Rant: C-Train drivers all suck - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Jayems · 12-02-2005, 10:53 PM

So there I am, getting off work, and am at the 1st & 7th LRT station. As im going up the little ramp, I start jogging as I see the train is there and the lights are still green on the doors (meaning you can still get on). I give a little thank you wave to Mr. C-Train man, and just as I get to the door, he turns off the door. Then sits there for 20 seconds, and takes off. What a freakin *******.

I understand that they have schedules, but he sees me coming, and the worst part of all of this, is because this guy either thought he was funny, or was a door opening nazi, I had to stand outside in the -20c for an extra 20 minutes waiting for the next one. And, when I finally got to my car at Brentwood, takes me another 35 just to get home cause of the roads. (not that that has anything to do with transit, but still)

Im freakin choked today at Calgary Transit.

Edit: Please take into account that this was at 9pm, and I was the only one trying to get on the train. There was no one else around. I could understand if there was a crowd, but c'mon. Let 1 guy on in -20c.

Flames_Gimp · 12-02-2005, 11:28 PM

what a *******...happened to me a few times.

Flames_Gimp · 12-02-2005, 11:29 PM

wtf, they edit out B.A.stard?

Jayems · 12-02-2005, 11:55 PM

Yeah, I went for the B.astard comment too. lol.

Mightyfire89 · 12-03-2005, 12:39 AM

Well, the thing you have to remember is that, whoever you run into, their time is far more important than yours...That seems to be the case, anyway...This guy's a jerk... but, I say it nearly every day...People, in general, are a-holes. It's that simple. The sooner you realise that, the better for your mental health. I used to get so upset with the way people are that I would bottle it up inside until I just had to explode (usually when I was drinking...heavily)...and then beat the hell out of the next jerk I ran into. This is not a good course of action...trust me, I paid for it...and that's the point, I let all these a-holes bother me, and it got me in trouble...instead, I've found the best thing to do is to be secure in the knowledge that I now always try to treat people the way I would like to be treated, and if they don't do the same, they're just not worth my time...but I can carry on with my life knowing that I'm doing what I can to NOT treat people like that.

Jayems · 12-03-2005, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightyfire89

Well, the thing you have to remember is that, whoever you run into, their time is far more important than yours...That seems to be the case, anyway...This guy's a jerk... but, I say it nearly every day...People, in general, are a-holes. It's that simple. The sooner you realise that, the better for your mental health. I used to get so upset with the way people are that I would bottle it up inside until I just had to explode (usually when I was drinking...heavily)...and then beat the hell out of the next jerk I ran into. This is not a good course of action...trust me, I paid for it...and that's the point, I let all these a-holes bother me, and it got me in trouble...instead, I've found the best thing to do is to be secure in the knowledge that I now always try to treat people the way I would like to be treated, and if they don't do the same, they're just not worth my time...but I can carry on with my life knowing that I'm doing what I can to NOT treat people like that.

You know, this is my way of venting that. I worked at a local hospital ER for quite a few years and, trust me, I know the true meaning of a$$holes. You words are 100% true. I did write transit a letter, but it was not rude, and i made it known it was not a complaint, just want conclusion on why they do this, so that i can have closure. Not that I really need it, but you know what I mean.

Incinerator · 12-03-2005, 01:07 AM

This is why I refuse to give Calgary Transit any of my business even if I have to pay $10 a day for parking on top of the ****ing U-Pass .

red '00 · 12-03-2005, 01:45 AM

Yeah Transit has been ****ing me off for years now. You will always run into the a-hole transit cop or the jackass train/bus driver who thinks he's funny if you use the system enough. Not to mention half the train stations are a great place to get mugged if you use them at night time alone. I was at the Rundle station a few nights ago after shopping at Sunridge and some dude who couldn't have been any older then 15 started flashing a razor blade at me from across the platform doing a little "yeah I'm cool" nod. I just sort of looked at him like he was a ###### bag and I think he got the hint that I wasn't afraid of a 5'2" Latino kid with an arm hair mustache and one of his mom's lady razors... Nothing potentially dangerous besides that has ever really happened to me, but I know my bro got mugged a few times at train stations when he used to frequently use Transit, once with a gun.

If I wasn't cheap, I'd pay for gas more often and drive.

habernac · 12-03-2005, 10:59 AM

part of the reason I bike to work. Most of the time anyway. Had no other way to get home yesterday so I hopped on the bus. The driver then continued to stop and stuff people in, didn't matter that there wasn't any friggin room left. I'll be making sure my bike gets fixed this weekend. -20 bike riding beats getting squashed into the cattle cars they call busses.

ooogabooga · 12-03-2005, 11:22 AM

i know what it's like with transit as well, my girlfriend sometimes has to take transit to her work, and one bus driver in particular will never go to her stop downtown, while the other bus driver is always there on time. is it possible for drivers to do that, just skip out on the stops, i always thought they weren't allowed to do so

CaramonLS · 12-03-2005, 11:26 AM

Transit has and will always be trash in this city. I used to live in the southwest, where you only have a couple choices of buses, most of which come at some of the worst times.

I remember taking the #20 home from 17th ave and waiting over an hour and a half sometimes for it to come if it was after 9pm.

Not to mention I had just spend half an hour walking up 17th ave because the #6 bus only came by like once every 30 mins - an hour. So I'd miss it anyways.

This isn't a transit city, and the ****s over at the insurance companies know it, which thank god for new insurance rates, otherwise we'd be forking out even more.

My Roomate just got a car, he is 22, before the insurance changes he would have been paying 4000$+ dollars a year to get a 1000$ car insured.

FireFly · 12-03-2005, 11:58 AM

Wow. I've never had issues with transit. I once missed bus in -40, but it was my own fault for waiting until the last minute to catch it.... it was running a bit ahead. (Which is odd for -40) I guess I just plan accordingly. Give myself a few extra minutes to get to work or school.

RedHot25 · 12-03-2005, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Transit has and will always be trash in this city.

This isn't a transit city,

This hit the nail on the head. Transit would be a lot more enticing to ride if it was actually a priority in Calgary, and was set up like that.

Having lived in multiple cities recenlty throughout Canada, the sad part is that there are cities that are even worse. Halifax takes the cake. I moved here...within 3 days of getting here, I needed to take the bus. I have no clue where I am going, so I phone the Transit help line. I got told on the phone that "well, I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure how to direct you there...you seem to know more than I do, so I'm sure that you can figure it out...". What the hell?! I JUST moved here! And buses routinely come anywhere from 15 - 30 min late, and they change the schedule and/or route without making any attempt to let the public know.

Ugh.

However, there are cities that are the opposite. Vancouver was FANTASTIC for transit. Almost door to door service in the whole metropolitan area. No complaints, at all. Also great use of B-Line buses (express busses....go on popular routes but only stop every so often).

nieuwy-89 · 12-03-2005, 12:12 PM

I've had nothing but good experiences with Calgary Transit.

Those guys are paid to maintain safe service and keep schedule. Not to pander to every dude who can't look up a C-train or bus schedule and plan their own trip accordingly.

Maritime Q-Scout · 12-03-2005, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

This hit the nail on the head. Transit would be a lot more enticing to ride if it was actually a priority in Calgary, and was set up like that.

Having lived in multiple cities recenlty throughout Canada, the sad part is that there are cities that are even worse. Halifax takes the cake. I moved here...within 3 days of getting here, I needed to take the bus. I have no clue where I am going, so I phone the Transit help line. I got told on the phone that "well, I'm sorry sir, I'm not sure how to direct you there...you seem to know more than I do, so I'm sure that you can figure it out...". What the hell?! I JUST moved here! And buses routinely come anywhere from 15 - 30 min late, and they change the schedule and/or route without making any attempt to let the public know.

Ugh.

However, there are cities that are the opposite. Vancouver was FANTASTIC for transit. Almost door to door service in the whole metropolitan area. No complaints, at all. Also great use of B-Line buses (express busses....go on popular routes but only stop every so often).

Halifax's transit SUCKS. The lines make no logical sense, in order for me to go to Dartmouth, the bridge is NORTH of my place, I have to take a nice 30 minute detour south.

There is no shelter at most of the bus stops, even on main routes, while some bus drivers are friendly, some you'd think were giving the Devil lessons on how to be a prick.

I've used the system in Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary. Ottawa's was alright mostly stuck to the O-Train, Vancouver's was easy when using the Skytrain, I love Montreal's I feel at home using their Metro for some reason. Calgary's wasn't bad, but I'm used to Halifax's so maybe that's why.

I often have classmates asking me how to get from point A to point B. And what times to get there etc (the bus schedules are a bitch to read as well).

Red Hot 25, if you ever need directions let me know, more than happy to help out, what the system lacks in logisitics, it makes up for in ... illogicalness?

Flames_Gimp · 12-03-2005, 12:34 PM

Calgary transit isn't that bad at all, there are jerks in every profession. Can't beat getting from somerset to the Saddledome in 20 mins....

Access Calgary on the other hand, ****es me off to no end. Associated Taxi has about 10 accessible vans, yet I can never get one, sometimes during weekdays even, they don't even have one on the road! And my other option, handi-bus you need 2 days in advance to book a trip and half the time they can't even fit you in unless its a medical trip.

There's my rant.

Jayems · 12-03-2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

I've had nothing but good experiences with Calgary Transit.

Those guys are paid to maintain safe service and keep schedule. Not to pander to every dude who can't look up a C-train or bus schedule and plan their own trip accordingly.

I think your missing my point. Yes, I agree they have schedules, but when its 9pm, -20c, and your sitting at the train stop for 20 seconds with your doors locked not letting 1 guy on, thats where the problem is. He was sitting there for 20 seconds, enough time for me to try 3 doors, and he wouldn't let me on. It would not have cost his "schedule" one bit.

Reaper · 12-03-2005, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

I give a little thank you wave to Mr. C-Train man, and just as I get to the door, he turns off the door. Then sits there for 20 seconds, and takes off. What a freakin *******.

Just to play devil's advocate... Perhaps the C-Train driver mistook your wave of thanks as a wave of "I'm on the next train, go ahead"? It might be a possibility as Calgary Transit doesn't always hire people with the highest levels of perception.

My advice when taking the train when it's minus 20: Invest in a toque, gloves, a bellaclava and a warm jacket. **** happens and it's better to wait when you're warm than to wait when you are cold.