I like the idea of public transportation because it makes me feel good. However, the real world experience sometimes the idea surrounding public transit leaves me frustrated.
I regularly have meetings in a busy part of town. It is busy on the best of days. Now, it is in utter chaos due to construction. I have two choices: (1) drive, look for a parking space and freak out when I can't find one. Or (2) take the bus.
Most times, I take the bus. I took the bus today. The bus ride was unremarkable until we got to a major stop along the Transitway. Everyone off, announces the bus driver, because this bus isn't working.
What? It got us here, didn't us? Fine. Get off the bus. Wait for a second bus. Try to quell feelings of panic of possibility being late for meeting. Get on new bus. Cross fingers, hoping new bus doesn't break down. Make it to meeting on time.
Getting home to the suburbs in the middle of the day, so close to rush hour is always interesting. I had just missed an articulated bus, so I waited for another bus. Bus arrives. Door opens and the sight of wall-to-wall people greet me. Although I don't nearly have as much bus riding experience as dear husband, I've been on my share of busy buses and this bus took the cake. There were people crowded around the driver. I had expected the driver to tell me to wait for another bus, but nope, I guess there was enough room for one more because he opened the doors. And he kept on accepting passengers and we kept on making room.
Fish around arms, backpacks and bodies to get tickets into the fare box. Smushed. Try not to get too personal with my fellow bus passengers. Hard not to when everyone is forced to invade each other's personal safety circle. See a line of people smushed together down the aisle of the bus. Praying I don't fall. Praying I don't break an arm trying to hold myself up. Try to move out of the way of people trying to get off at the Park and Ride. Stare back at people giving me dirty looks. (Listen people, not my fault this bus is packed and there is no room for me to get out of your way. Not my fault I've had to stand in the aisle while you've snoozed in your seat!) Admire the new snazzy stop-call system.
In a nutshell, that was my latest bus experience. However, it comes no where close to the many crazy bus stories dear husband has. I still like the idea of public transit. Just not during rush hour.
Showing posts with label OC Transpo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OC Transpo. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
It is called priority seating for a reason
I don't know why this little tale from dear husband surprises me so much, but it does.
As a one-car family, dear husband takes the bus to work. Having the car at home allows me to get out and do errands, plus it saves us money. Parking in Ottawa's downtown core is expensive as in $13 a day expensive. During last winter's bus strike dear husband was spending much moola in parking fees.
I've taken the bus and I know how difficult it can be to get a seat on a jammed-packed OC Transpo bus, especially on the ride home to the suburbs. Although I don't want to paint dear husband as a knight in shining armour in this tale, I do hope that this post will make some people think twice when they see someone in obvious need for a seat.
As told to me by dear husband, he saw a visibly pregnant woman looking for a seat. As the gentleman he is, he offered the woman his seat and she gladly accepted his offer. But the thing is, dear husband was sitting in the middle of the bus. Meaning, this woman had to walk through a crowded bus, past priority seating, looking for a seat.
According to OC Transpo's website, priority seating is available near the front of the bus and is for "anyone who has difficulty standing in or walking to the back of the bus. This may include a senior citizen, a pregnant woman, or a passenger with a disability."
To be fair, I wasn't on the bus. The priority seats could have been taken by other pregnant women, senior citizens or passengers with disabilities. Maybe the woman didn't ask for a seat. Maybe she did and her request was ignored. Regardless, passengers sitting in priority seating (if they were able to) and passengers sitting in seats near priority seating should have offered up their seats.
When I was visiting my brother in Singapore several years ago, I spotted an advertising on the bus, advising passengers if they are able to, to give up their seats to passengers who need them. At the time, I scoffed at the advertisement, thinking it is just plain old common sense to give up your seat to someone who obviously needs it more than you do. If they haven't already, perhaps OC Transpo needs to consider installing such advertisement on their buses as common sense seems to be in limited supplies these days.
As a one-car family, dear husband takes the bus to work. Having the car at home allows me to get out and do errands, plus it saves us money. Parking in Ottawa's downtown core is expensive as in $13 a day expensive. During last winter's bus strike dear husband was spending much moola in parking fees.
I've taken the bus and I know how difficult it can be to get a seat on a jammed-packed OC Transpo bus, especially on the ride home to the suburbs. Although I don't want to paint dear husband as a knight in shining armour in this tale, I do hope that this post will make some people think twice when they see someone in obvious need for a seat.
As told to me by dear husband, he saw a visibly pregnant woman looking for a seat. As the gentleman he is, he offered the woman his seat and she gladly accepted his offer. But the thing is, dear husband was sitting in the middle of the bus. Meaning, this woman had to walk through a crowded bus, past priority seating, looking for a seat.
According to OC Transpo's website, priority seating is available near the front of the bus and is for "anyone who has difficulty standing in or walking to the back of the bus. This may include a senior citizen, a pregnant woman, or a passenger with a disability."
To be fair, I wasn't on the bus. The priority seats could have been taken by other pregnant women, senior citizens or passengers with disabilities. Maybe the woman didn't ask for a seat. Maybe she did and her request was ignored. Regardless, passengers sitting in priority seating (if they were able to) and passengers sitting in seats near priority seating should have offered up their seats.
When I was visiting my brother in Singapore several years ago, I spotted an advertising on the bus, advising passengers if they are able to, to give up their seats to passengers who need them. At the time, I scoffed at the advertisement, thinking it is just plain old common sense to give up your seat to someone who obviously needs it more than you do. If they haven't already, perhaps OC Transpo needs to consider installing such advertisement on their buses as common sense seems to be in limited supplies these days.
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