Broward County Transit  September 17, 2012

This morning's bus arrived five minutes late.  It doesn't sound like much, but in order to transfer to other bus routes, buses need to be on time.  With only five scheduled minutes to spare for my connection,  my commute to work was in jeopardy.  In order to make the connection, three of us had to jump off the bus prematurely and run to an alternate location to pick up the next bus.  For those in sneakers, it might be okay, but those of us who are dressed to work in offices find the situation more difficult.  As much as the self-important attitude displayed by so of many of the drivers honks off the riders, it's not always their fault.  

It seems like those people in charge of the schedules are also responsible for the miserable service doled out by Broward County Transit.   

The evening bus driver on one of my routes drives like a madman.   I appreciate that he is an "on time" driver, but in order for him to be on time, he bullies all sorts of vehicles if they are going too slowly.  He honks the horn repeatedly while he rides up so close to the backs of cars, I doubt the drivers can even tell what type of behemoth vehicle is looming in their rear-view mirrors. This is not safe for the people in the cars.  Buses don't stop that quickly, and the car's occupants could be injured, maimed, or even killed before anyone on the bus even had to brace themselves.  (On some buses there are cameras focused on the road in front of the bus.  Is anyone watching?)

So, it seems that those of us who are condemned to Broward County Transit are victims of  irrelevant, unachievable bus schedules which cause ill-will, frustration, and hostility. They also put the lives of the occupants of other vehicles at risk.  

Regarding ill-will, this afternoon, a woman got on the bus complaining about the 14 Route.   She is certain that the driver is late on purpose so that she and several others consistently cannot make their connecting bus.  She was serious.  This is how people who ride the buses feel.  There is a LOT of ill-will out there.  Asked by a fellow passenger (not me) why she doesn't call to complain.  Oh....let's think....why doesn't she call?....Hmmmm....  could it be that nothing gets done about it and no one ever calls as promised by all of the "customer service" representatives recording the information??

 Anyway, who creates the schedule?  Who approves it?   I would bet that the people in charge of scheduling have never taken the bus.  If they have, they've only take a token ride; they've never had to rely on the buses to get to work on time or to get home to the kids.

A lot of problems could be solved with schedules that are achievable.  I challenge everyone in the Broward County Transit offices and every County Commissioner take the buses for an entire month, never driving in their convenient cars during that entire time.  They should experience what it's really like.  

I continue to be,

Condemned to Broward County Transit