The only thing worse is driving

[muckefuck]

CTA's on a roll!

Last night, heading back from the Middle Eastern concert in Block 37 (will post about that, promise!), the driver of the 147 missed the turnoff at Foster. She took the Bryn Mawr exit, pulled over, and yelled back, "CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF I CAN GET OFF AT FOSTER?" A woman in front of us was saying, "Just turn right!" [onto Sheridan, she meant]. monshu had to point out, "But some of us want to get off south!" A chorus of riders convinced her she could, even though there's no exit onto Foster going southbound, so she executed a very tight turn and got back on the drive. monshu started to tell me stories of other express drivers who didn't seem to know where to get on or get off the Drive. This one had to go all the way to Lawrence and then again seemed unsure where to go. However, a woman standing near the front door helped pilot her onto Marine going north. "Sorry for the joy ride," she called out.

This morning, I managed to miss the Linden from the Howard station. (When the Express is late, they'll often run a local from Howard.) It used to be that they never announced them; you just had to keep your eyes peeled. But, lately, they've even been announcing ETAs for the Express over the loudspeakers, so I was lulled into trusting them. Never again! Fortunately, another Express came along shortly. However, when we got to my stop, the driver managed to open the doors with the train not all the way into the station.

I know I've cursed past drivers for pulling up too far; I always get in the last car because it should end up right by the exit, but it's often a couple lengths beyond it. This is especially exasperating because if you've ever waited near the head of a station, you can see that there are bright yellow signs RIGHT THERE telling drivers where to stop a train based on its length (i.e. there are usually three signs, for 8-, 6-, and 4-car trains respectively; sometimes they're all on one post, sometimes they're staggered). A chimp should be able to get it right. But CTA employees aren't chimps--they're union. Still, this is the first one that's left me staring out into open space above the tracks. Luckily, the forward doors opened on to a narrow ledge behind the attendant's office and we all managed to squeeze out.

Ironically, the article I was reading before I got off was one by Miner in the Reader, talking about how thousands of people were trapped on trains for 90 mins. or more during a breakdown two weeks ago and how neither of the local papers got the story. I have to give it up for the CTA riders. I had half a mind to get on the intercom and chew out the driver, but everyone else was stoically filing out and I realise how futile that would be. Last night, many were positively bemused at our peregrinations. (Those that weren't were mostly dead tired from a full day of work.) Really, the CTA doesn't deserve the customers it gets.

Maybe I'll walk home...

Comments

[gopower.livejournal.com]

Miner should well know that these days neither paper (certainly not the bone-thin Sun-Times) keeps reporters on the clock after 6 p.m. or so when their copy for the next day has been filed. More interesting would be whether the local TV news stations covered the event "Live!" This kind of bloody-obvious "the trains aren't running and its pouring rain on you, tell me, are you passengers upset?" is right up their alley.

My train was lucky enough to be stopped at the Clyborn station, so I was able to get out and get home by two buses in only two hours. The driver of the Halsted bus did tell us we could get the El at Belmont which turned out to a wasted walk since the trains weren't running. There's no good reason why the CTA shouldn't be able to radio basic info like this to all their vehicles.