I just got a response from Gorgon Sinclair.
Pat,
Thanks for this most informative letter.
I’m just finishing a column of reaction to Saturday’s piece. I might be able to
address your concern in a subsequent piece. It deserves the space.
Gordon
http://mtha.ca/
http://tyronemalone.net/
http://www.resisters.ca/index_en.html
--- On Mon, 11/30/09, Pat Rogoski <busntruck@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Pat Rogoski <busntruck@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [winnipegbusnews] Re: pregnant woman, rudeness etc
To: winnipegbusnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Received: Monday, November 30, 2009, 4:37 PM
That is a good one, to bad your p.s. wasn't part of it. I just sent a letter
theGordon Sinclair, see what happens. I'm sure I didn't cover it all but
thought I'd keep it to the point and included some of our concerns.
I read with interest your article about the rudeness of bus passengers. I agree
there are rude passengers and I'm a regular bus rider and bus enthusiest with
my own car that is just used to get me to and from work since I work nights and
have no bus serice after 23:00. I have a couple of bus riding friends with
issues about this topic but this is most relevant with this story.
In my observations I find that Winnipeggers are more stressed now than before.
One of the main reasons aside from not the greatest transfer point connections
is that because of easy acces we have 12-13 less seats on each bus. Don't get
me wrong, every public person has a right to ride and should be able to sit
after paying a fare. With loosing 12-13 seats per bus in the low floor easy
access buses that forces that many people to stand. Elderly, disabled, can
have the front, fine. But now add in SUV size strollers(some don't even have
kids, and many, the kids are big enough to walk and sit themselves or on the
parents lap, I used to). It becomes a constant game of musical chairs when a
stroller gets on. It doesn't matter who you are, you have to move. The big
stollers take up the one entire front folding seat each, that's three to four
spots, sometimes two more if the parent stands where the front facing fold up
seats are and has them folded
up and they only pay one fare per stroller. So now you can loose 10-12 more
seats. Now add in two more at busy times of rush hour and someone with a
non-folding walker. you can't walk through the front of the bus period(I
thought it was a policy to keep the isle clear). People also have this phobia
of going to the rear section and the have a severe tendancy to stand in the
rear door area(even when there are seats empty) again creating another obstacle
and fight to get off. In Cornwall Ont. for example, you must fold strollers
when geting on a bus and can't take the big ones on(they even have a decal on
the bus that tels you this). Increasing rideship and BRT etc. are great but we
need high capicity buses on major regular and express routes such as high
floor buses that don't have the maintence and storing issues that an
articlating bus has. These can still be ordered even with a wheel chair lift.
Or even existing high floor buses could be
modified. Each new low floor we get, transit replaces a high high floor bus on
a 1:1 ratio. Do the math on how many seats ar now lost. I think easy access has
become easy abuse, also I think Winnipeggers need some serious ridership
ediqite.
I urge you to take a ride on the 24x Ness express west bound, or 21x Portage
express westbound during the PM rush a couple of times and see for yourself,
these are by far the busiest, one hint get on at the concert hall to ensure a
seat and you might see why people are refusing to give up seats. It's also no
wonder why people would rather deal with our wonderful car drivers instead of
riding a bus. People think being a transit bus driver is easy? I'm glad I never
got accepted.
Thanks for doing articles on real world in our backyard issues.
Pat Rogoski
http://mtha. ca/
http://tyronemalone .net/
http://www.resister s.ca/index_ en.html
--- On Mon, 11/30/09, mannyj24 <railbus@golden. net> wrote:
From: mannyj24 <railbus@golden. net>
Subject: [winnipegbusnews] Re: pregnant woman, rudeness etc
To: winnipegbusnews@ yahoogroups. com
Received: Monday, November 30, 2009, 2:56 PM
The best comment:
"Could it be, that political correctness has gone to far? Should we treat
everyone equally, no matter their "status"? Do they want to be treated equally?
Is it fair, that at the bank on a payday, when there is a long line up, that
someone in a wheelchair can cut in front to the teller? Don't they want to be
treated like everyone else? Or do they only want it only when it gives them an
advantage? Lots of thoughts to ponder."
P.S. None of this would be happening if we were still using high floors with
adequate seating. Now all these various groups feel entitled. Sorry. First
come, first served. Equality, remember?
--- In winnipegbusnews@ yahoogroups. com, Pat Rogoski <busntruck@. ..> wrote:
http://www.winnipeg freepress. com/local/ rudeness- knows-no- ;
bounds-77047767. html
Should oneof us register and comment?
Pat
http://mtha. ca/
http://tyronemalone .net/
http://www.resister s.ca/index_ en.html
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