EmDash

Ms. McCrady,
Thank you for your report and for noting the identifying information. A copy of your report is being forwarded to management staff responsible for Line 60 for investigation and appropriate follow-up with the operator in question. Please know, once you have noted the bus and/or the operator number, it is sufficient to identify the operator and it is not necessary to ask the operator his or her name.

Again, thank you for your report and please accept our apology for this entire incident.
Metro Customer Relations

Dear MTA Customer Relations,

It happened again. Here is the information that you suggested I gather:

o Shirt sleeve # 34835
o Bus # 5453
o Northbound Line 60
o 7:10 p.m.
o Friday, June 06, 2008
o African-American
o Medium-heavy build
o Wore glasses
o Bus stop at Figueroa and 4th

Standing on the bus stop, I stood up as the bus stopped at the intersection. I raised my arm and waved, but the bus driver didn’t slow down. He instead stayed in the left lane and actually sped up! At that point, I decided to take a stand, angry at the pattern at this bus stop, and the apparent lack of action by the MTA following my earlier complaint letter.

(Yes, I made a spectacle, because apparently that’s what I have to do sometimes to get a bus driver to stop right here.)

Now at this point, the driver did slow down enough for me to hop on, and, as the door opened, I heard he was mumbling something about me.

“I wasn’t gonna stop for her,” he said to no one in particular. “but she ran out into the street.”

I said, “I always have problems getting bus drivers to stop right here.”

He interrupted me angrily and said, “lady, just SIT DOWN!”

Well, I was going to sit down anyway, so I did.

I started to tell him about my earlier complaint letter, and how I was instructed by the MTA customer relations to take down the bus number and other details, but he didn’t want to hear it.

“Lady just stop talking to me!”

Well, I respect the “no unnecessary conversation with the driver” rule, so I stopped. Besides, I’ve witnessed bus drivers kick off riders when they’re angry, and I knew that he had the power at that moment.

In any case, I focused on finding my pen and paper to take down adequate notes.

I wrote down the bus line, time of day, bus number and the number on his shirt. I noted his physical features as well. But I didn’t see a name tag, so I decided to ask.

As I exited the bus I said, “Sir, what’s your name?”

He yelled at me. “Lady, just GET OFF THE BUS!”

I informed him that I needed his name because I intended to report him to the MTA. His response surprised me.

“LADY, I DON’T CARE!”

Well, there you go. If this employee of yours doesn’t care if management hears about his unprofessional behavior, then what can you do? You have a conundrum on your hands — or rather, a loose-cannon employee. I don’t envy the management one bit.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I wish the MTA supervisor luck in dealing with this obstinate employee.

Melinda McCrady

I was at the bus stop, a different one because the other one doesn’t work for me, when this elderly woman came up to me and asked about the Santa Monica bus number 10. I said i didn’t know that one, and then I took a closer look at the bus sign. Seeing that there was no number 10 listed, I told her she was in the wrong place. She didn’t speak much English but she showed me a note with her bus number and the street where she was to catch it.

I asked the next bus driver that came by where it was. She was friendly but a bit unclear. I asked the elderly woman if she understood but she didn’t.

I tried to tell her she was in the wrong place but she didn’t quite understand, indicating she didn’t know English too well. I asked “what language?” and hoped it was either latin, germanic or mandarin. She replied “Farsi, Persian.”

Damn it, I thought. “Sorry, no Farsi,” I said, smiling and shaking my head. So of course I was compelled to walk her to her bus stop. As we approached she expressed much gratitude toward me. Way more than I deserved, as it was no big deal to miss my bus and walk two blocks out of my way. Besides, the sun was setting, and who would want an elderly woman wandering downtown L.A. after sunset?

“Thank you,” she said, and opened her arms to give me a great big hug. Just like a Hispanic woman who hugs you upon first meeting you, if you are within the circle of family.

“My daughter,” she said. “Thank you very much.”

awwww….

I’m putting Farsi on my “languages to learn” list.

In other words, no action will be taken?

Ms. McCrady,
Thank you for your report. Nothing is more important that ensuring that every rider has an opportunity to board their desired bus and we extend our apology for the inconveniences you describe.

As you may know, in most instances, more than one bus pick-up and drop-off passengers at the same location. And, while there is no written directive, it is common practice that simple gestures are made to alert an operator as to whether or not he or she should stop. Patrons communicate with drivers by stepping up to the curb, standing or signaling the driver by waving at the oncoming bus if they want it to stop, or conversely, by standing back from the stop, stepping back from the curb or remaining seated when they do not want it to stop. Quite often, people may sit on bus benches to rest, pass the time of day or wait for a pick-up by a friend or family member. Once you see your desired bus approaching, please move to the bus stop sign to board the bus.

We trust that your future travel will be problem free. However, if you do encounter a further problem, please note the date, time, line number, location, direction of travel and the 4-digit bus number, visible on all sides of the vehicle. This information will enable us to identify the operator in question and take appropriate corrective measures.

Thank you.

Metro Customer Relations

Dear MTA customer relations representative,

It seems that bus drivers on this route, the 55 and 60, are in the habit of carelessly passing me by as I wait at the stop by Figueroa and 4th Street in Downtown LA.

This has happened a number of times, including today. One day it even happened twice in one day!

To elaborate on that last incident, I was sitting at the bus stop when the first bus passed me by. Well, perhaps he didn’t see me. But then the next one came and I stood up and waved, and that one still passed me by. That one didn’t even slow down, and remained three lanes into traffic with apparently no intention of approaching the curb. Finally, when I saw a third bus turn the corner and approaching, I waved my arms like a mad woman, stood at the very edge of the curb, and successfully flagged this one down.

At that point, I mentioned the problem to the bus driver (who happened to be new to the route.) He conjectured that perhaps the previous driver was in a hurry, because that one had passed him up earlier.

Henceforth I had resigned myself to the notion that, in order to get a bus to stop at that place, I would have to remain standing, use eagle-eye vision to spot my bus rounding the corner, and proceed to flail my arms wildly.

However today, as I was feeling particularly tired after a long day at work, carrying four bags of produce and personal belongings, with back ache and bad mood, I decided to sit down at the stop. This time, perhaps because of fatigue, I did not spend the entire time gazing down the street for the bus to turn the corner. But when I did see the bus approaching the 4th street intersection, I put up my hand to wave, like a normal person. But apparently this normal behavior isn’t the magic formula for coaxing a bus to pause at this particular stop. So the driver remained several lanes away from me, speeding past me and leaving me in his dust.

I’m now coming to the conclusion that this is a pattern. The stop is near the layover, where the drivers get to take a break. I understand they may be in a hurry to smoke or stretch their legs or whatever, but I still find this behavior unprofessional and unacceptable.

Please look into the matter, as it appears that some of your drivers need their behavior corrected.

Thank you,

Melinda McCrady