Upset T Rider

After being in Massachusetts for six months, I have found that the bus system here sucks. I know the word “sucks” seems a bit juvenile, but it best describes how I felt this morning. I stood there this morning looking dumbfounded. After waiting for the bus for 20 min and walking around a pile of snow that stood at least 5” tall in front of the bus stop; me, eight months pregnant, and an older man with a cane, looked at each other, astonished by the fact that the bus would actually roll on by without stopping.

The buses are crowed. There are hardly any seats available for the elderly, handicapped, disabled, or pregnant people. There is also hardly any room for carriages. The buses are usually late. In front of the bus stops, the snow is piled up. If the bus driver does not feel like stopping he/she will not, further more the buses do not run often enough.

Why am I complaining, you ask? I am a single mom of two with one on the way. I rely on the bus everyday to get me to and from appointments, the grocery store, and my career development class. The bus is my basic means of transportation.

I know that I am not the only one frustrated with the way public transportation operates in Massachusetts. Everyday you hear complaints from people riding the T. We need to do more than complain, curse, or fuss to the air. It is our duty to attend the public meetings given by the MBTA. There we can voice our opinion, and actually be heard. We can also contact Bernard Cohen, the Secretary of Transportation, or Daniel Grabauskas, the General Manager of the MBTA. In addition, if these actions are not enough we can take our issues to Mayor Thomas M. Menino. It is our responsibility as T riders to make sure that the T is comfortable, assessable, and affordable.

Sincerely,
Troubled T Rider 

Comments

[Heather Carpenter]

I couldn't agree more. I have a long commute on the commuter rail, which has been consistently late (70% by the last poll), is overcrowded, and yet fairs continue to increase. Conductors continually fail to collect tickets, and the MBTA renewed the contract with the company who runs the commuter rail, even though there has been all of these problems. Everyday while riding home I read editorials about people's dissatisfaction with the service, but you have definitely said it best, we need to attend meetings and really make our voices heard.