PublicTransportRant.h

[gothwalk]

Simple assumptions of public transport, one: If you stick your arm out, wave vigourously, and generally look like you want the bus to stop, the bus will stop. In the case of an 11 (which I didn't want to catch, but other people did) and a 48A this morning, they interpreted this otherwise fairly straightforward gesture as "Speed up there, mate, nobody here wants to get on your bus, and since it's half-empty at eight in the morning, lots of other people didn't want to either." The 11 driver waved on the way past.

Simple assumptions of public transport, two: Ringing the bell and going to stand in the aisle, just behind the white line you are not premitted to cross indicates that the conveyance should stop at the next sign, and let you off. It should not take, as happened to several people this morning, saying "Um, this stop?" as we whiz on past, and in one spectacular case, a good shout, and a solid German accent "Stop the bus, you vanker, I vant to get off!"

Finally, in the case of the Dart, starting to move the train when you can plainly see that a bloke on the platform has his coat stuck in the door is unwise. It's very unwise when the door he's stuck in is the one about three metres behind you, your window is open, and his yelling can be heard about three stations away. It's no wonder he demanded your name.

Comments

[etherealfionna.livejournal.com]

The 11 driver waved on the way past.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Priceless.

I really don't miss Irish public transport. When I think back on what I've seen on some of the country buses and how unthinkable it would be here.

[mr-wombat.livejournal.com]

Don't get me started, the drivers on the 46A route are some of the most ignorant, arrogant pricks I've ever encountered, I've had rows with several of them for ignoring my ringing the bell (I guess because I only did it 100 yards and two sets of lights ahead of the stop) and theres one gimp on the 10 route that, like your pal on the 11, views stopping as optional.

[socmot.livejournal.com]

Did I mention I like cars?

[penexpers.livejournal.com]

Secretly I'd love to be a bus/train drive. The amount of crap they can get away with is just insane.

[mooseloon.livejournal.com]

mmm walking. Of course, this requires not getting lost. However, if the busses dont stop when you tell them to (thankfully i avoided this experince over htere) you can end up lost anyway.

*sigh*

Walking, really. Or biking. Or running. If i didnt have much stuff It was prety much always faster for me to walk/run into town than to take the bus.

[bastun-ie.livejournal.com]

Cars: good, except for the cost to your pocket and the environment, and finding parking. (See my rant yesterday). And you have to cope with mad drivers.

Walking/jogging/running: Not always feasible. Especially if you've nowhere in work to shower/change.

Cycling: Good, with the exception of having to cope with mad drivers from a much more vulnerable position. But at least we don't have to deal with the likes of this in Ireland. Usually.

Public transport: In theory, the best. But in Ireland, dependent on where you live, when you need to actually arrive in work, not having to use a bus route normally populated by junkies, and well, yeah, depending on drivers to do what they're supposed to.

But personally, my thoughts are still "Hey, it's the 21st century, either give me my flying car or personal jetpack - or, failing that, a refund on all those 'Look and Learn' and 'World of Knowledge' books I read as a kid in the seventies..."

Public transport

[ailbhe]

My mother is still appalled by the story of the woman who wanted to board a bus (I think a 46A) near UCD in Stillorgan. She had a baby and a buggy, and a student was holding the baby while the woman folded the buggy. The student got onto the bus to hold it for the woman with the buggy.

The driver drove off.

Do you know this story?