Today I decided to leave work 1 hour early due to a temporary schedule change. Its Bowling night but my Hubby is working a late day and I need to get home to take care of the dog.
I arrive at Montgomery Station and much to my surprise, the L train was arriving! I jumped on and even got a seat! Piles of people kept pushing the door opened and finally, about 5 min of people pushing the doors open, away we went toward Powell Station. At Powell, we stayed waiting and waiting as the bells ringed and sighs of passengers ensued.
Train OUT of Service!!!!!!!
100 people piled onto the Powell Platform while a J and an N arrived. Finally an M came. I jumped on, I'd rather get OUT of the tunnel than stay on a platform with mobs of people. I think I heard another L train 3 minutes away. I was not going to wait with the rest of the passengers that were waiting. Hopefully when it gets to West Portal some people will have departed the train. If not, another day of walking home.
As I am currently at Forest Hill Station, the operator came on and said there are slow delays out of the tunnel. Why?! The last two trains were off at Van Ness , the train before out of service. We should be at least 10 minutes behind any train. WTF!!!
I didn't post that yesterday I left work at 5:00 and the next L train was 32, 33, and 35 minutes away. Makes total sense to group them that way! I took an M home, I walked from West Portal. By the time I got to 19th Ave (after stopping and shopping in 3 busy markets), the train caught up with me. To bad I get off at 19th.
I assume that 1 day...1 day the system will restore to what it once was. Until then, Vote Against the unions in November. I will post more on that and the delays of last week soon. I read an article where LAME had a lot of pathetic excuses for it's recent delays.
This makes me want to move to the suburbs and drive my car to and from work everyday (in the same suburb!)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday Night
The ride home was swift. I jumped on an M because no Ls were coming so I just wanted out of the tunnel. I encountered a lady with some baggage.
There was a large bag on the seat, in the crowded train, I signaled that I wanted to sit. You know, the unspoken language among strangers. She put it between her legs and kept her body partially in the second seat. I kept wiggling my booty her way. She eventually put the whole bag on her lap and moved into her seat.
When it comes to larger passengers who are taller and broader I gladly give up a little space. This woman just didn't want to hold her bag. It's 5:00 on a Friday- stand up with your bag! Or, place your bag under the seat, a pretty optimal place.
I finally got home, enjoyed a short nap while enjoying a marathon of my beloved Freaks & Geeks on the tube. I get a few days off from the public transit. I love the weekends for it!
Enjoy your S-days! ;-)
There was a large bag on the seat, in the crowded train, I signaled that I wanted to sit. You know, the unspoken language among strangers. She put it between her legs and kept her body partially in the second seat. I kept wiggling my booty her way. She eventually put the whole bag on her lap and moved into her seat.
When it comes to larger passengers who are taller and broader I gladly give up a little space. This woman just didn't want to hold her bag. It's 5:00 on a Friday- stand up with your bag! Or, place your bag under the seat, a pretty optimal place.
I finally got home, enjoyed a short nap while enjoying a marathon of my beloved Freaks & Geeks on the tube. I get a few days off from the public transit. I love the weekends for it!
Enjoy your S-days! ;-)
Days 4, 5
Hello Readers!
I am starting backwards today. I also have an article which I will share in a separate post. This proves I am not insane. Even the local paper is expressing irritation of other passengers. Horray!!
Day 5:
Today I had a pretty seemless trip on LAME. I timed my departure, but fell down several steps in this massive fog while leaving. Luckily I had 6 minutes to hobble down the hill. The train arrived and all was well. I didn't get a seat, but I had my own personal space (wow!) for my entire journey and was able to read my Twilight (yes, I am actually reading it!) book in peace. So far so good. No delays once we got in the tunnel, I was at work within my usual 30 minutes. Thank you LAME!! We will see what the future holds for my trip after work. See Day 3 for my current frustrations on the trip home.
Day 4:
I went to a seminar yesterday, so my trip was only to Powell Station. I got to my seminar a few minutes late due to a few train delays -- nothing major -- I got held up then missed the train and had to wait -- so I take full responsibility for being late, it was MY delay. I got a seat, went on my merry way. When I arrived at Powell Station I notived new gates. I approached them wondering what I was supposed to do. They were similar to ones I have seen in Holland, Chicago, New York & Boston. But usually in those, you have to tag yourself out like on BART. These you just walk up to them and they open. My biggest complaint (yes, already!) is they don't have designated ins and outs like they do on BART. People are waiting to enter while people are exiting, and if you are like me, when you time your trains, this can be frustrating.
In the afternoon. I walked to the Westfield Mall and walked to the Powell Street Cable Car turnaround. I went down the escalator and approached the new gates. People are coming out of all of them (see my complaint above) and I have no idea how I am supposed to enter. I am so frustrated. Once I finally figure it out, I run down the stairs -- the L train doors close and I have to wait for 5 trains to go until the next L train arrives, about 8 minutes. UGH! I made it home okay. There was the normal delay between Forest Hill and West Portal, but nothing severe this time. I could see we were only 1 train back, so we weren't waiting too long.
... I put this in draft last week. Now I can't remember day 3. I guess its a good thing!
I am starting backwards today. I also have an article which I will share in a separate post. This proves I am not insane. Even the local paper is expressing irritation of other passengers. Horray!!
Day 5:
Today I had a pretty seemless trip on LAME. I timed my departure, but fell down several steps in this massive fog while leaving. Luckily I had 6 minutes to hobble down the hill. The train arrived and all was well. I didn't get a seat, but I had my own personal space (wow!) for my entire journey and was able to read my Twilight (yes, I am actually reading it!) book in peace. So far so good. No delays once we got in the tunnel, I was at work within my usual 30 minutes. Thank you LAME!! We will see what the future holds for my trip after work. See Day 3 for my current frustrations on the trip home.
Day 4:
I went to a seminar yesterday, so my trip was only to Powell Station. I got to my seminar a few minutes late due to a few train delays -- nothing major -- I got held up then missed the train and had to wait -- so I take full responsibility for being late, it was MY delay. I got a seat, went on my merry way. When I arrived at Powell Station I notived new gates. I approached them wondering what I was supposed to do. They were similar to ones I have seen in Holland, Chicago, New York & Boston. But usually in those, you have to tag yourself out like on BART. These you just walk up to them and they open. My biggest complaint (yes, already!) is they don't have designated ins and outs like they do on BART. People are waiting to enter while people are exiting, and if you are like me, when you time your trains, this can be frustrating.
In the afternoon. I walked to the Westfield Mall and walked to the Powell Street Cable Car turnaround. I went down the escalator and approached the new gates. People are coming out of all of them (see my complaint above) and I have no idea how I am supposed to enter. I am so frustrated. Once I finally figure it out, I run down the stairs -- the L train doors close and I have to wait for 5 trains to go until the next L train arrives, about 8 minutes. UGH! I made it home okay. There was the normal delay between Forest Hill and West Portal, but nothing severe this time. I could see we were only 1 train back, so we weren't waiting too long.
... I put this in draft last week. Now I can't remember day 3. I guess its a good thing!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Days 1 & 2
The entire reason that I started this blog stemmed of many days of getting to work late due to the inconsistency of these trains.
I am going to start by saying, September 4th LAME decided to reinstate some cut-back services and claimed to bring more trains. 7-9am we are to expect trains every 7 minutes. 9-11 those times would change to every 10. Then middle of the day, 15 minutes. Completely reasonable if these times were accurate or LAME drivers actually came to work! If a LAME driver calls in sick, the entire route is cancelled, however, their friends, get to work the shift after and make overtime.... so convenient!!!
Day 1:
Yesterday morning, I left the house to discover I was to wait 16 minutes for a train. I left the house at 9:02. This means, that they are running 6 minutes behind schedule. I heard that there was some sort of secret strike, and drivers were going to call in sick because they want more money - barf! But none the less, we are already looking at 6 minutes late. I finally walked into my office at 10:02am. 1 hour....
On the way home, I managed to get on a train home, I checked nextLAME.com to make sure when one was coming before I left the office at 5:22pm I got delayed for a bit between Forest Hill & West Portal. A normal occurence. I managed to get home by 6:00pm. 45 minutes....
Day 2:
This morning, I left my house at 8:40am. Techinically, if I missed a recent train, I would have had 7 minutes to the next one (as I was still in the 7-9 time frame). I went to my NextLAME App on my iPhone and low and behold -- 10 minutes for the next train. When I got to my pick up location, 15 people already waiting at the stop. I knew right then, that there hadn't been a train for at least 10+ minutes. I stood around, and the number of people waiting went from 15 to about 25. The 10 minutes went by and over the hill, I saw 1 cable -- shit -- up pulled a 1CAR train! 1 CAR??!?!?! I was so furious. I went to the platform and walked to each door. The train was so packed that all the steps were occupied, there was no way I was squeezing onto this train. I open up the App again. The next 3 listed times are 10, 29 & 35 minutes. What happened to 7 & 10 minutes?! I called the local information line and made a formal complaint about LAME. I told them to put in my report that I would be calling every day that this happens. I have a feeling that I will be calling them a lot in the coming weeks. Once I got onto another fairly packed train, I was holding on to one of the poles. We made it to Castro Station by 9:20am. Suddenly, the doors would not close, the driver mentioned we would be delayed because of "an ::inaudible:::: that wasn't responding and we are waiting to hear..." Hear from who, God only knew, about 5-7 minutes later, the door closed and we were on our way. I walked into the office at about 9:37am. 53 minutes....
I have a feeling my ride home will be okay. Tuesdays, I don't take a specific train as I exit in the tunnel, so I can jump on almost anything. I may be utterly surprised when I get to the station. It seems these days, my time is not valued by LAME.
I have decided to leave the house an hour earlier. Tomorrow, I have to change my entire schedule because a service I pay $60 a month for refuses to work for me. I will let you know how this pans out...
I am going to start by saying, September 4th LAME decided to reinstate some cut-back services and claimed to bring more trains. 7-9am we are to expect trains every 7 minutes. 9-11 those times would change to every 10. Then middle of the day, 15 minutes. Completely reasonable if these times were accurate or LAME drivers actually came to work! If a LAME driver calls in sick, the entire route is cancelled, however, their friends, get to work the shift after and make overtime.... so convenient!!!
Day 1:
Yesterday morning, I left the house to discover I was to wait 16 minutes for a train. I left the house at 9:02. This means, that they are running 6 minutes behind schedule. I heard that there was some sort of secret strike, and drivers were going to call in sick because they want more money - barf! But none the less, we are already looking at 6 minutes late. I finally walked into my office at 10:02am. 1 hour....
On the way home, I managed to get on a train home, I checked nextLAME.com to make sure when one was coming before I left the office at 5:22pm I got delayed for a bit between Forest Hill & West Portal. A normal occurence. I managed to get home by 6:00pm. 45 minutes....
Day 2:
This morning, I left my house at 8:40am. Techinically, if I missed a recent train, I would have had 7 minutes to the next one (as I was still in the 7-9 time frame). I went to my NextLAME App on my iPhone and low and behold -- 10 minutes for the next train. When I got to my pick up location, 15 people already waiting at the stop. I knew right then, that there hadn't been a train for at least 10+ minutes. I stood around, and the number of people waiting went from 15 to about 25. The 10 minutes went by and over the hill, I saw 1 cable -- shit -- up pulled a 1CAR train! 1 CAR??!?!?! I was so furious. I went to the platform and walked to each door. The train was so packed that all the steps were occupied, there was no way I was squeezing onto this train. I open up the App again. The next 3 listed times are 10, 29 & 35 minutes. What happened to 7 & 10 minutes?! I called the local information line and made a formal complaint about LAME. I told them to put in my report that I would be calling every day that this happens. I have a feeling that I will be calling them a lot in the coming weeks. Once I got onto another fairly packed train, I was holding on to one of the poles. We made it to Castro Station by 9:20am. Suddenly, the doors would not close, the driver mentioned we would be delayed because of "an ::inaudible:::: that wasn't responding and we are waiting to hear..." Hear from who, God only knew, about 5-7 minutes later, the door closed and we were on our way. I walked into the office at about 9:37am. 53 minutes....
I have a feeling my ride home will be okay. Tuesdays, I don't take a specific train as I exit in the tunnel, so I can jump on almost anything. I may be utterly surprised when I get to the station. It seems these days, my time is not valued by LAME.
I have decided to leave the house an hour earlier. Tomorrow, I have to change my entire schedule because a service I pay $60 a month for refuses to work for me. I will let you know how this pans out...
Introduction
Hello Readers!
Today I start my journey of recording the mishaps of the local light-rail vehicles in San Francisco. While, we all know those 4 household letters, I chose not to disclose the agency for my own protection. I will here on out refer to it as LAME (Late Always, Many Excuses). I have been a rider of LAME since I was about 5 years old. My grandfather and I lived in the Sunset and we would take the #28 bus down 19th Avenue, all the way to the GGBridge and walk across, walk back, and catch the #28 home. I remember I was free at the time, but once I got a little older, my fare was only 35cents!
I started High School (SHCP) 13 years ago. I remember the good old days, when the older smelly vehicles with Asian women pulling down their childrens pants to let them pee in the back where the 1 seat would face out, would pull up every 2-3 minutes taking you to where you needed to be. I had friends who lived on specific lines, lines that you never had to wait for, lines that would come so frequently. The LAME was totally reliable, definitely not lame at the time! I purchased my first real LAME pass and it was only $8. I remember my mom having me pay for it, so it was a big deal to lose $8 when you wanted the money for after school candy or soda.
Those days came and went. As I went on to college (USF). I had the privilege of having a LAME pass on my Student ID card (as part of our tuition fee). I had stopped riding the light-rail vehicles based on my location and rode the #5, #43, #38, #1 everywhere. Those were my stomping grounds. NOPA, Panhandle, and the Richmond. During college, I transitioned into a full-time job. The 1BX was my best friend. A quick ride to downtown. My stop was right outside my door, the driver was always waiting for me at the same time each day. I was spoiled.
Long gone are the days of being spoiled. The SF budget and economy has gone to shit. LAME passes are up to $60-$70 dollars. LAME drivers want more money, less work, and service cuts have been a roller coaster for the past few years. This would be the reason for my blog. I pay $60 ($120 if you count my husband's pass). I wait 25 minutes for trains, I get stuck in the tunnel for about 20 minutes each way home. On a good day the door to door timing of my house to work is 30 minutes. That is mostly doubled several times a week. I hope you enjoy and laugh in my frustrations. I will also use this platform to discuss those LAME riders who amuse and disgust me.
The title of this blog was an idea from my younger sister. She brought up the point that since I am mostly stalled, I am not IN-TRANSIT, rather I am stuck most of the time.
So begins My Life Out of Transit... I hope you enjoy!
Today I start my journey of recording the mishaps of the local light-rail vehicles in San Francisco. While, we all know those 4 household letters, I chose not to disclose the agency for my own protection. I will here on out refer to it as LAME (Late Always, Many Excuses). I have been a rider of LAME since I was about 5 years old. My grandfather and I lived in the Sunset and we would take the #28 bus down 19th Avenue, all the way to the GGBridge and walk across, walk back, and catch the #28 home. I remember I was free at the time, but once I got a little older, my fare was only 35cents!
I started High School (SHCP) 13 years ago. I remember the good old days, when the older smelly vehicles with Asian women pulling down their childrens pants to let them pee in the back where the 1 seat would face out, would pull up every 2-3 minutes taking you to where you needed to be. I had friends who lived on specific lines, lines that you never had to wait for, lines that would come so frequently. The LAME was totally reliable, definitely not lame at the time! I purchased my first real LAME pass and it was only $8. I remember my mom having me pay for it, so it was a big deal to lose $8 when you wanted the money for after school candy or soda.
Those days came and went. As I went on to college (USF). I had the privilege of having a LAME pass on my Student ID card (as part of our tuition fee). I had stopped riding the light-rail vehicles based on my location and rode the #5, #43, #38, #1 everywhere. Those were my stomping grounds. NOPA, Panhandle, and the Richmond. During college, I transitioned into a full-time job. The 1BX was my best friend. A quick ride to downtown. My stop was right outside my door, the driver was always waiting for me at the same time each day. I was spoiled.
Long gone are the days of being spoiled. The SF budget and economy has gone to shit. LAME passes are up to $60-$70 dollars. LAME drivers want more money, less work, and service cuts have been a roller coaster for the past few years. This would be the reason for my blog. I pay $60 ($120 if you count my husband's pass). I wait 25 minutes for trains, I get stuck in the tunnel for about 20 minutes each way home. On a good day the door to door timing of my house to work is 30 minutes. That is mostly doubled several times a week. I hope you enjoy and laugh in my frustrations. I will also use this platform to discuss those LAME riders who amuse and disgust me.
The title of this blog was an idea from my younger sister. She brought up the point that since I am mostly stalled, I am not IN-TRANSIT, rather I am stuck most of the time.
So begins My Life Out of Transit... I hope you enjoy!
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