Never a slouch when it comes to improving commuter comforts, COTA now offers blaring ADS over its bus speakers, which make perfect mini-alarms for those dozy moments along the way home.
The ads range from PSAs to educate about crib-death prevention, credit-recovery programs for high school dropouts, and fly-by-night "universities" to customized t-shirts (by the Mamas and Papas, no less!--slogan: It's not the shirt but what's ON the shirt!) and help-wanted ads for seasonal jobs at the ring of mega-warehouses that have sprung up on the southeast and far east sides of town.
Personally, I detest the intrusion as an unneeded addition to the ever-deafening din of urban life. I was first introduced to ads on public transit in 2013 as a regular rider of Dayton's Metropolitan Transit Authority bus system, where ads bleating over bus loudspeakers are common.
Particularly annoying was the Budweiser ad that chimed the five o'clock hour, substituting the bells of a church steeple with the sound of a can lustily being opened and the resultant fizzing as the beverage was poured, presumably in a chilled beer mug: It's five o'clock! Time for a nice cold can of America's best glug, glug, glug...."
At this writing, no Budweiser ads can be heard on COTA. But I bet they're not far away.
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A commuter-biased look at the foibles, f**k-ups, and failures of the only public transit system available to residents of Columbus, Ohio
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!!!
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