Tom Oleson has a rather pointless commentary in today’s Free Press about Winnipeg Transit’s new policy requiring bus drivers to call out the names of stops along the route. I say pointless because it’s apparent from news coverage of this policy that Transit administrators aren’t much happier about it than drivers.
But what choice do they really have? Go through the time and expense of a human rights hearing, or simply comply with something that Tom himself admits is likely inevitable. So then, why waste 750 words ragging on administrators and standing up for bus drivers who now have to (God forbid!) mindlessly drone out street names until Transit installs automated route calling devices sometime next year?
What this whole “controversy” really sheds light on is that many Winnipeg Transit routes have an excessive number of stops that are spaced far too close together. Take a look at the Corydon Village area, where the Route 18 can potentially stop every single block between Waverley and Confusion Corner. That’s 15 blocks in a row! I can see how it might get frustrating for drivers to spit out all those street names quickly, but it’s equally frustrating for passengers who are left wondering if it would be quicker to walk rather than lurching along from street to street.
So if Oleson really wants to give Winnipeg Transit grief about something, then how about pushing them to put some of their routes on a diet and at least give us rapid-er transit until that magical day when the monorail can finally be built, and Juba rises from the grave to resume his rightful place in the Mayor’s chair.
Filed under: City of Winnipeg | Tagged: City of Winnipeg, Winnipeg Free Press, winnipeg transit
Actually at one time, as far back as the days of trolley buses all bus drivers used to call out the names of certain stops which were transfer points with other routes, or major destinations.
“City Hall – connection with Jefferson, North Main, and Talbot buses. Eatons next stop”, and so on. So it isn’t exactly like it’s something new.
No they didn’t call out each and every stop, but like it or not the automated system they have planned for introduction will be doing just that.
It’s a shame that what used to be likely nothing more than simple courtesy and part of the job, has to be codified into a series of rights of each party.
While they may have done it at one time, Its just not needed any more. Unless a blind person is on the bus then perhaps it would be a good idea.
The first time I saw this happening I was coming home from a friends place around midnight. The driver had the over head light on and a list of stops in one hand and the wheel in the other. He was trying to read the list, call out the names and drive all at the same time. I was just glad I didn’t have far to go.
Shouldn’t a professional bus driver have some knowledge of the streets along his route? Is this really too much to ask?
You mean in addition to having to report every wheel chair passenger on the bus, and every time they fall more than 5 minutes behind schedule time at any point? Along with reporting rocks being thrown at the bus, abusive passengers, equipment malfunctions, and radio announced re-routes because of fires and accidents?
I forgot to mention, at one time most city jobs required a thorough knowledge of the city and it’s streets.