All Aboard COTA Crimes!

A veteran commuter, including almost two decades riding the coaches and rails of New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority, I have been amazed at the lack of accountability on the part of the Central Ohio Transit Authority, particularly when it comes to the ineptitude and inconvenience of the system, and treatment of its customers. Unlike most metropolitan newspapers, The Columbus Dispatch barely covers this beat--I guess it's readers all are safely ensconced in their earth-killing machines and don't ever have to bother with riding the bus. Even now, most people look at me strange when I explain that I'm a bus rider and don't have a car. But even more astounding to me is the riding public's apparent willingness to endure rude drivers, bad service, nonexistent transfer procedures, and fare increases, just to name a few injustices. This blog will serve to document the abuses, highlight service lapses and shortcomings, and put the word out about discourteous drivers. Kudos will be provided when earned, and readers are encouraged to contribute accounts of their own experiences. It is hoped that the effort will result in the establishment of a commuter-advocacy organization like New York's Straphanger Campaign, to put the system's wheels to the fire. WE DESERVE BETTER!!!

Monday, October 6, 2014

Of bedbugs and buses

A couple of weeks ago, I swore I saw a COTA rider tweak a bedbug off his shirt and squeeze it to death. This observation underlies one of the my basest fears of life in general, and of COTA, in particular: getting and having to deal with an infestation of bedbugs!

This event occurred just a couple of weeks from my return from New York City, which was all a-twitter about the discovery of bedbugs on several Brooklyn lines, which resulted in the trains being taken out of service.

I don't know how high the incidence of bedbug infestation might be on COTA buses, but you can damn well bet that they are there. COTA serves the Columbus underclass--those hit hard by poverty, unemployment, less than hygienic living conditions, as well as scores of homeless folks. However, as we well know, you can be living on Riverside Drive and find you have picked up bedbugs. But the demographic of COTA's ridership would appear to make it more likely you might run into the little bastards. So you know they are there, lurking in the cracks and crevices of the seats and windows.

According to Orkin, the nation's top pest-control company, Columbus is No. 3 in its 2014 list of the nation's Top 10 cities for bedbugs, based on calls for service they receive for treatments. In fact, Columbus moved up three spots from its No. 6 standing in 2013. Perhaps even more ominous for all Ohioans, four of the Top 10 are Ohio cities: Cincinnati (No. 5), the Cleveland/Akron/Canton metroplex (No. 6), and Dayton (No. 7). Only Chicago and Los Angeles top the Capitol City.

I don't know what kind of precautions COTA takes to prevent bedbug infestation, but I bet they are minimal--after all, not much stops them except for the banned insecticide DDT (I've often wondered whether the current explosion of bedbugs in the U.S. is linked some nefarious terrorist plot). The buses don't seem to be cleaned too often for any reason, let alone for bedbugs. I suppose I could call them to find out some answers, but I'd blow my cover, and I don't want to do that yet. However, I have noticed that new buses have black vinyl seat coverings, which makes it easier to see the little buggers. I still cringe when I have to sit on the fabric-covered seats, and always look around for creepy crawlers (and stains, chewing gum, and other evidence of "wet spots"). I shake my stuff when I get off the bus--and then just pray!
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2 comments:

  1. cotacrimebusterOctober 6, 2014 at 5:10 PM

    I couldn't seem to get the link for the Orkin survey to post on the blog, so here it is: http://www.orkin.com/press-room/chicago-tops-bed-bug-cities-list-for-second-year-in-a-row/

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  2. public transportation driverFebruary 3, 2015 at 5:10 AM

    Bedbugs amongst other things may be found on public transportation. . But because it's just that PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION we need to keep it in mind that it's your choice to ride... even if COTA took the precautions to prevent them it want make to much of a difference considering the same pple have the right to ride just like you.... it saddens me to know that there are pple like you ridding around lurking &looking for something wrong ..yes there is a bedbug epidemic in Columbus not just in poverty stricken areas you can go to work n pick them up from your boss ...geeeessshhhh get a car or perhaps get a job with COTA as a coach cleaner and see how many buses stay clean with you on they team... creep

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