Bike Forums - Good job, MARTA

I wanted to publicly commend Atlanta's transit authority, MARTA, for their quick attention in addressing a complaint I made about a MARTA employee who was driving recklessly.

The driver in question was operating a MARTA courier vehicle, not a passenger van or bus. He was driving over 50 mph. in a 35 mph. residential zone, weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating. I took down his number and sent MARTA an e-mail. This happened Friday, and I followed up with a phone call today. The person in charge of e-mail complaints remembered my complaint
and assured me that they would speaking with the driver today to correct his behavior. She apologized much and told me that those who drive vehicles displaying the MARTA logo have an added responsibility to drive safely. She said more, but in general, I could tell by her remarks that she remembered the details of my complaint exactly.

I want to encourage others to write down vehicle ID numbers whenever they see a driver of a company vehicle (especially public transit) endangering others. MARTA has had a wonderful track record in handling issues whenever I have had to complain about poor driving or substandard service.

Here's what I sent them (I hope I'm not repeating myself too much: )

To Whom it May Concern:

I want to report a MARTA vehicle operator driving recklessly this morning, Friday, Oct. 31, 2003 between 7:00 and 7:30 on Dekalb Avenue, westbound. He was driving at over 50 mph. in a 35 mph. residential zone on Dekalb Ave. in the Candler Park neighborhood. He was also tailgating and dodging vehicles as he changed lanes with little clearance to spare. The vehicle number was 15203, a white van.

This is particularly disturbing to me since he was driving a van with the MARTA logo on it. This reflects badly on MARTA as a whole. Not only did this driver endanger other drivers, he endangered MARTA customers who wait for buses along this street and the many young cyclists that often share the road there.