are the "true" commuters.

Back when the Mackinac Bridge Authority ended the use of the tokens and implemented the commuter card, we had to go into the office and buy the card. We were told then that we could fill the card at the booths, but only at the $40 rate. We were also told we could fill our cards with any amount, as long as it was increments of $1.50, but only in the office.

Now why can't we, the "true" commuters, do that now? Why can't we bring into the office our last pay stub, W-2, even a letter from our employers saying that we are working? Different documentation for business owners, students, or for medical reasons. It seems to me this would help us, the "true" commuters, and save the Mackinac Bridge Authority a lot of grief, as well.

I truly appreciate the lower fare, as do many other commuters. But how can the Bridge Authority call selling cards to people in 30 different states and Canada commuters? See, it's the wording that has everyone upset. These people are in reality getting a "discount fare card" - they are not commuters. We who live in the Straits area, Mackinac, Chippewa, Luce, Emmet, and Cheboygan counties, who work or do business, go to school, or [travel] for medical reasons, are the real commuters. We are not "an elite group," as was said [by Authority Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney] in last week's The St. Ignace News. We are the real deal. Raise the "discount fare" rate to $1.70. Keep the "commuter rate" as is.

The Bridge Authority wouldn't have to change the card, or use a different card, just change the rate difference in their commuter program, if this is possible. Give the year-around local residents who are commuters a break. With summer over, most of us are seeing our hours cut as it is. Please keep it affordable for us to make a living. Jacki Mulcahy Moran