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| Unreliable Transit Authorities | |
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| Topic Started: Jun 22 2009, 07:52 AM (431 Views) | |
| ctrabs74 | Jul 5 2009, 11:41 AM Post #16 |
Advanced Transit Fan
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They've tried major reorganization of bus routes in Baltimore over the past several years, however strong community and political opposition have watered down those proposals. The Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative is the most prominent example. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 6 2009, 08:52 AM Post #17 |
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Foamer
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Route changes have been made lately even without the GBBI. They even proposed to recombine the 8 and 9 but im glad that NEVER happened. They did do many schedule adjustments this past February on some routes. Like the 8 and 9. Departure times didnt change much but block numbers did get reassigned to different departures. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 6 2009, 01:50 PM Post #18 |
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The Metro announcements happen to not be heard completely most times. As soon as the train pulls into the station. Calls out the stop. Then the direction and destination. And the doors closing chime. Many times the doors closing chime cuts into the destination announcement. And the speakers are only inside. SEPTA. I dont know exactly how it works on the Broad street line but the MF line. The current stop is called out before the train arrives to the station. Then it calls out Doors Are opening. Then the destination. Then as soon as they board it calls out Doors are closing. Then after it leaves calls out the next stop as well as transfers and or points of interest. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 9 2009, 08:35 AM Post #19 |
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Baltimore MTA is serious about cell phones while operating their vehicles. Strike 1 is a 1 day suspension. Strike 2 is a 5 day suspension. And strike 3 is termination. With the 2 bad apples last schedule pick I dont know if 1106 blocks operator was fired for using a cell phone while driving. But 1107 I didnt see him use a cell phone since the second complaint since he doesnt want to get fired and is on strike 2. As for the 2 teenagers hit by a Light Rail train. I heard they are looking up the operators cell phone history to see if their phone was in use at the time of the accident. Since LR operators have 2 way radios there probably is no need to carry a cell phone when operating an LRV. The bus operators do not have 2 way radios so they have to carry cell phones incase the on board system fails. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 13 2009, 06:35 AM Post #20 |
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30844594 This MSNBC article is based on operators of ABQ Ride who behave badly. Most operators do a good job with ABQ Ride but there are a few bad apples. Including the driver who assaulted an unruly passenger. As well as 2 who were text messaging on cell phones while operating. One who left his coach unattended with the engine running for 8 minutes to get a bag of chips. Also the driver who was blaring his music with the windows open while no one was on the bus. And of course 2 red light runners. As well as the one operator who covered up 2 of the surveillance cameras. Baltimore MTA has surveillance cameras with stickers placed over them. I suspect more of that came from the drivers then the passengers. Since the surveillance is also used to keep drivers out of trouble and not just passengers. Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Jul 13 2009, 06:47 AM.
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| Tritransit Area | Jul 13 2009, 09:18 AM Post #21 |
Transit Enthusiast
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Wow....
Why is this an issue? The bus was out of service, he wanted to mosh out to rock, so what?
This is why when something happens on the bus, the driver just stays in front and does not get involved. He/she just calls the police. Of course, the drivers aren't supposed to do anything while they get hit/stabbed/killed.... That's just ridiculous. And he tried to steal a wrench? That's an automatic suspension/last warning before termination.
The first one was yellow, then red as he went through. The 2nd one...not good. Drivers tend to do that (especially in big cities like Philadelphia) when they are behind schedule. Still isn't right, but that's obviously an issue that needs to be addressed with schedulers as well. Also, there was a clip where the wheelchair passenger turned to the right when the bus turned. I'm so sorry that he was injured because of this, but it brings up two very important points: 1) Why weren't his brakes secured? In an electric wheelchair, it shouldn't move THAT easily. The driver should have made sure the brakes were on. 2) No matter how much the rider complains and demands that he/she is not tied in, you gotta do it anyway. So, why did MSNBC feel the need to highlight the "bad apples" of ABQ? Where are the stories of the drivers that go above an beyond the duty of their jobs, making the passengers feel as comfortable as ever? Also, why where there cameras that were aimed at the drivers? The unions here would have a fit and protest if that was the case here. Anyway, with the recent events and news articles/stories presented slamming bus drivers and train operators left and right, putting EVERYONE in a bad light, I've decided to pass on one of my lifelong dreams of being an operator. Of course, there are a few other reasons, but I don't like the lack of disrespect for our operators and how they are often put down. |
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| Albu7253querque | Jul 13 2009, 09:35 AM Post #22 |
Soulja Boy look-alike
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LORD HAVE MERCY!!!!!!!! |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 13 2009, 10:05 AM Post #23 |
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Its unprofessional to be driving a paratransit bus with the windows down and loud music playing. ABQ officials were not happy about that incident. Plus most TAs have a few bad apples operating their system. Baltimore MTA has them. DART First State. Maybe even SEPTA. And even San Antonio Via Transit whos also dealing with operators using cell phones for personal use while in operation of their vehicle. Every TA has cameras aimed on the drivers since drivers misbehave and sometimes passengers can attack the drivers over situations such as fare disputes and want good enough video to catch those passengers. As for the incidents shown. The driver who assaulted an unruly passenger was fired. Other drivers misbehaving were either suspended or got verbal warning. Heres what I think punishments were. Suspensions. Driver who did not tie down a wheel chair passenger. 2 drivers who ran red lights. 2 drivers texting on cell phones while operating. Driver who covered up the surveillance cameras and grabbed out a wrench and hid it outside. Verbal warning. Driver who left his bus unattended with the engine running for 8 minutes to buy a bag of chips. The driver who was rocking out with the windows open while cruising down central. But luckily ABQ Rides operators do not wear short shorts in the summer. Baltimore MTA had that occur several times in summer of 02 resulting in a shorts ban for all operators starting in summer of 03. Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Jul 13 2009, 10:21 AM.
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| Tritransit Area | Jul 13 2009, 10:50 AM Post #24 |
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You know, if I was a union member, I'd have serious issues with the cameras in these videos. Cameras are supposed to protect the driver from hearsay, not just to incriminate them as this whole news story does with the camera footage. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 13 2009, 11:34 AM Post #25 |
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Im just glad Baltimore MTA didnt do anything similar to this on MSNBC like Albaturkey Ride did. Every TA has its few bad apples but theres no reason to put it on national news. Baltimore MTA didnt make national news when their administrator ignored the fact that wheels were falling off of buses. Only the local news. |
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| Tritransit Area | Jul 13 2009, 12:39 PM Post #26 |
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No, that's not necessarily true. The unions, especially those up here in the Northeast, especially in Philadelphia, PROTESTED against cameras unless they were not aimed at the driver. I think WMATA had this issue, and I think SEPTA is the same way as well. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 13 2009, 01:51 PM Post #27 |
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There are cameras that face the front of the bus from 10-15ft in the back. So there is no need for cameras to aim the driver. Plus the main camera upfront on the front panel facing the entire passenger area can show the driver on that camera. So the only cameras needed are the front camera facing the passenger area. The camera facing the front door. The camera facing the rear door, as well as the camera facing the front of the bus from 10-15ft back. As well as a camera directly on the windshield. As well as in the back facing the back area. No cameras are needed to be aimed directly on the drivers area. But some TAs want cameras on the driver so incase of a complaint they have video proof of the drivers behavior. Since there are possibly people who go around and lie to get transit operators in trouble. Which happened many times in Baltimore. |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 14 2009, 07:32 AM Post #28 |
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One incident I havent forgotten with Baltimore MTA was in October of 06. A month after the decision that no more new Articulated buses were going to be purchased. The Kirk Ave base superintendant was randomly dispatching buses out of service and left more then half the service at Kirk Ave missing. Including almost all runs of the 19. Its one thing if a run or 2 is missing per route but almost all runs missing. That is not acceptable. Especially due to the fact people rely on MTA to get to work and many have lost their jobs for being late too much as the result to MTAs undependability. Either the bus they regularly catch is late too much. And people do attempt to leave early and still end up late because either the run before was late or didnt arrive. Then even times people are late to work because almost all runs on the route they need to catch are not operating without public notification. Then comes lack of preventative maintenance. They had 3 safety issues reguarding wheels on Light Rail cars and the last 2 times that screwed up service. The first time most trains ran as single car. The second time almost the entire Light Rail was missing with passengers being purposely misinformed. Then the third time half the Light Rail was shut down with shuttle buses in place leaving half the local bus system missing since they have to get the shuttle buses from somewhere. And that somewhere is always pull them off of local runs. And 8 years ago. The administrator completely ignored the fact that wheels were falling off of moving buses. Which can be a severe safety hazard. And after a while it got in the news since Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arunel County police and fire officials were called out too much because of wheels falling off of transit buses. And possibly even MD State Troopers it made local news and it made the front page of the Baltimore Sun. And the administrator at the time. She was given the option to either resign or accept termination since that was very serious. And she chose to resign. As the result to the administrator completely ignoring the fact that wheels were falling off of buses. There were a total of 18 incidents from August of 2001 until June of 2002. 2 of them were after it made headlines. And both incidents made the news. |
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| Tritransit Area | Jul 14 2009, 12:26 PM Post #29 |
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Transit Enthusiast
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So, I guess we've established that B-more MTA is the most Unreliable Transit Authority in the world with the events that you just presented. Makes PG The Bus look gold plated... |
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| Nabi60SFW9620 | Jul 15 2009, 06:42 AM Post #30 |
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Ive found Baltimore MTA the most undependable I have rode but there are possibly TAs that are worse. I almost thought DART would be as bad but the only thing both MTA and DART have in common is no mid life overhauls on buses. And before this new zero tolerance policy reguarding cell phones both TAs had issues of operators using cell phones for personal calls while operating a transit vehicle. And both Ive seen operators listen to headphones. But I think MTA is starting to improve slowly. Destination signs havent been blank as much. Voice announcement systems work properly in most cases. Buses havent broken down as often. And now when they do a replacement is brought within a half hour to an hour. Before it used to be 4-5 hours and drivers werent getting relieved because their relief broke down on the first part. And not just does that cause drivers to get held up when it took hours to get a replacement but they also end up holding up traffic which is a traffic violation. There was once a case coach 9801 broke down in the left turn lane at York Rd and Ridgely Rd and sat there for 4 hours. That hasnt been happening as much. So at some point they will be fully dependable but for now there are some undependabilities. I dont know if this applies to all coaches but I do know the New Flyer DE60LFRs are to be swapped out with another coach in the event the HVAC fails since the windows only open at the top and do not offer as good of ventilation as sliding windows offer. But the rest of the fleet. I dont know if they are to be replaced if the HVAC fails or if the windows have to all be opened. And back in 2000-2001 they used to always salvage parts to fix buses but lately there are many parts its starting to be a violation to do. Like replacing starlight seat inserts with blue vynal inserts. As well as replacing power mirrors with non power mirrors. I know if I ran the MTA of Baltimore. All features would have to work properly in order for buses to be assigned into service and if anything malfunctions the driver would have to call in and request a replacment. I was somewhat expecting when coach 5032s WCR was crooked in the front door that they would have it kept as is all day. But instead they decided to send a replacement out at Port Covington so when the bus was scheduled to Port Covington in route back up to North Ave passengers had to switch buses at Port Covington which I was dissapointed to see it was 0272 which is a Neoplan. I was leaning more towards an 06000 hybrid as the replacement. Or even another D40LF or even a 99 NABI. But not a Neoplan. Edited by Nabi60SFW9620, Jul 15 2009, 06:48 AM.
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