Last weekend some friends and I were going downtown on a Saturday night. One of my friends was working until midnight so the plan was that I would meet her at work and we would drive downtown.
So I get to Kennedy station and I check the bus time. I've just missed one but the next one should be arriving in a few minutes. The schedule reads FS (Frequent Service: every 10 minutes or less) until midnight. It's about 11:55 so I think "great! That's good timing" since it's not a far bus ride anyway.
Well, of course midnight comes and the bus doesn't. A few more minutes and still no bus. The bus finally arrives at about 12:15. Well, that was the next scheduled bus so one bus just didn't show up.
Whatever. It's cold and I'm finally on a bus and a few minutes later I'm in the car and we're rollin' and my toes are starting to forgive me for allowing them to get so numb.
Cut to this weekend. Same story. Going to downtown. Friend works until midnight. Meet her at work. Drive downtown.
I got to Kennedy station at 11:55 and thought "great! that's good timing" since it's not a far bus ride anyway.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Midnight arrives and no bus. I'm an impatient person by nature so when this is the second weekend in a row that this bus is late I start to get annoyed. Not right away of course. I mean, when it's 12:01 and the bus isn't there I'm not seething. But when it's 12:11 and the bus hasn't arrived I'm definitely getting there.
That's when I notice that on the other side of the station there is a 34 Kennedy bus sitting on the side of the driveway. Now I'm mad. Especially since by this time it's 12:16 and there are now 2 late buses.
I simmer down a little bit when an ambulance pulls up and the paramedics board the bus. It obviously can't go anywhere if someone needs assistance. But by 12:20 there's still at least one late bus and unaccounted for and a platform full of annoyed, cold and clueless people.
By this time my friend has pulled up to the passenger pickup area and I'm on my way out but I do stop and ask the man in the booth if there is a 34 bus coming any time soon. He is just as clueless. His answer was that the bus runs until around 2:20. Not the question but thanks for that.
When you're on a subway and there is a delay you're informed... eventually. It does take a while sometimes but at some point they do let you know there is a delay.
There needs to be communication to bus riders when the same thing happens. At the very least the ticket booth operators need to be informed so that when they are asked they have a clue.
I mean, give them a little something to do so they don't get bored and fall asleep....
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
I survived the TTC Nap... and so did the Napper.
I haven't updated this in a while. Surprisingly enough, there hasn't been anything worth a whole blog. Not that I'm letting the commission off the hook, but I've gotten everywhere I need to go with little to no problems. I'm having a really good streak right now. However, I've probably just jinxed it and it's going to take me 3 and a half hours to get home tonight.
That being said, by now everyone has seen the picture(s) of the Napper(s). I think we've all got a little Heidi Montag in us. We may not spend $30,000 on plastic surgery to turn ourselves into walking jokes but on some level we all want some kind of fame or recognition. Even if it's having something of yours go viral or a meme being traced back and credited to you (don't even say the words "Aaron" "Carter" "phone" and "number" in the same sentence to me... ). So other than my tiny pang of jealousy, I initially had no real reaction to the picture of the collector sleeping on the job.
Well, except that I thought he had a badass mustache. It's exactly the kind of mustache I would have if I was capable of growing facial hair. Women get cramps and men get wicked facial hair? Another unfair fact of life.
After a few days, I still didn't care.
And then the riders became the bad guy:
There have been many media enquires about a picture taken at 10:00 p.m. on January 9 of a TTC Collector described as "sleeping" in the booth. The TTC is conducting an inquiry on this and until this is completed the union will have no comment on the matter except this:
Whatever the outcome of the enquiry, it is very discouraging that the picture taker and, apparently, other customers, made no attempt to determine if there was anything wrong with this TTC employee. A simple knock on the glass might have determined if the Collector was, in fact, asleep, or whether he was unconscious as a result of some medical problem. The reports that passengers were laughing at him as they passed by the booth makes this even more disturbing.
The union will comment further at an appropriate time.
My favourite part is when he says the employee was "described as "sleeping"". With the quotes. It reminds me of the episode of Friends when Joey used the air quotes while saying "I'm sorry" to Ross.
"Not really doin' it right, Joe" Er, Bob.
Finally! A reaction!
My Reaction:
*Notice that awesome mustache*
I couldn't help but be a little amused that he tried to turn it around like that but it quickly turned sour. You can't say the guy doesn't have balls. You would have to if you're gonna put out a statement like that. Downplay what the employee has legit done wrong and magnify what the public kind of, sort of, maybe did slightly wrong.
HOW RUDE!
Playing the hypothetical game are we?
I can play, too!
I know that the statement wasn't personally from the Napper himself but if that's how his leader reacts, I can imagine that if someone had actually knocked on the window to wake him up his reaction wouldn't be too far off. He'd probably get a little defensive. I mean, who isn't a little grumpy when they're woken up by someone else. Especially when they're not supposed to be sleeping in the first place because y'know... THEY'RE AT WORK! I'd feel bad for the rider that would have to deal with him. Hypothetically, of course. They were horrible people and didn't even try.
And this is a little out there but what if someone woke him and actually caused harm. I mean, he's fragile right? That's why this situation is so "disturbing". What if someone tried to wake him and startled him and he had a heart attack and it was just too much for him (I mean, c'mon! Staying awake is too taxing on him) and he died?! In a way, those riders kind of saved his life. Quite frankly, I think they should be praised for their inaction.
But in all seriousness, he really fell asleep on the job. No pun intended. Oh, wait. That wasn't a pun. That really happened.
In the end he wasn't doing his job. Bob Kinnear is pointing the finger at riders for "what if" situations and it can easily be turned around. What if the situation was something that was compromising rider safety? There's plenty of things that could have happened that I don't even have the energy to list. Luckily, nothing happened to the riders. And nothing happened to the employee. Everyone was safe and alive. Some may have been a little groggier than others but everyone survived the nap.
I don't know who made this but it's brilliant. GO lol GO!
Bob Kinnear's statement boggles the mind. It was inappropriate and childish. The general public has plenty to say about the TTC on a daily basis and then something like this happens to anger them further. I personally didn't think much of the initial incident but I can see why people would get upset. That's not a fire I'd add more fuel to!
But like I said, the guy has balls...
That being said, by now everyone has seen the picture(s) of the Napper(s). I think we've all got a little Heidi Montag in us. We may not spend $30,000 on plastic surgery to turn ourselves into walking jokes but on some level we all want some kind of fame or recognition. Even if it's having something of yours go viral or a meme being traced back and credited to you (don't even say the words "Aaron" "Carter" "phone" and "number" in the same sentence to me... ). So other than my tiny pang of jealousy, I initially had no real reaction to the picture of the collector sleeping on the job.
Well, except that I thought he had a badass mustache. It's exactly the kind of mustache I would have if I was capable of growing facial hair. Women get cramps and men get wicked facial hair? Another unfair fact of life.
After a few days, I still didn't care.
And then the riders became the bad guy:
There have been many media enquires about a picture taken at 10:00 p.m. on January 9 of a TTC Collector described as "sleeping" in the booth. The TTC is conducting an inquiry on this and until this is completed the union will have no comment on the matter except this:
Whatever the outcome of the enquiry, it is very discouraging that the picture taker and, apparently, other customers, made no attempt to determine if there was anything wrong with this TTC employee. A simple knock on the glass might have determined if the Collector was, in fact, asleep, or whether he was unconscious as a result of some medical problem. The reports that passengers were laughing at him as they passed by the booth makes this even more disturbing.
The union will comment further at an appropriate time.
My favourite part is when he says the employee was "described as "sleeping"". With the quotes. It reminds me of the episode of Friends when Joey used the air quotes while saying "I'm sorry" to Ross.
"Not really doin' it right, Joe" Er, Bob.
Finally! A reaction!
My Reaction:
*Notice that awesome mustache*
I couldn't help but be a little amused that he tried to turn it around like that but it quickly turned sour. You can't say the guy doesn't have balls. You would have to if you're gonna put out a statement like that. Downplay what the employee has legit done wrong and magnify what the public kind of, sort of, maybe did slightly wrong.
HOW RUDE!
Playing the hypothetical game are we?
I can play, too!
I know that the statement wasn't personally from the Napper himself but if that's how his leader reacts, I can imagine that if someone had actually knocked on the window to wake him up his reaction wouldn't be too far off. He'd probably get a little defensive. I mean, who isn't a little grumpy when they're woken up by someone else. Especially when they're not supposed to be sleeping in the first place because y'know... THEY'RE AT WORK! I'd feel bad for the rider that would have to deal with him. Hypothetically, of course. They were horrible people and didn't even try.
And this is a little out there but what if someone woke him and actually caused harm. I mean, he's fragile right? That's why this situation is so "disturbing". What if someone tried to wake him and startled him and he had a heart attack and it was just too much for him (I mean, c'mon! Staying awake is too taxing on him) and he died?! In a way, those riders kind of saved his life. Quite frankly, I think they should be praised for their inaction.
But in all seriousness, he really fell asleep on the job. No pun intended. Oh, wait. That wasn't a pun. That really happened.
In the end he wasn't doing his job. Bob Kinnear is pointing the finger at riders for "what if" situations and it can easily be turned around. What if the situation was something that was compromising rider safety? There's plenty of things that could have happened that I don't even have the energy to list. Luckily, nothing happened to the riders. And nothing happened to the employee. Everyone was safe and alive. Some may have been a little groggier than others but everyone survived the nap.
I don't know who made this but it's brilliant. GO lol GO!
Bob Kinnear's statement boggles the mind. It was inappropriate and childish. The general public has plenty to say about the TTC on a daily basis and then something like this happens to anger them further. I personally didn't think much of the initial incident but I can see why people would get upset. That's not a fire I'd add more fuel to!
But like I said, the guy has balls...
Friday, January 8, 2010
Are we going anywhere?
So I was on the subway and I was listening to The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack by Sixx A.M. It's a CD based around the entries published in The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx (from Motley Crue). There's a few songs where he reads from these entries but I gotta tell ya I skip those tracks. It's like listening to Ben Stein talk about ice cream. I mean, who doesn't get excited about ice cream right? Well, I would imagine that Ben Stein could make ice cream a little less exciting. Nikki Sixx is just as emotionless when describing horrible situations like detoxing from drugs as I imagine Ben Stein to be when describing ice cream.
I managed to stay awake during one of these robotic narrations and he says something I can relate to as a TTC rider. During Life After Death he says "But you know addicts, we think everything's about us don't we?"
WE SURE DO!
Ok, confession? I'm not an addict. Not even close. But sometimes when the train delays I start feeling like it's all about me. I mean, don't they know that I have somewhere to go? Somewhere to be? I mean, I'm late! Why are you doing this me?
Somehow, no matter what time of day I get on the subway or what direction I'm going... that's when and where there is a problem. That's why I'm pretty sure that I am partially to blame when the trains delay. It's always my train.
This happened last night. I was on my way downtown to go skating and we got to Donlands. We left the station and entered the tunnel... and then stopped. This lasted less than 5 minutes but my theory still stands true.
But this is what bothers me. I know that comparatively speaking we were not delayed that long. I've been in tunnels up to an hour more than once. When you're sitting there you don't know if it's going to end up being that long or if you're going to be on your way any minute. Even if we're only stopping for a few minutes I would love to hear an announcement telling me how long I can expect to be there. If they know it's only going to be a few minutes just say so. I'd rather hear "Sorry, we just have to stop for a minute or two and we'll be on our way" than be left waiting and wondering if I'm in for the long haul or not.
But you know impatient people, we think everything's about us don't we?
I managed to stay awake during one of these robotic narrations and he says something I can relate to as a TTC rider. During Life After Death he says "But you know addicts, we think everything's about us don't we?"
WE SURE DO!
Ok, confession? I'm not an addict. Not even close. But sometimes when the train delays I start feeling like it's all about me. I mean, don't they know that I have somewhere to go? Somewhere to be? I mean, I'm late! Why are you doing this me?
Somehow, no matter what time of day I get on the subway or what direction I'm going... that's when and where there is a problem. That's why I'm pretty sure that I am partially to blame when the trains delay. It's always my train.
This happened last night. I was on my way downtown to go skating and we got to Donlands. We left the station and entered the tunnel... and then stopped. This lasted less than 5 minutes but my theory still stands true.
But this is what bothers me. I know that comparatively speaking we were not delayed that long. I've been in tunnels up to an hour more than once. When you're sitting there you don't know if it's going to end up being that long or if you're going to be on your way any minute. Even if we're only stopping for a few minutes I would love to hear an announcement telling me how long I can expect to be there. If they know it's only going to be a few minutes just say so. I'd rather hear "Sorry, we just have to stop for a minute or two and we'll be on our way" than be left waiting and wondering if I'm in for the long haul or not.
But you know impatient people, we think everything's about us don't we?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Just another day...
5:35.
That's when it got to me. I had left work at 5 o'clock and had made it as far as around the corner.
At 5:35 I should be home watching Friends waiting for the Office to start at 6 (hello, tv addict!).
That's when I was on the verge of tears (as you will see I have a tendency to do).
I got to Dupont station right on schedule as per my daily routine. I sit down and can't help but notice that the doors haven't practically closed on me before I can even get inside the train. You can tell something is up when you have more than half a second before the door closes on you.
Of course I sit down and I hear an announcement that the trains are on diversion, out of service, turning back, whatever... delayed. I've played this game before. I know that when service resumes there will be a backlog. I'm not even kidding when I say that it has taken 25 minutes to get from Dupont to St George when this has happened in the past. TWO STOPS! 25 MINUTES!
So I got off the train and went outside to wait for the bus to take me to Spadina. The issue was on the Yonge-University-Spadina line so if I can just get to Spadina station I can be on my way on the Bloor-Danforth line and be home to see what crazy antics Michael Scott is up to (and swoon over Jim, of course).
I get upstairs and I check the bus time. It's only going to a few minutes. Sweet. So I wait and wait and it hasn't come. Normally I would just walk to Spadina but it's winter, it was snowing and very slushy. It would have taken too long. So now I'm getting really upset but when I check the time I realized that in my original frustration I looked at the wrong hour. Whoops. That one was on me. It was going to be another 10 minutes at that point so I figured I'd go back downstairs and check again.
Maybe it's clear.
No. Silly girl.
There's one train halfway into the tunnel waiting to get the go on. It wants to leave, it was almost there... but it's still stuck. And the other train is waiting patiently to get on in there. The first train finally leaves and the second one pulls in. Time has elapsed and I have just enough time to make a quick decision. If I get on this train, I'm still only going to Spadina and transferring because I know it's going to take too long to get all the way to St. George. *One stop is all my patience can really take at this point. There's something 10x more frustrating about sitting on a train in a tunnel than all of this back and forth that I've been doing. At least I'm going somewhere.
Well, that bus was about to be there any minute and it was lookin' really good. When I hear an announcement that says there is still a problem and that trains are moving very slowly I chose the bus so I run back upstairs and that is there just on time. Almost too on time. If it wasn't for a red light, I probably wouldn't have made it.
The Office starts in 10 minutes. I'm at Spadina station. I'm going to Warden. I'm not going to make it.
Well, I get on my train and I am finally east/home bound and it's mostly easy training. I got home in time to see the last 5 minutes of The Office. It was the one when they start The Michael Scott Paper Company.
Of course, I check Twitter and I'm not the only one complaining.
@chrystinastars: #ttc is bullshit. Raise Prices and the ttc is constantly going out of service. I really hope they get their act together.
@jjuunniiee: I would like to personally thank the TTC for giving me the most excellent view of the inside of a subway tunnell for over 30 minutes
Well, at least I'm not alone...
That's when it got to me. I had left work at 5 o'clock and had made it as far as around the corner.
At 5:35 I should be home watching Friends waiting for the Office to start at 6 (hello, tv addict!).
That's when I was on the verge of tears (as you will see I have a tendency to do).
I got to Dupont station right on schedule as per my daily routine. I sit down and can't help but notice that the doors haven't practically closed on me before I can even get inside the train. You can tell something is up when you have more than half a second before the door closes on you.
Of course I sit down and I hear an announcement that the trains are on diversion, out of service, turning back, whatever... delayed. I've played this game before. I know that when service resumes there will be a backlog. I'm not even kidding when I say that it has taken 25 minutes to get from Dupont to St George when this has happened in the past. TWO STOPS! 25 MINUTES!
So I got off the train and went outside to wait for the bus to take me to Spadina. The issue was on the Yonge-University-Spadina line so if I can just get to Spadina station I can be on my way on the Bloor-Danforth line and be home to see what crazy antics Michael Scott is up to (and swoon over Jim, of course).
I get upstairs and I check the bus time. It's only going to a few minutes. Sweet. So I wait and wait and it hasn't come. Normally I would just walk to Spadina but it's winter, it was snowing and very slushy. It would have taken too long. So now I'm getting really upset but when I check the time I realized that in my original frustration I looked at the wrong hour. Whoops. That one was on me. It was going to be another 10 minutes at that point so I figured I'd go back downstairs and check again.
Maybe it's clear.
No. Silly girl.
There's one train halfway into the tunnel waiting to get the go on. It wants to leave, it was almost there... but it's still stuck. And the other train is waiting patiently to get on in there. The first train finally leaves and the second one pulls in. Time has elapsed and I have just enough time to make a quick decision. If I get on this train, I'm still only going to Spadina and transferring because I know it's going to take too long to get all the way to St. George. *One stop is all my patience can really take at this point. There's something 10x more frustrating about sitting on a train in a tunnel than all of this back and forth that I've been doing. At least I'm going somewhere.
Well, that bus was about to be there any minute and it was lookin' really good. When I hear an announcement that says there is still a problem and that trains are moving very slowly I chose the bus so I run back upstairs and that is there just on time. Almost too on time. If it wasn't for a red light, I probably wouldn't have made it.
The Office starts in 10 minutes. I'm at Spadina station. I'm going to Warden. I'm not going to make it.
Well, I get on my train and I am finally east/home bound and it's mostly easy training. I got home in time to see the last 5 minutes of The Office. It was the one when they start The Michael Scott Paper Company.
Of course, I check Twitter and I'm not the only one complaining.
@chrystinastars: #ttc is bullshit. Raise Prices and the ttc is constantly going out of service. I really hope they get their act together.
@jjuunniiee: I would like to personally thank the TTC for giving me the most excellent view of the inside of a subway tunnell for over 30 minutes
Well, at least I'm not alone...
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