FOX31 (KDVR) News here in Denver ran a quick report on buses and their driver who run red lights.
The reporter who produced the report intelligently voiced the report as "RTD Buses."
Not once did he state RTD Drivers.
And when the reporter interviewed RTD's Scott Reed, You'll notice that Mr. Reed very carefully stated RTD's policies pertaining to RTD Drivers.
Jeremy Hubbard was the idiot who, in his undereducated blathering, singled out RTD Drivers as being the ones breaking the laws.
As we all remember, it wasn't an RTD employee who was operating the RTD bus that ran the red light on Lincoln & 8th Avenue back in 2010.
That's not to say that RTD drivers do not run red lights.
But it is a point that RTD drivers drive a minority of the routes.
The Private companies operate more routes.
The reporter who produced this piece understood that and very carefully read his copy as "RTD Buses" knowing that while RTD owns all of the buses, they do not operate them all.
Does that mean that the Private/for profit companies have more drivers and more buses on the road at any given moment, breaking more laws, running more red lights and getting more complaints?
I personally don't think that's true but I don't know for a fact so I cannot say.
But I do know that I'm very sick of being lumped together with the private companies.
I personally don't believe we all have the same goal, the same expectation of customer service, the same sense of values or the same loyalty to RTD, the brand, the product, the service.
I go out of my way to serve the customer.
I don't feel that the for profit, private companies share that same value.
Does that mean I'm right, or that there aren't exceptions to my mental "rule?"
Not by a long shot, I'm sure that I'm being biased and "patriotic" to my employer, to my company.
When we found out that the NE Patriots won all those games by cheating, did we lump every team in the league together or did we recognize those who weren't cheating?
No, you folks here in Denver say, "Patriots SUCK, Broncos RULE!!!!"
You have your own loyalties as well.
When one of these private companies who lease RTD buses treats his passengers like trash, runs red lights and skips stops all together, why do you lump all of us together with him?
I've heard it time and again, overall y'all can tell the difference between RTD drivers and the others.
So why are these News anchors so danged biased and hateful, lumping RTD Drivers together with the privates?
Again, we're not blameless.
But why couldn't the reporter who produced this piece done something like compare the records of the three companies who operate RTD buses?
Why couldn't he have shown (hopefully supporting my personal belief that RTD Drivers are safer) which drivers have safer records overall?
Which companies have safer drivers overall?
Which companies have fewer tickets and accidents?
Etc etc etc.
I'm sure there are plenty of people working for those private companies who share my desire to serve you, the passenger and customer with all of our hearts.
I'm sure there are plenty of good drivers and good customer service providers over there as well.
But I'm fiercely loyal to my employer, our product and service.
I do my best to provide my passengers/customers with the best service I'm able.
I wear the RTD logo, not the logo of the private, for profit companies.
I like to believe we're better and I personally like to believe it's a competition to provide better service than they do.
And dangit, I'm going to win!
And folks, remember that these are just the rants of a mad man.
I'm one voice, and that voice is not the official voice of RTD.
In fact, we've all seen their demand of me to remind y'all that RTD neither sponsors nor endorses my blog nor anything I write herein.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Look out for that red light - Let's Roll!"
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
RTD Mall Shuttle Ads Go Anti-Semitic
This ad, aimed at God loving supporters of Israel, was timed to coincide with a conference here in Denver.
You could take it two ways actually.
For example:
The islamists (Palestinians) have made it their life goal, their religion to kill every Israelite.
To put it into words we've all heard echo'd across the media,
"To wipe every last trace if Israel off the maps and from the history books."
So I guess that this could mean that if you wanted to stop the ethnic cleansing, you'd have to stop supporting the liberal/religious left and their anti-Israel efforts.
But it's meant to defame Israel and her supporters who defend Israel against the islamic homicidal bombings, terrorist activities, invasions and attacks that happen daily.
I'm sure this is covered by somebody's freedom of speech but this is far over the line of pure hate speech.
I know that RTD will take just about anybody's money in ad revenue...trying to make ends meet.
But this is way overboard.
99.99% of the hatred and racism and liberalism I've experienced here since I've started can be traced to be the fault of the union that oppresses this company.
This is the first time I can say that I'm embarrassed by my company's choice of this hateful anti-Semitic ad.
You can read more by clicking here:
---> Click Here <----
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
You've Got To Fight, For Your Right...
With this new law/tax going into affect (obamaCare) Colorado's insurance exchanges cranked into business - then ground to a halt - but still went into affect at the beginning of October.
One has to simply spend 5 minutes to find great coverage for far less.
I say far less but I'll explain that phrase here in a minute.
RTD gives each employee who is shackled by the union, something like $549 a month to pay for health insurance.
But that stipend never makes it to the employee.
The union snags that then sends a piece of paper to the employee that reads, "Hey, in order to satisfy the new obamaCare tax/law, you are covered."
That coverage for a single member - on top of the $549 the union already collects from RTD on the member's behalf - can cost hundreds of dollars more.
OR that member can take a "high deductible - no premium" coverage that can cost the members thousands of dollars in yearly deductibles to use, were that member to ever need it.
5 minutes on any of these new health insurance exchange sites and you can find Gold level coverage with no deductibles and $20 copays for close to half the cost of the monthly stipend that RTD gives us to use for health insurance.
The union takes that money then charges the member almost twice that much again each month while offering far less coverage.
And the union says it is looking out for and providing benefits to the members!
Well, along comes Allen Grove.
A mechanic from RTD's Platte Division who no longer wants to put up with the union's hate and extortion of both RTD, the tax payer/public/customer and the employees.
The union sent a letter to all of us to let us know that Allen Grove filed a petition to allow the maintenance employees to be free from the union tyranny and leave the union.
Of course the union paints that as the end of the world as we know it, for all employees being oppressed by the union and for those who would leave.
The letter includes two pages of liberal propaganda to scare members into voting against allowing the maintenance employees their freedom from the union.
Finally, the end of this propaganda letter admits that the union king pin cannot deny Allen Grove his right to pursue this petition to get the heck out and he admits that the rest of us have the right to speak up - to support and join Mr. Allen Grove in his efforts to rid himself and his coworkers of this demoralizing and oppressive organization.
Allen Grove:
We support you.
You'd be surprised, in spite of what the few union supporters and their mob bosses will lead us to believe, there are many of us who will support you.
When the vote comes, in spite of the scare tactics, the bullying employed at the ballot box and the threats they liberally spread around the work force - we will vote with you and grant you your freedom of choice.
The writer of the union propaganda letter & his side kick have both expressed their lack of love for those they profess to represent and they are very vocal in their pride of their extortion of the public, the tax payer, the customer and RTD.
He urges us to push aside how we feel about him personally but he forgets that it is him personally who embodies and personifies the union.
Stand strong Mr. Allen Grove.
We're standing with you.
One has to simply spend 5 minutes to find great coverage for far less.
I say far less but I'll explain that phrase here in a minute.
RTD gives each employee who is shackled by the union, something like $549 a month to pay for health insurance.
But that stipend never makes it to the employee.
The union snags that then sends a piece of paper to the employee that reads, "Hey, in order to satisfy the new obamaCare tax/law, you are covered."
That coverage for a single member - on top of the $549 the union already collects from RTD on the member's behalf - can cost hundreds of dollars more.
OR that member can take a "high deductible - no premium" coverage that can cost the members thousands of dollars in yearly deductibles to use, were that member to ever need it.
5 minutes on any of these new health insurance exchange sites and you can find Gold level coverage with no deductibles and $20 copays for close to half the cost of the monthly stipend that RTD gives us to use for health insurance.
The union takes that money then charges the member almost twice that much again each month while offering far less coverage.
And the union says it is looking out for and providing benefits to the members!
Well, along comes Allen Grove.
A mechanic from RTD's Platte Division who no longer wants to put up with the union's hate and extortion of both RTD, the tax payer/public/customer and the employees.
The union sent a letter to all of us to let us know that Allen Grove filed a petition to allow the maintenance employees to be free from the union tyranny and leave the union.
Of course the union paints that as the end of the world as we know it, for all employees being oppressed by the union and for those who would leave.
The letter includes two pages of liberal propaganda to scare members into voting against allowing the maintenance employees their freedom from the union.
Finally, the end of this propaganda letter admits that the union king pin cannot deny Allen Grove his right to pursue this petition to get the heck out and he admits that the rest of us have the right to speak up - to support and join Mr. Allen Grove in his efforts to rid himself and his coworkers of this demoralizing and oppressive organization.
Allen Grove:
We support you.
You'd be surprised, in spite of what the few union supporters and their mob bosses will lead us to believe, there are many of us who will support you.
When the vote comes, in spite of the scare tactics, the bullying employed at the ballot box and the threats they liberally spread around the work force - we will vote with you and grant you your freedom of choice.
The writer of the union propaganda letter & his side kick have both expressed their lack of love for those they profess to represent and they are very vocal in their pride of their extortion of the public, the tax payer, the customer and RTD.
He urges us to push aside how we feel about him personally but he forgets that it is him personally who embodies and personifies the union.
Stand strong Mr. Allen Grove.
We're standing with you.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Ten Hup!
In the Army & Air Force they have 3 General Orders for their troops.
Out on the "Parade Deck" you can find hundreds of Drivers each morning marching around with window squeegees in one hand and ticket punches in the other.
Shouting Cadence & our Ten Commandments:
"Route Fifteen ELL rolling down the street,
Picking up Passengers and filling up the seats...."
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, At Ease Privates - Let's Roll!"
In the Marine Corps & Navy they have 11 General Orders.
These General Orders are like basic instructions for each and every troop, governing their actions in various situations.
Here at RTD we have our Ten Commandments.
Please keep the uproar to a low murmur.
I'm not being blasphemous, I'm simply making a light hearted joke.
I have the utmost respect for our Lord/God's Ten Commandments.
Apologies to the overly sensitive aside, back to our Ten Commandments!
Like the Military's General Orders, our Ten Commandments govern our actions in various situations.
Here they are:
1) Our Passengers:
Are the most important people in our business.
2) Our Passengers:
Are not dependent upon us, we are dependent upon them.
Are not dependent upon us, we are dependent upon them.
3) Our Passengers:
Are not an interruption of our work, they are the purpose of it.
Are not an interruption of our work, they are the purpose of it.
4) Our Passengers:
Do us a favor by giving us the opportunity to serve them.
Do us a favor by giving us the opportunity to serve them.
5) Our Passengers:
Are not outsiders to our business, they are our business.
Are not outsiders to our business, they are our business.
6) Our Passengers:
Are not cold statistics, they are human beings with feelings and emotions just like you and me.
Are not cold statistics, they are human beings with feelings and emotions just like you and me.
7) Our Passengers:
Have particular needs, it is our job to satisfy those needs.
Have particular needs, it is our job to satisfy those needs.
8) Our Passengers:
Are not persons to argue or match wits with, NO ONE ever won an argument with a customer.
Are not persons to argue or match wits with, NO ONE ever won an argument with a customer.
9) Our Passengers:
Should always be treated with courtesy.
Should always be treated with courtesy.
10) Our Passengers:
Are so satisfied with how we do our jobs pleasantly & helpfully that they will take The Ride again and again.
Are so satisfied with how we do our jobs pleasantly & helpfully that they will take The Ride again and again.
LOL - keep in mind that these are OUR Ten Commandments (RTD) - I can't and won't speak for the private companies!
Out on the "Parade Deck" you can find hundreds of Drivers each morning marching around with window squeegees in one hand and ticket punches in the other.
Shouting Cadence & our Ten Commandments:
"Route Fifteen ELL rolling down the street,
Picking up Passengers and filling up the seats...."
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, At Ease Privates - Let's Roll!"
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Safety First
I was checking out the Federal Statistics portal and reading through the Dept. of Transportation's Bus numbers.
Did you know that in the last 20 years (1990-2010) while the number of buses and commercial trucks almost doubled from 6.8 million to 11.6 million, the number of crashes & numbers of trucks and buses involved in crashes & people injured in those crashes in 2010 have fallen to better than half from 1990?
AND a huge portion of those injuries are a result of movement during the accident, not because of the accident.
I was reading here that because public transportation has no seat belts, that because folks are walking around, changing seats, not paying attention, standing up, etc - that these behaviours contribute to injury during accidents.
Ever ridden the Mall Shuttle?
We have to hit our brakes, heck we have to stand on our brakes at least once per round trip.
And y'all in the back know what that's like even when you are paying attention, holding onto a rail and already packed in like sardines in a can.
You suddenly get to know your fellow passengers much more intimately!
The news loves to sensationalize all the accidents involving RTD vehicles.
But the facts are that those numbers are falling.
And the number of times RTD is hit far far outweighs those in which RTD hits.
Yes, every accident is a tragedy but c'mon...there are fewer tragedies these days than there were just two decades ago.
Heck, there are buses out there that old!
And many of you aren't even that old to begin with.
Anywho, I was just noticing that it's getting pretty danged safe on our roads.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Buckle Up for safety - Let's Roll!"
Did you know that in the last 20 years (1990-2010) while the number of buses and commercial trucks almost doubled from 6.8 million to 11.6 million, the number of crashes & numbers of trucks and buses involved in crashes & people injured in those crashes in 2010 have fallen to better than half from 1990?
AND a huge portion of those injuries are a result of movement during the accident, not because of the accident.
I was reading here that because public transportation has no seat belts, that because folks are walking around, changing seats, not paying attention, standing up, etc - that these behaviours contribute to injury during accidents.
Ever ridden the Mall Shuttle?
We have to hit our brakes, heck we have to stand on our brakes at least once per round trip.
And y'all in the back know what that's like even when you are paying attention, holding onto a rail and already packed in like sardines in a can.
You suddenly get to know your fellow passengers much more intimately!
The news loves to sensationalize all the accidents involving RTD vehicles.
But the facts are that those numbers are falling.
And the number of times RTD is hit far far outweighs those in which RTD hits.
Yes, every accident is a tragedy but c'mon...there are fewer tragedies these days than there were just two decades ago.
Heck, there are buses out there that old!
And many of you aren't even that old to begin with.
Anywho, I was just noticing that it's getting pretty danged safe on our roads.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Buckle Up for safety - Let's Roll!"
Transfers Part Two - 2013 Version!
Many of you already know but it would seems that even more of you don't understand ... yet.
In January we introduced that SmartCard reader for folks with ECO, NECO and College Passes.
Eventually we're told the SmartCard will migrate to the monthly passes to include stuff like coupons and discount cards.
We've heard that should happen by the end of Summer 2013.
We'll see.
But in the mean time, with this new vote, new year and new Card Reader system, the transfers have been modified.
We used to be taught that we tear the transfers to expire one hour after the last stop on our routes.
Now the new rule is to tear them three hours after the starting point.
For the majority of you that gives you way more time.
For example:
If I'm driving the 44 and I leave Applewood/Walmart at 2:06pm, then I'm going to set my transfers to expire at 5:20pm.
A whole bunch of you get off downtown when I hit the 16th Street Mall around 2:45pm.
That means you still have about two and a half hours to go!
Even if you don't get off until the Airport/40th PnR, you'll still have an hour on your transfer.
No time lost and really no different than the previous rule of one hour after my last stop.
On shorter routes, let's say I'm doing a 0L.
I'd leave the I-25/Broadway Station at 6:00am and get you to the Civic Centre Station by 6:15am!
Now you walk away with a transfer that still good until at least 9am.
Heck, you could take local buses all the way up into Boulder and still have time left on your transfer with that one.
Again, most of you are making out like bandits with this new system.
Those few of you who tell me you're losing time have to first explain how you're losing something you didn't have in the first place.
Then do the math and tell me again how much you believe you're losing.
Once we go fully digital, once the SmartCard is system wide, then you'll appreciate the new transfer policy all the more.
Heck, you may even long for the paper transfers back.
I won't but you may.
LOL
But seriously.
As of January 2013, the new rule is three hours from the starting point.
If it's 2:00pm then your transfers will expire no earlier than 5:00pm.
And you KNOW some of us break the rules and give you "extra" time anyway, so HUSH y'all.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Ask for a Transfer- Let's Roll!"
In January we introduced that SmartCard reader for folks with ECO, NECO and College Passes.
Eventually we're told the SmartCard will migrate to the monthly passes to include stuff like coupons and discount cards.
We've heard that should happen by the end of Summer 2013.
We'll see.
But in the mean time, with this new vote, new year and new Card Reader system, the transfers have been modified.
We used to be taught that we tear the transfers to expire one hour after the last stop on our routes.
Now the new rule is to tear them three hours after the starting point.
For the majority of you that gives you way more time.
For example:
If I'm driving the 44 and I leave Applewood/Walmart at 2:06pm, then I'm going to set my transfers to expire at 5:20pm.
A whole bunch of you get off downtown when I hit the 16th Street Mall around 2:45pm.
That means you still have about two and a half hours to go!
Even if you don't get off until the Airport/40th PnR, you'll still have an hour on your transfer.
No time lost and really no different than the previous rule of one hour after my last stop.
On shorter routes, let's say I'm doing a 0L.
I'd leave the I-25/Broadway Station at 6:00am and get you to the Civic Centre Station by 6:15am!
Now you walk away with a transfer that still good until at least 9am.
Heck, you could take local buses all the way up into Boulder and still have time left on your transfer with that one.
Again, most of you are making out like bandits with this new system.
Those few of you who tell me you're losing time have to first explain how you're losing something you didn't have in the first place.
Then do the math and tell me again how much you believe you're losing.
Once we go fully digital, once the SmartCard is system wide, then you'll appreciate the new transfer policy all the more.
Heck, you may even long for the paper transfers back.
I won't but you may.
LOL
But seriously.
As of January 2013, the new rule is three hours from the starting point.
If it's 2:00pm then your transfers will expire no earlier than 5:00pm.
And you KNOW some of us break the rules and give you "extra" time anyway, so HUSH y'all.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Ask for a Transfer- Let's Roll!"
Friday, January 18, 2013
Say It Again, Sam!
We had a memo/bulletin come out last week that made me sad.
It was a reminder that we cannot "eject" passengers.
It didn't make me sad because we cannot eject our passengers.
It made me sad because there are still those around who think we can!
Both passenger and Driver still think that as Drivers, we are "captains" of the ship.
We are not.
We're simply Drivers, chauffeurs taught how to handle these beasts and guide them along the routes.
In training we're taught to educate and accommodate.
The memo reminds us of this.
You know those tags on hair dryers that tell folks not to use the dryer in the tub/shower?
They had to put those on there because somebody was just that intelligent and did exactly that.
This memo was the same thing - to remind some Drivers that they are not allowed to be ejecting folks from the bus.
If you get on without paying, I have a button to push.
If you cause a disturbance, I have a button to push.
If you're too drunk, too dangerous or just too plain stupid, I have a button for that!
I'll pull over to the next stop and you get to see those neatly uniformed men board the bus and give you the attention you so obviously desire.
But I won't argue with you, debate your fare or whether that was a quarter or dime.
I won't debate whether that transfer was expired or whether your grandmother just dying and you needing to get to the hospital is reason for a free ride.
I'll simply educate, "The fare is X and I'm not authorized to give free rides," then accommodate you by allowing you to decide whether to sit down without paying the correct fare or step off the bus.
Parents - I'm not kicking your kiddos off the bus so that they can't get to or from school.
Caregivers - I'm not leaving your charges out in the cold.
Families - I'm not driving away from your drunken loved ones in the middle of the night in some scary neighborhood.
Everybody gets a ride, I can't "kick them off."
Whether they get tickets is up to somebody else - if a supervisor or a fare inspector comes to visit, that's their call not mine.
I'm just the Driver.
My job is to meet my passenger's public transit needs by offering safe, clean, reliable, courteous & accessible service throughout my route.
I'm sad that we needed a memo/bulletin to remind us of this.
We are not police, captains, authority figures or judges.
We are Drivers, monitoring the safety of those on the bus and around us outside - safely and expediently guiding these 20 ton hulks around the Front Range.
You need a ride?
I gotcha covered.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Look out for my ejection button - Let's Roll!"
It was a reminder that we cannot "eject" passengers.
It didn't make me sad because we cannot eject our passengers.
It made me sad because there are still those around who think we can!
Both passenger and Driver still think that as Drivers, we are "captains" of the ship.
We are not.
We're simply Drivers, chauffeurs taught how to handle these beasts and guide them along the routes.
In training we're taught to educate and accommodate.
The memo reminds us of this.
You know those tags on hair dryers that tell folks not to use the dryer in the tub/shower?
They had to put those on there because somebody was just that intelligent and did exactly that.
This memo was the same thing - to remind some Drivers that they are not allowed to be ejecting folks from the bus.
If you get on without paying, I have a button to push.
If you cause a disturbance, I have a button to push.
If you're too drunk, too dangerous or just too plain stupid, I have a button for that!
I'll pull over to the next stop and you get to see those neatly uniformed men board the bus and give you the attention you so obviously desire.
But I won't argue with you, debate your fare or whether that was a quarter or dime.
I won't debate whether that transfer was expired or whether your grandmother just dying and you needing to get to the hospital is reason for a free ride.
I'll simply educate, "The fare is X and I'm not authorized to give free rides," then accommodate you by allowing you to decide whether to sit down without paying the correct fare or step off the bus.
Parents - I'm not kicking your kiddos off the bus so that they can't get to or from school.
Caregivers - I'm not leaving your charges out in the cold.
Families - I'm not driving away from your drunken loved ones in the middle of the night in some scary neighborhood.
Everybody gets a ride, I can't "kick them off."
Whether they get tickets is up to somebody else - if a supervisor or a fare inspector comes to visit, that's their call not mine.
I'm just the Driver.
My job is to meet my passenger's public transit needs by offering safe, clean, reliable, courteous & accessible service throughout my route.
I'm sad that we needed a memo/bulletin to remind us of this.
We are not police, captains, authority figures or judges.
We are Drivers, monitoring the safety of those on the bus and around us outside - safely and expediently guiding these 20 ton hulks around the Front Range.
You need a ride?
I gotcha covered.
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Look out for my ejection button - Let's Roll!"
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Bah Bah Black Sheep...
Keep in mind that these are my opinions and that RTD neither condones nor endorses my thoughts, my site, my opinions, etc etc etc...
Anywho...
So I am an avid reader.
I read RTD's website, nearly every single page.
I keep an eye on their YouTube.
I read RTD's Twitter and their FaceBook as well.
Not to mention I hear y'all daily.
Before I answer some of the cheese and whine I want to point out that one of our mantras is:
"Our Customers are not persons to argue or match wits with, NO ONE ever won an argument with a customer."
So obviously when I hear all this at work, I just keep my mouth shut, smile and nod then continue along with my job of happily providing the best danged service I can.
There is one complaint that I scream on the inside every time I hear it.
I used to ride the bus before I became a Driver, before I came to work here at RTD.
I did so for a very long time and I've very familiar with the in and outs.
Coming to work at RTD, they specifically ask us if we have reliable transportation to work, transportation that is not the bus.
We have to be able to get to work in any weather and condition.
One of the lines in our handbook reads, "The bus was late' is not an acceptable excuse."
When there is snow, I leave for work extremely early and get to work usually when I'd normally be just waking up.
And amazingly, most of my fellows are there as well.
We plan ahead and take responsibility for getting to our jobs on time.
So when I hear somebody complain about the bus always being late, always making them late, being unreliable...etc etc etc
I think to myself, "then just take an earlier bus!"
"But I shouldn't have to do that. I pay good money for my monthly pass and expect reliable service. RTD doesn't care, they just take our money, raise the rates, give themselves raises and do whatever they want."
When I'm driving, I care.
I start to care less about folks like YOU but overall, I care about the other 99.9999999999% of my customers/passengers.
When I drive, I'm busting my butt to get to my stops on time.
Our old radios used to tell us when we were 3 minutes late.
When we hit 5, we got calls from dispatch.
At ten, we had to call in and we'd better have a dang good excuse.
I've driven nearly 3 in 4 routes out of Platte and I can't recall ONE route that wasn't tough to keep time.
Sure there are stretches on every route, times when it's dead and you can make up lost time.
But just when you're back on track there's 30 people at the next stop, half in wheelchairs or paying with pennies!
Don't hear something I'm not saying in that last sentence.
It's my job to care for every single passenger, regardless of how they pay, or how they board.
Or how long it takes to board them.
It simply takes a minute longer to strap in a chair or to unjam 30 pennies jammed in the slot.
These things happen and it's just a part of life, a part of the job.
But there is going to be that one loser in the back who is going to scream at the person in the chair, or at me for taking that extra minute to make certain they are secure, or who screams at the person paying with pennies or writing out a check - lol, I'm kidding, we don't take checks.
Or the person at the next stop who is going to cuss and swear at me for being a minute, two minutes, five minutes late then call in and complain about me.
All because that one loser slept in late or waited until the last minute to leave the house and believes the world owes him to get him to work on time in spite of his every effort against the world.
So when I hear those whines, moaning about late buses ruining their lives - I wonder if they are the same folks who wake up late, leave the house at the last minute, speed down the highway and complain about the cop who pulled them over for speeding.
I can just hear them:
"I pay good money in taxes that pay for my license, my fees, your salary! You can't keep the roads clear of traffic and you make me late to work every day. Then you give me a ticket? You obviously just take my money and don't care - I'm calling to complain about you..."
As I read through RTD's pages and I see these same few names complaining, I see RTD and RTD's Directors trying to be patient and accommodating and eventually just give up and move on.
I want to jump in and remind folks to take responsibility for their own actions.
Yes RTD is late sometimes.
There are 150 routes spread over 2400 miles.
10,000 bus stops, 800 buses out at any one time.
Half a million boardings each week.
There is only one of YOU and you can't even get to work on time 5 days a week.
And all you got is to blame somebody else for you not taking responsibility and leaving the house a few minutes early to catch an earlier bus or simply get to the stop on time.
I feel for the folks who have to take your complaints every day.
They obviously don't get paid enough.
Me?
I'm taught by my trainers to have this attitude:
I'm paid by the minute.
I take each minute to do my job, do it the best way I can and to not worry about the previous minute or the next until I've made the most of every second of the current minute.
Ok, my ranting about the one or two whiners in a sea of freaking awesome customers is over.
I just had to get that out of my system.
I think I'm good for a bit longer!
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Whether we're on-time or late - Let's Roll!"
Anywho...
So I am an avid reader.
I read RTD's website, nearly every single page.
I keep an eye on their YouTube.
I read RTD's Twitter and their FaceBook as well.
Not to mention I hear y'all daily.
Before I answer some of the cheese and whine I want to point out that one of our mantras is:
"Our Customers are not persons to argue or match wits with, NO ONE ever won an argument with a customer."
So obviously when I hear all this at work, I just keep my mouth shut, smile and nod then continue along with my job of happily providing the best danged service I can.
There is one complaint that I scream on the inside every time I hear it.
I used to ride the bus before I became a Driver, before I came to work here at RTD.
I did so for a very long time and I've very familiar with the in and outs.
Coming to work at RTD, they specifically ask us if we have reliable transportation to work, transportation that is not the bus.
We have to be able to get to work in any weather and condition.
One of the lines in our handbook reads, "The bus was late' is not an acceptable excuse."
When there is snow, I leave for work extremely early and get to work usually when I'd normally be just waking up.
And amazingly, most of my fellows are there as well.
We plan ahead and take responsibility for getting to our jobs on time.
So when I hear somebody complain about the bus always being late, always making them late, being unreliable...etc etc etc
I think to myself, "then just take an earlier bus!"
"But I shouldn't have to do that. I pay good money for my monthly pass and expect reliable service. RTD doesn't care, they just take our money, raise the rates, give themselves raises and do whatever they want."
When I'm driving, I care.
I start to care less about folks like YOU but overall, I care about the other 99.9999999999% of my customers/passengers.
When I drive, I'm busting my butt to get to my stops on time.
Our old radios used to tell us when we were 3 minutes late.
When we hit 5, we got calls from dispatch.
At ten, we had to call in and we'd better have a dang good excuse.
I've driven nearly 3 in 4 routes out of Platte and I can't recall ONE route that wasn't tough to keep time.
Sure there are stretches on every route, times when it's dead and you can make up lost time.
But just when you're back on track there's 30 people at the next stop, half in wheelchairs or paying with pennies!
Don't hear something I'm not saying in that last sentence.
It's my job to care for every single passenger, regardless of how they pay, or how they board.
Or how long it takes to board them.
It simply takes a minute longer to strap in a chair or to unjam 30 pennies jammed in the slot.
These things happen and it's just a part of life, a part of the job.
But there is going to be that one loser in the back who is going to scream at the person in the chair, or at me for taking that extra minute to make certain they are secure, or who screams at the person paying with pennies or writing out a check - lol, I'm kidding, we don't take checks.
Or the person at the next stop who is going to cuss and swear at me for being a minute, two minutes, five minutes late then call in and complain about me.
All because that one loser slept in late or waited until the last minute to leave the house and believes the world owes him to get him to work on time in spite of his every effort against the world.
So when I hear those whines, moaning about late buses ruining their lives - I wonder if they are the same folks who wake up late, leave the house at the last minute, speed down the highway and complain about the cop who pulled them over for speeding.
I can just hear them:
"I pay good money in taxes that pay for my license, my fees, your salary! You can't keep the roads clear of traffic and you make me late to work every day. Then you give me a ticket? You obviously just take my money and don't care - I'm calling to complain about you..."
As I read through RTD's pages and I see these same few names complaining, I see RTD and RTD's Directors trying to be patient and accommodating and eventually just give up and move on.
I want to jump in and remind folks to take responsibility for their own actions.
Yes RTD is late sometimes.
There are 150 routes spread over 2400 miles.
10,000 bus stops, 800 buses out at any one time.
Half a million boardings each week.
There is only one of YOU and you can't even get to work on time 5 days a week.
And all you got is to blame somebody else for you not taking responsibility and leaving the house a few minutes early to catch an earlier bus or simply get to the stop on time.
I feel for the folks who have to take your complaints every day.
They obviously don't get paid enough.
Me?
I'm taught by my trainers to have this attitude:
I'm paid by the minute.
I take each minute to do my job, do it the best way I can and to not worry about the previous minute or the next until I've made the most of every second of the current minute.
Ok, my ranting about the one or two whiners in a sea of freaking awesome customers is over.
I just had to get that out of my system.
I think I'm good for a bit longer!
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Whether we're on-time or late - Let's Roll!"
Say What?
I'm not saying I hate you, I'm just saying if you got hit by a bus, I would be driving that bus.
I'm not sure how I feel about that...but I can admit I smirked!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
It's A New Year With Some New Changes...
Happy New Year!
So it's 2013 and we have a few changes.
Some changes coming now.
And more changes later in the year.
But let's start with the immediate changes; who they affect and who they don't.
The Smart Card.
You've seen all of our Smart Card readers, the new radios and heard about the changes on all the local news channels.
I've been asked about this constantly for the last six months.
It's here...mostly!
The Smart Card is replacing the myriad of Passes RTD has out there.
From the 6 bazillion College passes to the 4 trillion Eco and NEco passes.
All the tickets and coupons and all the different Monthly passes.
And eliminate 90% of the transfers we hand out.
As of this month, the Smart Card only affects those with College & Eco (NEco) Passes.
For College students, when your current sticker expires you'll be given the new College Pass Smart Card.
For Eco Pass holders, if you haven't already been given your new Smart Card, it's on its way to you now.
Hang onto your current pass and make sure you still have your sticker on it.
We're extending any deadlines/expiry dates to January 31st of this year.
This way Eco Pass holders have a chance to get the new cards and still use their old ones while they wait.
But that's the extent of the current changes: Eco & College Smart Cards.
Regular Monthly passes don't go "Smart" until the Fall and we'll be selling Tickets & Coupons at least until then and accepting them through the end of this year when they all expire.
So if you use Monthly Passes and/or Tickets & Coupons, you won't see any changes this month.
And NO - at this time, there are no Fare increases being announced, at least none that I've heard or read on RTD's site!
Starting in 2014, the only folks who'll be using cash and asking for paper transfers will be the one time and first time riders who probably won't ride again or who've only just begun to learn how to use the system.
This is what I've been taught, told and what I've learned so far.
But I strongly recommend you call in (303-299-6000) and ask them, they know far more than I.
And read RTD's web site.
There are a ton of pages dedicated to this change.
There is a customer service number for the Smart Card as well (303-299-2273)
And don't forget that there are Service Changes coming up next week.
The new schedules are in the buses and Stations as we speak, grab the new ones so there are no surprises come Sunday (January 6th).
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Break out the Smart Cards - Let's Roll!"
So it's 2013 and we have a few changes.
Some changes coming now.
And more changes later in the year.
But let's start with the immediate changes; who they affect and who they don't.
The Smart Card.
You've seen all of our Smart Card readers, the new radios and heard about the changes on all the local news channels.
I've been asked about this constantly for the last six months.
It's here...mostly!
The Smart Card is replacing the myriad of Passes RTD has out there.
From the 6 bazillion College passes to the 4 trillion Eco and NEco passes.
All the tickets and coupons and all the different Monthly passes.
And eliminate 90% of the transfers we hand out.
As of this month, the Smart Card only affects those with College & Eco (NEco) Passes.
For College students, when your current sticker expires you'll be given the new College Pass Smart Card.
For Eco Pass holders, if you haven't already been given your new Smart Card, it's on its way to you now.
Hang onto your current pass and make sure you still have your sticker on it.
We're extending any deadlines/expiry dates to January 31st of this year.
This way Eco Pass holders have a chance to get the new cards and still use their old ones while they wait.
But that's the extent of the current changes: Eco & College Smart Cards.
Regular Monthly passes don't go "Smart" until the Fall and we'll be selling Tickets & Coupons at least until then and accepting them through the end of this year when they all expire.
So if you use Monthly Passes and/or Tickets & Coupons, you won't see any changes this month.
And NO - at this time, there are no Fare increases being announced, at least none that I've heard or read on RTD's site!
Starting in 2014, the only folks who'll be using cash and asking for paper transfers will be the one time and first time riders who probably won't ride again or who've only just begun to learn how to use the system.
This is what I've been taught, told and what I've learned so far.
But I strongly recommend you call in (303-299-6000) and ask them, they know far more than I.
And read RTD's web site.
There are a ton of pages dedicated to this change.
There is a customer service number for the Smart Card as well (303-299-2273)
And don't forget that there are Service Changes coming up next week.
The new schedules are in the buses and Stations as we speak, grab the new ones so there are no surprises come Sunday (January 6th).
As Always, "Welcome aboard, Find your seats, Break out the Smart Cards - Let's Roll!"
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