Everything that is wrong with Saskatoon Transit can be summed up in today's SP (Nov. 8/10) article. The boiling point appears to be the changes to routes without the consent of the drivers. The changes implemented in September were supposedly done because buses were over-filled or ran significantly off schedule. These changes apparently affected holiday plans for some drivers. It would appear that transit should run at the convenience of drivers rather than passengers. And although there is a committee established to provide input on new routes, the union feels operators should have more say than the committee.
Added to this attitude is a management that states it was probably wrong to implement new routes in September when university was opening and because of all the road construction and bridge closures. Since university students are mandated users of transit, you would think meeting student needs at that time of year would be essential. Needless to say, like bus drivers, we are all negatively affected by the bridge and road closures.
Now we will have work-to-rule action, possibly followed by a strike. After the settlement many tax dollars will be spent trying to seduce the public to use the transit system. More transit subsidy will be required.
I will say it one more time - the public is reticent to use public transit because it is inefficient and unreliable. It is not user friendly and will remain so until attitudes change.
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The wheels on the bus go round and ooops stop dead. This civic department is such a joke. My son is a UofS student that refuses to take the bus although mandated to pay for a pass because of the inept system they currently have and the lack of real improvements. As you have indicated the bus system in Saskatoon is stuck in the dark ages and only a full overhaul of the system could possibly resolve the issues. The drivers complaining because their routes change shows how the Union mentality has settled into this group of employees. Give it a break if my job stayed the same every day I would find a hand gun and take good aim at the person to blame, myself.. I recall a once great president that took control of air traffic by firing all the controllers maybe it is time we take that kind of action with these employees or should I say slackers.
ReplyDeleteThe slackers you refer to are actually transit management who refuse to listen to advice given by the union on changes to scheduling and routes. The city would sooner spend thousands of dollars on consultants fees than ask the men and women who actually do the job for advice, the result being those same men and women are given a shoddy product they have to roll out to a less than informed public that management is quite happy seeing them blamed for.
DeleteThey are hired to drive a bus, since when does one get to choose what and when they want to do in a work day. Get real! The riders pay their salaries....Time for the drivers to get to work or quit. City Transit planners, like many other departments definately lack capacity to operationalize a decent bus system in this city.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sense of entitlement, what is the old expression: the inmates are running the asylum.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't think the drivers should have much say in this decision, it is also telling that the administration does not even appear to have been bothered to seek input from the ground level. Again this just illustrates the ineptitude of the system from top to bottom.
I agree with the above posters, anything short of a complete overhaul of the bus system will be insufficient. It is disgraceful what is going on in this transit system. There is a huge push from the city to increase ridership but they continue to do nothing to address the problems. The shelters are still a mess and insufficient for winter months (for example, as I walked to work this morning on Broadway I was reminded once again how well maintained these shelters are when I noticed one of them was covered in puke on the inside, likely from someone stumbling out of a pub this weekend), the drivers are rude (driving by stops because you are full is asinine, a courtesy stop to let them know another bus will be by in 15 minutes would be the least they could do), unreliable and inconsistent route times (and apparently this is a sticky issue for the bus drivers who are set in their ways regardless of the inefficiency), and poor overall design for moving people across the city in general.
The apologists of public transportation will no doubt chalk this up as another minor road bump in the growth of the transit system. But it is just another example of the problems that plague the system. I too will not rejoin the ranks of bus riders until a major overhaul is done and the pre-existing problems fixed. They can continue to make driving as inaccessible as they want, but it will not force me into using the middle ages transit system they currently trot out there.
My god, in a city that is expanding and seeing growth to new areas and different stress loads on different roads, how in the world can someone declare that a system designed for Saskatoon in 1980 is still efficient and viable for Saskatoon 2010? Simply amazing, with the growth of the last 5 years I can think of at least 6 areas that should see a dramatic alteration of bus routes/frequency to meet the 'apparent demand'.
I love it when people buy into everything they read and speak without having all the facts.
ReplyDeleteThese are the facts...
-The city has thrown a pile of money at a transit system that wasn't up to snuff.
-The manager, general manager and department head were not drivers. Now the manager is an ex driver on a power trip which may be worse.
-Transit administration didn't listen to driver suggestions and then brought in their own routes.
-These were poorly designed and the public backlash against transit was vehement. Directed mainly against drivers and customer service staff.
-Against driver advice (including the committee) management decided to proceed with these routes anyway.
-Then they realized that it wasn't going to work.
-Management decided that they wanted to fix some routes. The drivers said that doing that won't work with the others. We wanted them to revert to the previous routes that worked and fix it all.
-This new sign up would have violated our collective agreement which is still observed but expired 10+ months ago.
-Management proceeded anyway even though they were informed it would be against the agreement.
-The union thinks that the city should be held to their word so we have taken job action.
-We haven't stopped service. All we are doing is not making the heroic efforts necessary for the routes to kind of work.
-We are simply not doing overtime, not speeding, not making illegal lane changes, not double parking, etc.
-If management wants these routes to work then they should make them work. Its what they are paid for.
I can deal with imbeciles who can't figure out that to catch a bus all you have to do is wait near the furthest sign in the direction of travel and look at the bus. But I'm sick of being spit on, yelled at, assaulted and abused because someone who can't drive anything bigger than a half-ton decide that they can design bus routes. Theory is great but they need real world experience as well.
If you look at the complaints about transit you'll see that 90% of them are not in the control of anyone except management. Yet the drivers and customer service staff are on the receiving end of everyone's anger.
What we are trying to accomplish is fixing the system for everyone. Mainly because the public won't go to the people who are in control.
"driving by stops because you are full is asinine, a courtesy stop to let them know another bus will be by in 15 minutes would be the least they could do" You complain about the system being inefficient etc,. It takes about 40seconds for a bus to stop tell you that and then get up to speed again. How would you keep a bus on time? That's the kind of thinking that we're fighting. People who don't know what they're talking about.
"The drivers complaining because their routes change shows how the Union mentality has settled into this group of employees."
We aren't complaining about change. We want change! We're complaining about changes that don't fix anything and are a waste of resources.
I love it when people buy into everything they read and speak without having all the facts.
ReplyDeleteThese are the facts...
-The city has thrown a pile of money at a transit system that wasn't up to snuff.
-The manager, general manager and department head were not drivers. Now the manager is an ex driver on a power trip which may be worse.
-Transit administration didn't listen to driver suggestions and then brought in their own routes.
-These were poorly designed and the public backlash against transit was vehement. Directed mainly against drivers and customer service staff.
-Against driver advice (including the committee) management decided to proceed with these routes anyway.
-Then they realized that it wasn't going to work.
-Management decided that they wanted to fix some routes. The drivers said that doing that won't work with the others. We wanted them to revert to the previous routes that worked and fix it all.
-This new sign up would have violated our collective agreement which is still observed but expired 10+ months ago.
-Management proceeded anyway even though they were informed it would be against the agreement.
-The union thinks that the city should be held to their word so we have taken job action.
-We haven't stopped service. All we are doing is not making the heroic efforts necessary for the routes to kind of work.
-We are simply not doing overtime, not speeding, not making illegal lane changes, not double parking, etc.
-If management wants these routes to work then they should make them work. Its what they are paid for.
cont...
I can deal with imbeciles who can't figure out that to catch a bus all you have to do is wait near the furthest sign in the direction of travel and look at the bus. But I'm sick of being spit on, yelled at, assaulted and abused because someone who can't drive anything bigger than a half-ton decide that they can design bus routes. Theory is great but they need real world experience as well.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the complaints about transit you'll see that 90% of them are not in the control of anyone except management. Yet the drivers and customer service staff are on the receiving end of everyone's anger.
What we are trying to accomplish is fixing the system for everyone. Mainly because the public won't go to the people who are in control.
"driving by stops because you are full is asinine, a courtesy stop to let them know another bus will be by in 15 minutes would be the least they could do" You complain about the system being inefficient etc,. It takes about 40seconds for a bus to stop tell you that and then get up to speed again. How would you keep a bus on time? That's the kind of thinking that we're fighting. People who don't know what they're talking about.
"The drivers complaining because their routes change shows how the Union mentality has settled into this group of employees."
We aren't complaining about change. We want change! We're complaining about changes that don't fix anything and are a waste of resources.
All You Know It All Citezens Of Saskatoon Should Ride The Transit System For A 16 Hour Shift And See What These Drivers have To Put Up With..It's Not All Cherries And Ice Cream..Think About This people If Our Glorious Mayor Would Stop Wasting Money On A River We Would Probabley Have One Of The Best Transit Systems In Canada..Think About That..Better yet Go Tell It To The Mayor..Do Me And Yourselves A Favor ..Please!!
ReplyDeleteSaskatoon transit has improved a lot in recent years. It has a long ways to go, but it is serviceable at this point, and I think it's being overly criticized in some aspects. The new DART routes allow those living in newer areas of town and ones centrally located to get to the a. University or b. Downtown relatively quickly.
ReplyDeleteEven for people like me, who live in the boonies, progress is being made. It still takes about 35 minutes for me to get to the University area (eek), but at least the bus comes through this area every 30 minutes instead of every 60 minutes as it did just a few years ago (I'd love for the bus frequency to increase in these parts, but there simply isn't the ridership or population base for that to occur -- I'm sure the route is one of the most expensive for the city). Finally, the Click n' Go feature on the city's transit website makes figuring out bus routes a million times easier than in the past where you would either take a gamble, ask an unpleasant bus driver for directions, or phone into the city's hotline. Anyway, just wanted to say it's not all doom and gloom. Things are getting better, although never as fast as we want.
I sold my car in lieu of taking Transit 2007, and have been most pleased by my decision.
ReplyDeleteCould there be improvements? Of course. Lots.
But I'm also realistic, unlike the mentality of many who expect nothing less than a personal chauffeur before they'll even consider stepping foot on a bus.
If we want to talk ideas of how to improve Transit, that's great and that's what we as a community should be doing.
But blaming organized labour and/or government for everything, and twisting the words of a StarPhoenix article to suit rants (Nice try, Elaine - the bus driver were just asking for more input, not more input than committees) simply inflames and does nothing to address potential Transit improvements.
"driving by stops because you are full is asinine, a courtesy stop to let them know another bus will be by in 15 minutes would be the least they could do" You complain about the system being inefficient etc,. It takes about 40seconds for a bus to stop tell you that and then get up to speed again. How would you keep a bus on time? That's the kind of thinking that we're fighting. People who don't know what they're talking about.
ReplyDelete....that's it, always have the excuse. you know it all, the egg heads have no experience blah blah blah. same old union mentality.
Getting upset because a bus doesn't stop to inform you that it is full is the dumbest statement I have read yet...if you are standing at a bus stop and the bus is going by that stop a look into the bus should tell the tale, bodies pressed up to the windshield area is usually a good indicator that there is no more room...that my friend is union mentality.
DeleteWe are all paying for this mess! Let's keep our Personal agendas, union and politics out of this please and just fix it! How could they not ask the drivers advice...they drive the routes....Shame! Bites us all!
ReplyDeleteheroic?????? you drive a bloody bus and get well paid to do it.nothing heroic in that. the heroic ones will be remembered on nov.11. do your job shut up or find a new one. heroic??? whining loser is more like it.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding, how important do these clowns think they are? They drive buses not save lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is usually a good idea to consult with all levels when overhauling a system, however, I don't see anything in the collective bargaining agreement (which is so coveted above) which states that management must consult with drivers on any proposed route changes. If you want to live and breath by your collective agreement then take the good with the bad.
So what management went ahead and made some changes you disagree with, it isn't the first and won't be the last time management does that. However, your petty little grudge against them that doesn't warrant job action. As the poster above said, shut up and do your job. Drive your route and be happy you have an inflated paycheque coming in, or is this about respect now?
Saskatoon Transit has union members on a planning committee, why? Because they are the men and women who do the job, they make recommendations on how to best serve the city but sadly there is a management mind set that has determined they don't want to accept advice and instead blunder ahead with bad decisions which effectively hangs drivers out to dry as the public sees them as the first line of complaint. I smile at the 'inflated' paycheque comment, I would like anyone who makes that statement to walk in a bus drivers shoes for a week...get up at 4:00 a.m. to go to work or finish work after 1:00 a.m., put in a sixteen hour day to register eight hours of work, you will deal with mainly happy passengers but then there will be times when you will be spit on, spilled on or assaulted, you will do a shift where the design of the route makes it highly likely you will run late and miss connections turning a happy passenger into a disgruntled one, you will give up family time to work overtime in a system that is badly understaffed because you want to try and provide service, you will walk on eggshells because you have a management team that looks for the least little excuse to discipline you...yup, handle all that, the job is easy.
DeleteDoes anyone know how many people actually use the transit system? I think that would be where one should start to revamp it. Since Uof S students are forced to buy a pass are they all considered riders even if they never get on a bus? Why are we only now with a population of 220,000 getting ridership numbers like we had in the mid 80s when the population was 175,000? Is there a correlation between dismantling the electric trolley fixed routes and converting to diesel busses with rejigable routes? Did more car users from distant suburbs lead to reduced transit usage or did inefficiant transit lead to more drivers? Did the creation of the transit terminal accelerate the reduction in transit usage? Do transit fares influence peoples dicision to ride the bus? Why did the system work so well when there were multiple transfer points downtown and deteriorate with the introduction of one transfer point? We have had a stream of consultants on transit go through Saskatoon for the last 20 years only perhaps exceeded by the stream of ineffectual transit managers.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a stream of consultants on transit go through Saskatoon for the last 20 years only perhaps exceeded by the stream of ineffectual transit managers.
ReplyDelete.....and ineffectual bus drivers.
"-We haven't stopped service. All we are doing is not making the heroic efforts necessary for the routes to kind of work."
ReplyDeleteThe driver is using the word "heroic" to describe the efforts they make to do their job. As in, it's difficult. They have to go above and beyond their job description, etc. They aren't calling themselves a hero.
For being "just a bus driver" they've got a far better grasp on the english language than you do lol!
Too bad that makes your comments a little hard to take seriously...
"The driver is using the word "heroic" to describe the efforts they make to do their job. As in, it's difficult. They have to go above and beyond their job description, etc. They aren't calling themselves a hero.
ReplyDeleteFor being "just a bus driver" they've got a far better grasp on the english language than you do lol!
Too bad that makes your comments a little hard to take seriously..."
For someone sprouting off about proper use of the English language you may want to watch where you slip from the singular to the plural.
"The Driver" and "For being "just a bus driver" they've"
Way to try to be clever with your grammar police, only to put your foot in your mouth.
What is the old saying...... too bad that maks your comments a little hard to take seriously.
Fool
instead of snipping back an forth maybe we can all agree that those that don't like their job should go find a new one.
ReplyDeleteFor the union to say they will "work to rule" I hope that doesn't include running over old ladies like I saw yesterday. Poor Poor driving.
One thing I don't understand about the concept of "work to rule" is why come out and say so to the public?? Are they concerned the client (riders) will be so mad they will be even more nasty to the drivers?
I will agree the system is a mess but for the employees to be the ones fighting to get it changed back to the crap it was doesn't make sense. The Public or client has spoken clearly to the transit department. They ain't buying the cool-aide your serving so serve up a different batch. As for the millions in subsidies from local tax payers I'm not willing to foot the bill for crap. oops wait I guess I already do. ^#@$!&!&@#%^
Why not just drive the routes? Is the route they drive, and the time it takes to complete it, really affecting their union scale salary?
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above Anon who points out that it should be customer who demand the change. Why are the drivers throwing a little hissy fit over which roads they drive? Perhaps there are less frequent break stops in front of the Tim Hortons
For many of us, taking transit is a necessity. While the system is far from perfect, it still beats the cost of operating an extra vehicle or trying to find parking downtown.
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed in the lack of professionalism shown by many drivers. There are things in my workplace that could be changed or things that I don't like, but I don't complain in front of my customers or whine to my co-workers. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem.
It's too bad none of you people can read...
ReplyDeleteOh c'mon. It's much easier to not read and instead spout out simple-minded anti-labour, anti-government, anti-everything rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, the linkages between industrial relations, the economy, and society are complex. Throw in the role of public goods, and it's mind-bending.
Why think for oneself when it's so much easier to parrot John Gormley?
I would like to see anyone of the people critisizing STS deal with all the shit, changes and abuse that the drivers have to deal with. I dare you to spend a month doing what they do and then maybe, MAYBE you deserve to talk all the crap you are talking.
ReplyDeleteI DO ride the bus EVERYDAY unlike half of the people who are commenting who have children or friends who ride the bus instead of riding the bus yourselves. How does any of this affect you? It doesn't so I think those of you who choose to sit here and bitch about the decisions transit drivers ahve decided upon maybe you should spend a month on the bus, or even a year or how about the 5 I have.
I'm a huge supporter of better transit in Saskatoon, but it's hard sometimes to take the drivers seriously. They are in the middle of contract negotiations, so this threat of strike action seems a bit too conveniently timed.......
ReplyDeleteAnd the posts by drivers here are a bit too smug for my liking, especially considering a driver hit a pedestrian who was on the sidewalk yesterday:
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/todays-paper/Woman+struck+city/3804281/story.html
Similarly I've had drivers not slow down while I was crossing in a cross walk and yell/gesture at me, despite my having the walk like.
Riding a bike around buses can be even worse. It seems some drivers think that it is ok to try to drive cyclists off the road or use their bus to intimidate cyclists and pedestrians.
Aside from being illegal, it's pretty disgusting, so until the bus drivers take responsibility for their fellow drivers and this type of behaviour stops, it's hard to take the drivers too seriously.
"How does any of this affect you?". Well as a taxpayer I would say it affects me a lot. Transit is subsidized over a million dollars a month, that has a significant affect on our taxes. We all one way or another use city services like garbage pick up but only about 10% of the cities population regularly uses transit. I don't think it is out of line to expect good service.
ReplyDelete"I DO ride the bus EVERYDAY unlike half of the people who are commenting who have children or friends who ride the bus instead of riding the bus yourselves. How does any of this affect you? It doesn't so I think those of you who choose to sit here and bitch about the decisions transit drivers ahve decided upon maybe you should spend a month on the bus, or even a year or how about the 5 I have."
ReplyDeleteAs a taxpayer, and in a round about way your boss, I have every right to be informed and aware of your situation. All I have heard from bus drivers is how hard life is, how unfair management it, how disrespected you all are. It isn't about parroting Gormley, I don't even listen to Gormley, it is about how it is the exact same rhetoric as every union kicking up a stink: disrespected by management, unfair changes to workplace, etc... You are no different than any labour group threatening to hold the citizens, in this case your bosses and customers, hostage so you can dig your greedy power hungry hands a little deeper into the cookie jar.
Quit thinking you are so vital to society, you aren't doctors, police officers or firemen, you are bus drivers.
To those saying us non-riders shouldn't be talking about the system. Well the reason I don't ride the bud is because the system is crap and walking where I go is most time quicker. We I visit other centers I rider the bus without hesitation I haven't had a bad experience yet. But as soon as I get back to Saskatoon and try to rider the bus or figure out which one will get me there on time I am so frustrated I just find a better solution. And in Saskatoon that is easy as the bus system sucks.........
ReplyDeleteWith so many experts out there saying the bus system is crap, why in the hell aren't all you going to City Hall with your magnificant plans in creating a model system. You are all quick to judge and critize but you are all wimpy spineless creatures when it comes to submitting your ways of fixing the problem. And don't go dumping all over the drivers. They are out there doing their best. It's not their fault if the routes aren't designed properly. As for calling all the drivers whiny, complaining, overpaid and under-educated, that pretty well sums up the entire work force of this city. Just because they're in the public eyes does not give you the right to dump all over them. Wake up and clean your own door step before you start trying to critize the the crucial element that keeps this city functioning (THE BUS DRIVER). People call the drivers grumpy and inconsiderate. Well let me tell you that the majority of passengers that get on a bus can't say hi, smile or even acknowledge the fact that a driver just smiled and said hi. Who the hell do you think you are or do you feel subhuman because you have to ride the bus. It goes 2 ways, a smile or a hi certainly makes the driver feel that what he is doing is more than just a paycheck. It's a job but also a dedication to doing something that most love doing. Sure there are some that should be doing something else but don't condem all for the attitides of a few. Now get out there and enjoy the "priveledge" to ride Saskatoon Transit, it's not a "right" and if you don't like it move to wherever the hell you think the system is better and quit crying about something you have no idea what your talking about.
ReplyDeleteHere Here. Finally somebody who can understand a driver perspective! thanks anon 743am nov 10
ReplyDelete"People call the drivers grumpy and inconsiderate. Well let me tell you that the majority of passengers that get on a bus can't say hi, smile or even acknowledge the fact that a driver just smiled and said hi."
ReplyDeleteThere are many jobs that involve greeting and dealing with unpleasant customers. Do you think a restaurant would allow their servers to be grumpy and rude to customers, even if the customers are themselves being rude? What about at department stores where the clerks deal with hurried customers all day. It is not resigned to bus drivers, and bus drivers don't have a divine right to act grumpy because their customers are grumpy. Get off the high horse (or high bus).
"Wake up and clean your own door step before you start trying to critize the the crucial element that keeps this city functioning (THE BUS DRIVER)."
The bus drivers are the crucial element that keeps this city functioning? I think that comment summarizes the self grandeur of the transit workers perfectly. Bus drivers are a city job, they are no more essential to the city functioning than the clerks at City Hall, the garbage people, or street cleaners. You provide a civic service and are paid to do so. The city will not go into shut down mode if the buses stop running. Sorry to burst your bubble.
"As for calling all the drivers whiny, complaining, overpaid and under-educated, that pretty well sums up the entire work force of this city."
Classy way to retaliate to the extremists who criticize you, attack the entire population. May as well insult everyone because a select few took a shot at you.
"Now get out there and enjoy the "priveledge" to ride Saskatoon Transit, it's not a "right" and if you don't like it move to wherever the hell you think the system is better and quit crying about something you have no idea what your talking about."
Another example of the disconnect of drivers. Most people don't base their choice of city around the transit system. Not sure what is involved in the Driver Training course here in Saskatoon, but sorry to break it to the drivers you really aren't that important. If you weren't kicking up a stink no one would really care about bus drivers. Please quit acting like the transit system is the heart and soul of Saskatoon, and apparently every other community in Canada.
Finally, you may be wise to check the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Because riding the bus, which is a publicly subsidized service and intended for all citizens, is a right. You don't have the ability to arbitrarily refuse the right of a citizen to ride the bus (assuming they aren't abusing the driver or other passengers).
For the record, I think all citizens have the right to give their input on the transit system, and shouldn't feel compelled to move if they don't like it. The sad thing is that what the union leaders seem to be saying is what is being echoed by the public: The routes and application of the system is not serving the public as it is needed.
Drivers have attempted to provide their input to management, apparently only to be given a deaf ear. Most people seem to agree with what the drivers are saying.
There is something to be said about process, and going about doing things. All the drivers have done in the past week is alienate themselves from the public and come off as pompous arrogant civic employees. The 'leave it you don't like the way we do it' attitude only hinders productive discussion.
Geez, and the drivers wonder why there is no sympathy for them. Maybe they should treating the public with even a fraction of the respect they demand.
We do the best we can with the tools we are given. If any of you negative people would like to drive for me,I'm more the willing to let you take the helm :)
ReplyDeleteFurthermore,if you don't work at STS,you most likely won't know the facts.
Now get out there and enjoy the "priveledge" to ride Saskatoon Transit, it's not a "right"
ReplyDeleteUmmmmmmmmmmm........Rosa Parks and the entire civil rights movement would disagree with this statement.
Sorry, but being able to pay the fare and ride the bus is a right all citizens enjoy
Furthermore,if you don't work at STS,you most likely won't know the facts.
ReplyDeleteThen educate us of the facts? We subsidize the system you operate and if there is such gross negligence as you seem to imply let the City know so that we can demand change.
As powerful as your union is, the citizens voice will be stronger. Not many are happy with the application of the current system.
So enlighten us, don't say that we don't know the facts (and hint, as other drivers, have that we therefore don't have a right to comment).
Do you not realize the hypocrisy here? The Management is saying you don't know the facts and shouldn't be sought for input in the route changes, you disagree. No you are saying to the public we don't have the facts and aren't in a position to comment.
So what are the facts?
Wow what a bunch of pompous asses. The drivers are trying to get a better system that works efficiently for the public but it seems everyone is dumping on them for the way things are. If people would only try to get along and everybody input their ideas in the proper forum instead of all the crap that is being printed here maybe something might be achieved that will make everybody proud. By the way SIAST teachers are going on strike, is that the bus drivers fault as well? Transit Drivers Rock. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete"The drivers are trying to get a better system that works efficiently for the public but it seems everyone is dumping on them for the way things are."
ReplyDeleteWHAT!!!!!! Ah it is the DRIVERS that are looking out for poor old me. Isn't that nice. Not one of them is talking strike because they loose a holiday day or have to reschedule their life around the new routes. Sure I believe that and I also just bought a nice piece of property in Florida.
Just like the SGEU ads talking about saving OUR Saskatchewan. Unions are all the same... Out for number one. That's why they through a hissy fit about using part time non-union people to fill in and we the tax payer ended up paying people to sit and do nothing.
to anon 9:56
"With so many experts out there saying the bus system is crap, why in the hell aren't all you going to City Hall with your magnificent plans in creating a model system."
If it is my job to tell the supplier what they need to change to have me buy from them I think I do it every day when I make the conscious effort to use another form of travel. I suspect it is because so many don't use the bus system that changes are constantly happening. The powers that be are trying to find the right mix. They certainly don't need their employees balking at every move they make. A union like this is the main stumbling blocks to change and why I am glad I don't work for one. The lowest common denominator always brings down the group. The few bad drivers make all the rest look bad. But that's what they ask for. "Treat us all alike". Well you got it now suck it up princess and DO YOUR JOB!!!
Is this what our soldiers fought in the wars for so we could treat others like crap? Take care of our own lives before trying to tell others how good or bad everyone else's is. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
ReplyDeleteSure is a lot of jealous people wishing they worked for a union...love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised to find a post on civicmistress that has no consideration for optimism. It sure is easy to criticize, isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteSure we can all complain about how unacceptable transit service is, but do you REALLY find it to be a recurring issue? I agree that some bus drivers are clearly unhappy with their jobs, but try to have some respect for the bus drivers that enjoy what they do.
I've noticed in the past two years that Saskatoon Transit has become much more employee-conscious. The service is becoming increasingly more efficient, and the time extension of transfers is both thoughtful and accommodating. The city is growing! Give the business time to compensate this growth; after all, successful change is incremental.
Grunt all you want about the flaws of local transportation, but the fundamental concern at hand shouldn't be Saskatoon Transit. Maybe if our streets weren't such chaotic obstacles with construction and detours and condemning of bridges, the bus system would be able to breathe and have room to satisfy everybody's expectations.
Kudos to the last post.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it grand that the squeaking wheel gets the grease.The university charges the students a mandatory fee for their student pass and tells them they have free bus service with that card. Yet, buses drive by them full every day,wait until is minus 30.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the planners should go stand outside with them and watch the bus go by. Other students have been forced to drop classes cuz the bus was full, maybe even four full buses passed them and thus, they were an hour late for class.............guess what, they had to drop the class. How can you expect someone who doesn't drive a bus or know the routes to redesign them. this is what happened, and the city coughed out the money for the changes, then when they new routes didn't work and the public and drivers complained,,,,guess who got blamed....the drivers. Maybe city fathers should be aware when they hire a newbie to re do their structure,that is failiing, they should make sure that the excess money and confusion that is happening should be to IMPROVE THE EXISTING SERVICE, not screw up the one that was already working. stoon transit drivers are among the lowest paid in Canada. They constantly work overtime........never get lunch time, and have to use the bathroom on route. Many days with bad weather, bad roads, and crazy useless route changes, they are lucky to access the toilet once in 8 hours. How healthy is that? Dehydration, poor posture, I could go on and on.......but who cares?
Bus drivers are one of the least appreciated employees in Saskatoon. Hats off to a fine bunch of Professionals who every day take people to and from work, doctors appt's, school, shopping, visiting with friends, going to the bar, going to a funeral, etc. The list is too long to mention and without these brave souls who put up with our sarcasim and ridicule each and every day just to get us to where we're going and not to mention the harrowing drive down our streets where the majority of drivers shouldn't have a license, we the public thankyou for a job well done. You are worth more to us that rely on public transportation than words can express or money can afford. THANKYOU SASKATOON TRANSIT OPERATORS
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