Mary Fetsch TriMet August 05, 2011 at 3:56PM
Joe: I sent an update to you and Brent. Wanted to share with your readers more details about what happened.
The operator was driving regular route on line 35 when a construction worker stopped her and told her she could not proceed due to a concrete spill. The construction worker suggested a reroute to get around it. The operator followed the suggestion but got turned around and lost her direction. She then parked her bus and contacted Dispatch. Dispatch attempted to guide her to get back on route. She then arrived at an intersection that she believed she couldn’t safely negotiate and called for further assistance. She parked her bus again until a supervisor arrived, stopped traffic so the bus could safely pass through the intersection, and then he guided her back to where she was able to get on route.
Lesson learned: call dispatch for reroute directions to ensure a 40’ bus can maneuver through the detour.
SP Red Electric August 08, 2011 at 8:50PM
Lesson learned: call dispatch for reroute directions to ensure a 40’ bus can maneuver through the detour.
Mary, I've taken you to task before with your hostile comments about bus Operators and I'm going to do it again:
Why must you blame this Operator as well?
Every TriMet bus, as you should very well know, is equipped with a GPS receiver and a packet radio that transmits its location to Dispatch in real-time (How does Transit Tracker work?) When a bus goes off-route, a message is IMMEDIATELY sent by the onboard VCH (that's the little computer that the Operator uses to send and receive dispatch messages) to Dispatch informing the dispatcher the bus is off-route. Why did the Dispatcher not immediately respond? Why was a Supervisor not immediately called to the scene?
Why did TriMet Dispatch not receive prompt notification of an emergency street closure from Portland Bureau of Transportation or BOEC? That alone should have prompted an IMMEDIATE Supervisor response since now a bus route was closed and needed an emergency re-route.
Why did TriMet's own management fail to post updates in real-time on TriMet's variety of customer communications - www.trimet.org, TriMet's Twitter account and Facebook?
Just a few weeks ago I tried to take the bus from my work for lunch, and my bus stop was blocked off - and the buses weren't stopping. No Rider Alert or nothing...called 238-RIDE and "Customer Service" was just as helpful - no information. A few days later something finally got posted, "Stop Closed until further notice..." Gee, thanks for encouraging ridership.
Once again, TriMet's PR Spokesistas have no problem blaming the hapless Operator who got stuck in the mess without any support or help, and I bet that Operator feels real great knowing that she's getting blamed for something she had no control over.
Now, how about those OTHER questions? Why wasn't Dispatch aware of the situation up front? Why weren't Supervisors on scene ASAP? And...most importantly, what is TriMet going to do to ensure that emergency response to bus incidents is IDENTICAL to rail response? When MAX shuts down, multiple Supervisors are on scene with replacement buses (even if it means pulling buses off of their routes!)...but when a bus has a failure, it is effectively swept under the rug. We all pay the same fare, Mary Fetsch. Come ride with me. #94 bus leaving Pacific Highway & Walnut Street at 6:50 AM each morning. #94 bus leaving 5th and Hall at 4:50 PM each afternoon. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll show you what the bus system really looks like, not the P.R. spun version...
cwherewetku August 08, 2011 at 10:30PM
SHAME ON YOU MARY FETSCH!! That's the way to support these folks and show them you care...make' em feel as important as an expired transfer.
I agree with SP Red Electric. The Operator DID call for directions & assistance from dispatch and got directions. Only after the SECOND call did "help" arrive. You can't tell me they didn't know he/she was driving a 40' bus..the bus number comes up on their display! So you blame an Operator who was FOLLOWING PROCEDURE.
Far greater Lesson Learned: PLEASE STOP throwing Operators under the bus you likely can't drive yourself...(sad...sad...sad..at least politicians get voted out...)
3 comments:
Mary, your being mean to us poor operators, I know its your job though.
Come on out here Mary and ride with me to Beaverton Transit Center and meet some of us!
You said you would ride with me, well I am still waiting for ya!
(yawn) more whining / made up crap from Eric. SOSDD.
We love Erik!
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