Back door!
I was running late for class and a bus happened to reach a stop just as I did, so I hopped on. (Yes, I am one of those annoying U students who takes the bus two stops because they have an unlimited pass – but it is going to stop at both those stops anyway.)
I sat in the back near the back door so as to easily slip off the bus once I got across campus. However, when the bus stopped the bus driver did not enable the back door to open. So I shouted up to the driver to open it, to no avail. Other riders told the driver to open the door, to no avail. So I fought my way up to the front, and by the time I got there, the driver was starting to pull away from the curb. When I told him he better stop and let me off the driver looked completely baffled. I know buses aren’t meant to be the most convenient form of transport but that level of service would test anyone’s nerves.
Feb 5th, 2008 at 11:14 am
was the door broken? it happens.
sometimes people push on the door when before it’s unlocked. the door won’t unlock until you let go of it.
Feb 7th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
and sometimes the driver doesn’t open the back door because something’s in the way, or because it’s not working, or because he’s just pissed at annoying college students who are already slowing everyone down, and who have a difficult time handling the daunting task of walking all the way up the front of the bus to get off.
welcome to public transit!
Feb 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
MTC drivers are trained to automatically open both doors at a bus stop UNLESS THERE IS A REASON WHY NOT. It’s actually more convenient to slam the handle all the way to it’s stop, opening everything. I’d have to go with the first comment. Was the way outside clear…or was it blocked by a snowbank? Maybe the door was never activated because it WAS blocked and if you PARTLY forced it open to squeeze out (which you WOULD have – admit it), the bus isn’t going ANYWHERE now since the door has to cycle fully open to close. Everybody ELSE is inconvenienced waiting and gets even later while the driver has to open the control panel and reset the door from YOUR screwup. Was the green light above the door ever on? If the bus is running late and the driver is in a hurry the green light could be a momentary thing, and you best watch for it and push when it’s lit. Finally, your attitude (by your own words) probably didn’t “baffle” the driver, but pissed him or her off. First you more than likely didn’t pay attention that there was a reason the back door didn’t open. By the time it sunk in that the door wasn’t opening, the bus was moving again. Then you go up front and say something that sounds pretty arrogant like “…..you better stop and let me off….” You go to a lot of Metro Transit drivers with that attitude, and you’re going for a ride, pal. Because, complain all you want….he/she is completely within his/her rights to take you all the way to the next bus stop, even if it’s 1/4 mile away. It’s legal, and it’s their right. Try being nice….and not an arrogant college kid….and you may find yourself getting off ASAP instead.
Mar 16th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Oh come on now justme, the back door on an MTC bust is a horrible experience. MTC likes to make a big deal out of the advantages of using the backdoor, and they do make sense. They are supposed to make it easier on busy stops for people to get off, while many people are boarding.
HOWEVER, the doors very commonly don’t work correctly, if at all, and despite the fact that you pulled the cord to signal the stop, and are standing there, I don’t know how many times I’ve been trying to get out the back door and the bus driver did not know it. I would be standing right next to the steps waiting for the stop after I pulled the cord, and as an experienced bus rider, I know to wait for that green light. I’ve been late for work 3 times now in the last year because this old guy who drives the 6 just can’t pay attention to the back door.
Mar 16th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I should also mention that specific bus driver has a bad habit of yelling into the PA to announce every single street. Unless I’m in a hurry, if I see him driving, I wait for the next bus. Every intersection, even when there are no stops there……….33rd street, 32nd street, 31st street, etc etc. I wear headphones that go in the ear designed to block sound, but this guy is so loud it hurts my ears most of the time. There have been 3 occasions where other passengers have asked him to not speak so loudly, and he just ignores them.
The funny thing is, that he does appear to have good hearing. I think he’s trying to notify the people in the cars next to him what street they are on though!