… Bus version… Barbados buses versus OCTranspo. Based on recent experience.
There are 3 types of buses to take in Barbados: the full-sized buses that we have here in Ottawa (no A/C though), smaller versions of said buses… and minivans whose sole goals seem to be to cram as many peeps as possible into the van all the while tooting their customised horns and breaking land speed records. We rode on the first two but not the last. Didn’t know if my travel insurance would cover such recklessness.
Commonalities between buses here and buses there…
Lots in common, actually.
Land speed records are tested.
Timing is unreliable.
Corners and braking are for playing the “knock down the rider” game.
“Interesting” clientele
Differences:
The drivers on the island try to be helpful. Might not understand a word that they’re saying due to the accent… but they are trying. OCTranspo? Well… there ARE exceptions, but…
$2 Bajan ($1 US) will pretty much get you anywhere on the island. Might take a while… but you will get there. OC? What is the cash fare now? $3? And, most of the time, one must change buses at least once to get to where they are going to.
The research, led by UBC psychology doctoral student Will Gervais, found distrust to be the central factor motivating antagonism toward atheists among the religious.
“Where there are religious majorities – that is, in most of the world – atheists are among the least trusted people,” Gervais said in a release.
“With more than half a billion atheists worldwide, this prejudice has the potential to affect a substantial number of people.”
Researchers believe the negative perception of atheists may stem from some people’s understanding of morality; a 2002 Pew poll suggests nearly half of Americans believe morality is impossible without belief in god.
Wait just a cotton-pickin’ minute here! Do people actually buy this? Seriously? You can’t have morals without believing in a deity?
I suspect that one of two things are happening here. Either, a) the study’s methodology is flawed somehow, or b) we are nowhere as evolved as we pretend to be.
But, unless this is refuted, maybe y’all should give me a wide berth… just in case… no morals, ya know…
So Canada will most definitely pull out of Kyoto – but not because of our backwards environmental policies, nope. There is a much better reason than simply refusing to acknowledge the obvious that we are dinosaurs when it comes to the environment.
Rumours were rife around Durban’s “International Conference Centre” today as it became apparent that Canada has expressed intention to pull out of the Kyoto Protocol having seen the state of the meeting facilities in the South African city. Already rattled by being told not to walk the streets after dark, the discovery that the delegation offices are in a bona fide underground car park was just too much for the reticent North American delegation. “I don’t care if they’ve put a carpet down and scattered a few pot plants”, said one senior delegate, “it’s still a f***ing parking lot. If that’s the best they can do then we’ve had it with Kyoto. We’re outta here”. On leaving they added “what’s more the wifi is rubbish. I can’t even facebook during KP plenaries”.
Meanwhile, all is happy and blonde back home as Michelle Rempel minds the shop for the “Environment” Minister.
Then, with surely her finest 30 seconds so far, she took aim at Justin Trudeau. “Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague opposite of a few things with regard to environment policy and energy policy. First, emissions increased in this country under their government, and a policy that he should be especially familiar with, the National Energy Policy, lost thousands of jobs across the country.”
The House erupted in noise. The Speaker called for order. Ms. Rempel added an Al Gore reference—”inconvenient truths”—for good measure.
She had looked serious in her interventions all afternoon, but back in her seat she beamed. She will probably be Foreign Affairs Minister by summer.
Oh goody. Another Con Cabinet Minister with little between the ears.
“MLSE teams are among the most popular major-league franchises in North America, iconic sports brands watched and loved by millions of fans across our nation. As Canada’s largest and most established communications company, Bell is proud to be part of this all-Canadian acquisition of a world leader in sports and entertainment,” said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE in a statement.
Good to see Councillor Tim Tierney pushing the issue and forcing the transit authority to move quicker in its implementation of full system GPS coverage! Having real-time data will improve service and increase productivity all over Ottawa! Think about it – if my bus is running ten minutes late, those are ten minutes that can be used in a more productive way than standing at the bus stop.
And is about as arrogant as one can get. Way to build positive relations, you idiot!
For the record, I have ridden these buses for more than 14 years. And only once have I seen an incident where a driver was verbally abused by a customer. Only once.
However, I have witnessed operators:
- yell at customers for not holding their passes right side up
- slam the front door shut as someone is boarding
- do a hard brake for nor apparent reason and chuckle about it as passengers were thrown forward
- tell a young Mom of two with a large stroller : “didn’t you learn when you got knocked up the first time?”
- countless times, drive away from the curb when a customer was within a few feet of the bus
Re: KHL tragedy. I will never, ever fly on a domestic airline of a country with a long history of corruption. Never.
Thoughts to the families and friends.
====================================================================== Should people whose butts do not fit on one seat on the bus (I am currently perched on 1/3 of a bus seat as I write this due to a rather, uh, wide load beside me) have to pay for two seats / double bus pass or fare?
Speaking of buses, I think OCTranspo is going to have to rethink some of their route changes. If Twitter talk is any indication, there are a lot of unhappy riders. Loads of hate! And that includes me to a degree. The 149 was rerouted to miss my area but another 148 or two is not added to make up the slack. This has resulted in very crowded buses and some unwanted changes to works schedules for some.
I’ll be sending a note to them shortly.
I’m hoping that the mandarins at OCTranspo will listen to constructive ideas for improvement.
Ward 18 Ottawa Councillor Peter Hume has been very helpful lately. First, he was very supportive in our daycare’s continuing effort to somehow slow down traffic on Russell Road.
Finally, school is back in play so watch out for munchkins and yellow buses. Already saw one moron in a BMW blow past a bus with its lights flashing… Ee-dee-ot!
As a sidebar, why does it seem like the biggest assholes on the road drive Beemers? Something to do with the plush upholstery off-gassing in the interiors?
If you have read this blog for a while, you’ll know that I’m a big supporter of public transportation – or transport en commun as they say in French.
I have used OC Transpo as my wheels to work ever since moving to Ottawa in 1997. Figure 220 work days x two trips per day x 14 years minus some days where I brought the car or was on holidays etc. and you come up with about 6,000 trips!
Wow. Never thought of it like that before…
But aside from the odd pain in the ass strike and missing buses and various other quirks, it remains the most convenient and cost effective way for me to get to the place where I earn my pay.
And I have taken public transportation elsewhere too. I kind of feel that you get a good feel for the Volks of a place by riding their buses or rails.
Beijing, Paris, London, Mexico City, Cuba, Bridgetown, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Regina, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary, Guelph, Peterborough, Halifax… in all these places I have ridden public buses, trains, subways or boats…
How about you? Where have you experienced public transportation? Which has the best/worst system?
I. Ottawa City Council’s love-in with one another will end when the ATU threatens to strike in February. The Council is split between turning the whole transit system over to Blue Line taxi… and eliminating buses completely to replace them with red dirigibles piloted by OCDSB Trustees.
II. While meeting with Mayor Watson in March, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford inexplicably chugs a fifth of rye on camera, kicks the Watson in the shins and then seizes him in a headlock until Mayor Watson passes out. Ottawa City Council promptly declares Ottawa a “No Ford” zone which Don Cherry immediately decries as unpatriotic and an affront to the troops.
III. Also in March, Don Cherry will finally lose his job on HNIC after going berzerk – live and on camera – on the head of a CBC cameraman who happened to have a peace sign button pinned to his shirt.
PM Stephen Harper appoints Cherry to the Senate the very next day.
The next week, the Senate passes a dress code motion that prohibits loud and tacky attire in the Red Chamber. Cherry immediately decries this as unpatriotic and an affront to the troops.
IV. Stephen Harper will NOT be caught on YouTube doing hits from a bong.
Laureen, however, will be. The clip goes viral. The Prime Minister is informed that “viral” means a lot of people are viewing it. He is livid, blames Igantieff, then then drags a piano onto Sparks Street. Astounded tourists and pedestrians are treated to the sight of the prime Minister of Canada belting out Piano Man. In his pajamas. With his arm around Senator Cherry.
V. In the midst of an August election campaign forced by the Opposition, Laureen Harper joins Twitter under the pseudonym Lady LaLa. Under the influence of said substances in said bong, she begins a series of “tell-all” Tweets that bring about the resignations of 8 cabinet members. The media quickly dubs the Tweets HarpiLeaks.
VI. Julian Assange is cleared of all misdeeds and buysthe rights to HarpiLeaks for an undisclosed sum. The following Friday, Assange is gunned down while attending an I/T security conference in Kitchener, Ontario. Rumours abound on the Hill that Harper himself ordered the hit. John Baird can not be reached.
VII. While on vacation in Ireland, ex Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams calls CBC News to disclose that John Baird showed up at his door raving about being framed by that bastard Flanagan. Somewhat surprisingly, Williams is hailed as a hero by a nation desperately in need of one.
VIII. In spite of HarpiLeaks, PLUS a leader gone ga-ga, PLUS an Interpol investigation of the Harper Cabinet involvement in the Assanage assassination PLUS a late campaign revelation that former GG Michaëlle Jean was blackmailed into allowing prorogation (the details of which will be revealed in MMXII)… the CPC STILL wins another minority government, losing 3 seats to the Bloq. Voter turnout is 12%.
IX. McGuinty wins another majority after receiving the blessing from the now national hero, Danny Williams. Voter turnout is 89%.
X. In November, Blue Line is awarded the City transit contract and the drivers immediately go on strike.
They are replaced by red dirgibles piloted by OCDSB Trustees that carry on the routes above the Transitway until they are replaced by the newly acquired F-35s – whose pilots were bored with chasing Russian turbo-props, weather balloons and Danish biplanes.
And then they strike after being forced to call out the stops.
Rob Ford states that this would have never happened in Toronto.
Senator Cherry immediately decries all of this as unpatriotic and an affront to the troops.
And Mayor Watson calls Larry to ask if he wants his old job back.
I am well, thank-you very much. Had a bit of a, um, stroke this morning when I ran across this short little missive about our famous transit union.
Seems as though the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 is still miffed at the shift scheduling arrangements and has poured cold water on the idea that negotiations on a new contract will begin any time soon. The contract is up in a little more than 3 months and the Union says that the last thing they want is a strike.
Sure. I seem to recall this same line of discussion from a couple years back.
And didn’t the union agree to arbitration? We all felt safe and sound. The 95′s and 86′s and 98′s felt just pretty damn cozy and hospitable and all?
Didn’t we?
Mike Aldrich, the acting president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279, told CBC News on Monday that unless the employer changes its bargaining team there won’t be any progress on a new contract.
“We have the same players negotiating the same proposals,” said Aldrich, referring to the 51-day strike in 2008-09 that shut down buses in the city.
“We know what happened last time. I’m not interested in going down that road.”
Hopefully this is just pre-negotiation posturing… but… it’s déjà vu all over again… I wonder how the new Mayor is going to handle this?
If there were another strike in this City, I wouldn’t want to be in his – or any of the Councillors’ – shoes. There will be some seriously pissed off folks in ol’ Bytown! As one of the commenters on the MotherCorp site put it:
City should lock them out in April after their contract is expired and we have nice weather.
Again, where are the buses, OC Transpo? If your schedule goes into summer mode, at least tell us about it! Ten minutes at Hurdman before a 38 showed up!
Oh, I get it. You’re taking your cues from the Harperites. Cut back on services and the information sources used to measure whether or not said services have actually been, you know, cut back.
Oh, and according to the HP, Glenn Beck might be going blind. That’s truly sad. I mean, why isn’t it his voice that he’s losing?
I’ll be glad when all of the ugly signage is removed for good. But don’t expect that to happen until there is a change in government.
- Some pollsare showing that the public mood is about as stable as the Great Wall… others are showing a Grit uptick… who is right?
- Rand Paul. Whatta dork. Yes, Mr. Paul, the Tea Baggers are a bunch of radical yee-haws.
DES MOINES, Iowa — A billboard created by an Iowa tea party group that compares President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin is drawing sharp criticism – even from fellow tea party activists who have condemned it as offensive and a waste of money.
The North Iowa Tea Party began displaying the billboard in downtown Mason City last week. The sign shows large photographs of Obama, Nazi leader Hitler and communist leader Lenin beneath the labels “Democrat Socialism,” “National Socialism,” and “Marxist Socialism.”
Beneath the photos is the phrase, “Radical leaders prey on the fearful & naive.”
And yes, Canada has an equivalent. Though not as strong and public, you can bet that they have been behind many of the Con policy decisions lately. They DO have to cater to their core from time to time…
- More OC Crapspo hi jinks
I just waited for 10 minutes to get a connecting bus from Hurdman to Tunney’s Pasture. In that time only two buses that were going as far west as Tunney’s showed up and one of them – a 34 – stopped at the far end of the platform before hurrying away, in spite of at least three would-be passengers trying to flag it down. Finally a 38 showed up and actually stopped to pick up riders. Imagine that! A driver thinking it his job to allow riders on the bus! And on a Friday too!
Gawd, their service sucks sometimes… I wonder when the next strike/lock-out will be?
Pretty soon, if mayorlarry manages somehow to get re-elected. The vid that was posted on YouTube by Jim Watson’s peeps was sure funny, but won’t go a long way in establishing Jimbo as a credible alternative. A lot of folks think that it was a little juvenile. Add this to the entry of Clive Doucet into the (why, Clive why?) and some left-of-centre vote splitting is almost certain… with a certain bald guy named larry taking full advantage of his appeal with the Timmie’s crowd.
- Steinbrenner dies… and I won’t diss him… In fact, even if you thought of him as an egotistical, micromanaging blowhard, ya can’t argue the fact that he brought success to the franchise that everyone, including me, loves to hate.
- Did I mention that OC Transpo sucks?
- The World Cup is over for another 4 yrs. Some surprises and some scandals. England was completely underwhelming. Ghana was tragic. Brazil was amazing – until their final game. Italy and France sucked.
At least the EPL starts up again in about a month! Go Gunners!
And if I ever hear another vuvuzela, I will scream.
An apt depiction of Rupert Murdoch
Friday miscellany...
Hurdman Station
