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, August 15, 2016

The future is: PLASTICS (as in COTA garbage bags)

Readers who follow this blog know I abhor the sheaves of plastic garbage bags that COTA feels compelled to offer its il-litter-ate customers, many of whom use them as seat covers, which end up on the floor and often out the door to add to our tremendous stream of plastic garbage. Here's a recent scene on the bus--though I have seen worse when I did not have my camera on me; on a recent day, I counted more than 15 of these horrible bags littering the seats and floor of a bus. More than one driver has told me they are tired of picking them up day after day. I cringe every time I see a selfish rider pull off a bag and spread it over their seat. My dander rises even more when the lazy bums just leave them there when they disembark. Riders seem to think, like many people these days in general seem to do, that "someone else" will come along and pick up after their asses. WRONG, PEOPLE! BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR TRASH, AND PICK THAT BAG UP AFTER YOU'VE SPREAD YOUR ASS OVER IT.



While I always find this annoying to see on the bus, THIS had me totally incensed when I spotted it in the community garden next door to my building last month.




And no, I did not "plant" the bag there. A few days later, again without my camera, I saw no more than FIVE COTA bags littering the lawn of a building that houses doctors' offices at 18th Avenue and East Main Street.

COTA buses had ads that boasted about its new "green" headquarters downtown a couple of years ago. The authority won some kind of award for the "green" features built into the North High Street building it occupies downtown. I propose that the award be rescinded until COTA cleans up its act, and gets rid of these loathsome plastic bags.

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