Stick to the Route
My least favorite driver on my return trip home (see The Tour Guide) loves to try to take “shortcuts” to get around unfavorable stop lights. Another time he even made the most pointless deviation from the route I could possibly imagine.
The first time I noticed the driver deviating from the route was the second or third time I rode on Route 270 in the afternoon. To skip a stoplight a few blocks ahead and a subsequent left turn, our driver took an early right (announcing that “we’re going to take a shortcut here folks!”) thinking he could make a quick left through a light that was green. What happened? Of course the light turned red leaving us with a red left turn (which he was trying to avoid in the first place). After making it through that intersection (and being told, “whoop sorry that didn’t quite work out!”) we, of course, caught another red light at the original intersection he was trying to avoid. Net gain? -3 minutes.
Another time our driver decided he didn’t want to move all the way to the left lane on a one way to get into the required turn lane on the last side street before getting on 35W North. Instead the driver drove a block past the turn (where there was a red left), turned left, caught another red left, and then drove back a block to the onramp. By now, the traffice he refused to merge with was getting on the ramp forcing us to yield. Another “shortcut”, another unncessary delay.
On the same trip, said driver decided for no apparent reason to exit off 35W at the Johnson/New Brighton Blvd exit (we were headed to Maplewood), slowing down as if we were going to exit, and then taking the dedicated bus onramp just a few hundred yards up the road having to resume freeway speeds (but only after getting up the ramp and back on the freeway). Best part of this unncessary diversion? THERE WASN’T ANY TRAFFIC SLOWING US DOWN! Completely pointless.
Feb 9th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
You ever thought that the poor guy just hates his job and all he really wants to do is keep messing with you until you snap on him?
Feb 11th, 2007 at 2:42 am
I just wanted to let you know that it is published on all 35W North Routes, that if traffic is backed up on the freeway, a driver should take the Johnson/New Brighton Blvd Exit and again back to the freeway BECAUSE of the special bus lane.
I can’t say much about the rest of his detours though. They seem to have been decided by him.
Just wanted to let you know.
Someone in the know.
Feb 11th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
The thing is, the traffic isn’t backed up. It’s been wide open the three times he’s done this.
Feb 12th, 2007 at 1:54 am
I agree with you. It doesn’t make much sense. Metro Transit now has a GPS system, which lets them know exactly where a bus is at a given time.
If you consider this driver to be a major problem, just call and report it when he chooses to go off-route. They can check it against the bus. They have this by computer and can get access to the information for (I’m not sure how long), may be indefinite.
Generally, if a driver, of his own accord, chooses to go off-route, he should call ahead and get permission. If he doesn’t, he better be able to justify it by traffic.
Feb 12th, 2007 at 2:21 am
He’s probably just bored. Staring at the same stretch of road hour after hour, day after day, can get pretty tedious. If you’re thinking about calling to report him, ask him to stop before you call. That way, you’ll save him a whoopin’ from the supervisors if he cooperates.
Feb 21st, 2007 at 1:12 am
I would agree with Leon. Give the driver a chance to change before calling in on him. He may not even realize how much he is bothering you.
Feb 22nd, 2007 at 11:01 pm
The 270 route is required to go one block past the frontage road when crossing 35w northbound. then turn left and make another left at 4th then a right turn to the 35W onramp. This is because the car traffic builds up east bound on University and the left turn arrow at 4th comes before all the other traffic. Thus allowing for a better flow of traffic. If the driver was turning on the frontage road it was incorrect routing to begin with. As far as straring at the same stretch of road… the 270 is a rush hour only and at worst the driver would make two trips per rush hour. The Johnson street route has been known to confuse NEW drivers as it is entered on a right turning curve as you are trying to merge left after going around a left turning curve followed by the right turning curve where the ramp appears. Sometimes traffic will not allow you to merge so this is the SAFE way to recover from that. Bottom line is on your ride Home RELAX. I have always wanted to come to the work places of my passengers and sit behind them and tell them how to do there work without ALL THE FACTS!
Mar 19th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I agree with the above poster. I ride the 260 and it takes the same route to get on northbound 35W. Sometimes, it’s impossible for the bus to merge and the driver has to take a backup route just to get to the onramp.