I like to rant here because if I file an e-complaint with the MTA I don't get any response or feedback from them. It's like I wasted my time even filling out their e-form, and if I call I'll just be on hold for 20 minutes before hearing a message along the lines of "We're sorry, all operators are busy. Please call again later. Click." o_O seriously WTF?
This morning I got to the station a little later than usual, so the bus I caught was not being driven by a driver I know. As if it wasn't enough that I was already a few minutes late, then we have problems on the Freeway. An accident, whatever, I don't know. We sat there in traffic for a while, stop-go, stop-go, stop-go, you know the routine. I'm glad I had a good book with me. Then the other buses started passing us using the emergency lane. A fellow passenger called out "Follow those buses!" but out guy stayed in the express lane, stop-go, stop-go, stop-go. With the result that my 30 minute bus ride took over an hour this morning.
Finally we made it into downtown. At 11th St. a passenger got off and as soon as the bus pulled away from the curb I rang the bell for the next stop and stood up. I thought I heard the driver say "Next stop is Pico," which is after 12th St. So I walked to the front and told the driver I wanted 12th St., which is something I usually do anyway, even with my regular drivers.
Next stop is Pico, the driver repeated.
I told him the other bus drivers let me off there all the time.
He gestured at the construction that's going on, and which has been there for over 12 months now, as if that was the argument clincher. I said I usually get let off on the other side of the intersection, across from the construction.
Mr. Bus Driver, when almost every other driver I've ridden with has let me off at 12th St., construction or no construction, don't go thinking you're any different or that I'll back down. The only way I'm not getting off at 12th St. is if you refuse to stop there.
When it became obvious that he was going to stop at 12th I thanked him. I am not an inconsiderate rider. He's obviously an inconsiderate driver though. Next time it's Pico, he said, as he pulled up. I thanked him again and wished him a nice day as I left the bus. I may not be inconsiderate, but I can be condescending when I choose.
Then next time I'll get off at 11th, I said to myself as I walked away, especially if you're driving. It might be one block earlier than the stop I want, as opposed to one stop after my desired stop, but the difference is I'm getting off at the stop of my choice, not where you choose to let me off. I win. It's that simple.
In reality 12th St. is a scheduled stop, and a majority of the drivers will still stop there on the other side of the road, especially if you tell them in advance that you want the 12th St. stop. The only reason they won't stop at 12th St., especially after a rider asks them to stop there, is because they're a jerk. Unfortunately you meet jerks in all walks of life, whether you're walking or riding the bus.
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3 comments:
Actually you're the fricken jerk, feeling all satisfied pwning a poor hard working blue collar man. Go sit at your desk job and feel satisfied with yourself.
Intriguing. You're offensive and you use profanity, but a very toned down version as if you wish to cause as little offense as possible.
You also write very well, using punctuation and correct spelling and abbreviations, but then you use pwnd and refer to a bus driver as a poor hard working blue collar man, which he's not, and I should know, because my job involves helping real, poor, hard working, blue collar men & women, and yes, I am very satisfied with myself and the work I do. A bus driver is neither blue collar nor white collar but belongs in the oft forgotten third category, being the service industry, which includes the likes of retail employees, maids, janitors, and taxi cab drivers, just to name a few.
Bear in mind that in the eight months I've ridden this route, despite the ongoing construction only one other bus driver has refused to stop at 12th St. Now, would you care to explain how I pwnd this particular bus driver by asking him to stop at a bona fide stop, and why that makes me a jerk?
WoW, I'm not sure how it happened John, but it seems as though one of the WOW forum turds found their way to your site and decided to vent their pre-pubescent frustration on you.
It's funny to me how whenever someone makes an insulting comment on a blog they always use the infamous "anonymous" tag. /flex internet muscles.
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