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!!!

Thursday, October 13, 2016

DIY, COTA STYLE!

I know, some of the posts I've put up this time have year-old photos. For two reasons: I don't like to waste a good shot, and because COTA is timeless so the photos are always apropos and on point. COTA is timeless because CONDITIONS RARELY CHANGE. So the unsuspecting Columbus commuter might well expect to stumble upon similar scenes and conditions during their own riding careers. Truth never gets old.

Well, here's another blast from the recent past, from December 2015, and it involves COTA's horrible habit of keeping riders ill- or totally uninformed about service changes. One that chilly Sunday morn, I was waiting for the bus at my local Near East Side stop when I watched this scene unfold.
The barricades went up and the sign was posted. How the hell was I to get downtown? While minutes earlier, I warmly anticipated the possibility of peace and quiet my attendance at a spiritual gathering might bring, now vicious thoughts of homicide began to roil inside my brain. No COTA notice, no information concerning rerouting or how long this delay-breeding roadblock might stay in force. A few choice words were exclaimed to no one in particular.

After several minutes, I noticed the bus was turning off down the street, blocks away. No choice but to walk down there. But first, I felt I must alert other COTA customers to the crisis. So I did something COTA should have done but didn't and usually doesn't: posted timely and accurate information about delays and reroutes.






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