So, the bus system is totally aggravating me these days. Normally, it only annoys me a little, but it has gotten out of control. Busses are late more often than not (and let’s face it, it’s winter) and the morning commuter bus that brings me into the city every day is very full in the mornings. So much so that if I take the local bus that connects with it, it is already full and pulling away by the time I get there. I have now started catching a lift to the bus depot in the mornings with my darling wife so that I can ensure I have enough time to get to work on my usual bus.
This brings me to the angry people (the point… not the bus). I am not the only one that is annoyed with the bus system, and I have come to realise that it is useless to complain. However, that being said, one person apparently did complain a couple of nights ago about the busses always being full and some other idiotic changes they have made “to improve rider satisfaction.” She apparently complained to them about having to always wait for busses, and the morning bus always being full.
So yesterday morning, as we are all about to rush onto the bus to secure our seats, the transit supervisor comes out of his van and addresses the crowd. “Attention folks, those of you who are only going as far as Telus Towers or Edmonton Centre, please wait for the 402 as there are 2 of them and will take you right there, those of you continuing down to 107th street, take the 413 [aka the crowded bus].” I think to myself… wonderful, it’s about time they do something.
So this morning, we are waiting for the 413 as usual, and this same lady (and I use the term loosely) pipes up to the few of us that are very early, that she called transit again and told them that while it was obvious that the supervisor’s comment was in response to her complaint the night before but they have no right to tell people what bus they can or can not take, and she refuses to take the 402 as it is the one the college kids take and she, a woman in her 50’s should not be forced to listen to their vulgarities on the way to work.
So basically, what she wants is for either:
- The transit authority to put in another 413 bus so that she can ride in comfort
- For half of the ridership on that bus to mysteriously disappear.
I had half the mind to tell her that as much as I would like to see her point of view on this, I couldn’t possibly shove my head that far up my ass. I mean really, the suggestion the supervisor made was pure common sense. there are 3 busses leaving for downtown at around the same time… all 3 go past telus towers and edm. centre … only 1 goes through to 107th street. does it not make more sense that those only going to telus/edm centre take spaces on the 2 busses, leaving the 3rd for those of us that go to 107th st?
I think the biggest problem is that she wants to ride on the big comfy converted greyhound that is the 413 bus… not the old hard seated 402 busses.
Frankly, if I were her, and only had to go to the telus tower, I would happily get on the other bus.
but I guess the seats are less comfortable when you are sitting on your shoulders.
