Originally Posted by
Machka
I think a lot of it came down to timing.
About a year ago, they made some fairly significant changes to the services in the north end of town, on kind of a trial basis ... so I figured if I waited a year, I could then suggest that they make similar changes to the south (where we are). After all, it's only fair, right ... if the northern services have improved, why not provide the same sort of thing for the south?
I also heard rumblings that the trial in the north had been something of a success. I don't think it has been overwhelmingly successful, but the ideas didn't fall flat.
So the response I got back to my email inquiries was that they were looking into changes for the south.
The rather unfortunate thing is that they've pretty much made up their mind what they are going to do. They've even gone so far as printing maps of the changes. So rather than asking the question: "What would be your ideal service?", they've asked the question, "See what we've decided to do ... what do you think of it?" I've overheard people talking about it, and they're basically shrugging their shoulders and saying, "Why should we fill out a survey ... they've already made up their minds. We're just stuck with whatever they decide on." I hope that's not true ... I hope they do pay attention to comments, etc. in the survey ... but I guess I just have to wait and see.
An update on this ...
The new system was supposed to be implemented in October, but we all know how that goes! It was no surprise that nothing at all happened in October ... or November ... or December ...
Well, until a few days ago, when an announcement was made that the new system will be implemented in January! New schedules have been released, and I think it is all systems go on Jan 10.
I had to print out my new schedule, it is that complicated now.
However, from the looks of things they have implemented one of my main suggestions. I don't imagine for a minute that I was the only one who made that suggestion ... it was probably quite a common suggestion.
Under the old system, there were buses travelling down one of the main roads in our area every 10-15 minutes or so until 7:55 am. Then the next one came 25 min later, and the next one came 40 min later, at 9 am. My suggestion was simply that there are still a lot of commuters right up till 9 am (the two buses are full ... the one at 8:20 is standing room only), and therefore there should be at least one more bus in the middle of that 40 minute wait.
I checked the new schedule, and sure enough ... they've actually put 2 buses on in the middle of that 40 minute wait, both of which go past my stop, but one goes left at the next roundabout, and the other goes right.
I am pleased with that.
It means I've got a bit more flexibility if I need it, and hopefully the buses won't be quite so full. But at the same time, I'm also hoping that a few more people use the bus because it is a bit more convenient.