Unsuck DC Metro: Guess the "Discipline"

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Guess the "Discipline"

In a story first reported here, word comes down that the bus driver involved will be "disciplined."

They're surely trembling in fear.

Wonder what will happen.

Our first guess was the bus driver's seat cushion will be reduced by a quarter inch. Maybe they'll be tickled with a feather, or forced to sit in the comfy chair! @perkinsms suggested WMATA would put a pea underneath the reduced cushion. @joepierce said the driver would be banished to MetroAccess.

What do you think will happen given the ridiculous record WMATA has for "punishing" those found guilty of serious safety infractions?

Other items:
One Metro Board member just too busy to attend meetings (WaPo)
Performers at select stations (WMATA) Video of some here

Comments (23)

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anonymous · 762 weeks ago

They'll be forced to watch The View--one episode.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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3><twentycharacters · 761 weeks ago

that's actually a real punishment, therefore it won't happen.

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@poptdc · 762 weeks ago

My guess is... WMATA doesn't give a flying:

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Marie · 762 weeks ago

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

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@poptdc · 762 weeks ago

How do you think I feel!? I almost STEPPED in it!

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Godsend Conspirator · 762 weeks ago

Metro runs on poopie turds.

When you gotta go, go on Metro.

But let's get real here guys, at least he got MOST of the poop on the newspaper. I feel bad for Michael Cera.

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John · 762 weeks ago

It is time to protest outside WMATA headquarters...
My Gripes...

1) Escalators. This is a microcausm of how shitty Metro is. If they can't get their escalators to work properly, how can they get multi-million dollar trains to run. Why does it take 4 months to repair an escalator? Half the time you see these escalators blocked off, you have NOBODY whatsoever even working on the damn thing. These could probably be fixed within a matter of weeks if they had a team doing this full time. The person in charge of the escalators, David Lacosse, is a complete malcontent who refuses to grant interviews addressing the problem. If he can't face the issues regarding his performance, he should be FIRED! What the hell is going to happen if some sort of emergency strikes metro? It will take people forever to evacuate the stations because of all these broken escalators

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John · 762 weeks ago

2) NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHATSOEVER! Turning the other cheek/REWARDING employees who are incompetent, malcontents, and in some cases, downright CRIMINAL! Every single station manager is RUDE and acts like doing his job is an inconvenience. Sometimes they lock people inside stations. Its hard to stand on the metro because none of the drivers know how to operate the damn thing without slamming on the brakes every 50 feet. Drivers sometimes shut the doors before everyone can even get OFF the trains. A dead guy's corpse ended up in the Train Yard one night! Bus Drivers on cellphones. I could go on and on. What happens to these guys? Slaps on the wrists. PAID suspensions aka VACATIONS. If the incompetence is enough to make the news, they fire the employee. Then once the story dies down, they quietly rehire the employee WITH BACK PAY! You say the employees should strike? Most of them are pretty much on strike, because they aren't doing their god damn jobs!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 762 weeks ago

Two weeks off without pay, then back on the job with all back pay. Nice little paid vacay.

+4 Vote up Vote down

John · 762 weeks ago

3) HORRIBLE responses to problems. This is a result of my previously mentioned problem. Why does the whole system need to shut down if someone barfs on the train? Drop people off in the only above ground station in Arlington during a STORM?! You serious?

4) Fare increases, service decreases. I wouldn't mind paying more if they would actually fix the damn system. But thats not the case. The whole system needs to be audited. Lot of wasted money going on, a lot of DEAD WEIGHT employees in the system. Board members not even attending board meetings, etc. Theres a lot of people out of work, and a good deal of them don't deserve it, unlike half the malcontents who work for metro.

+4 Vote up Vote down

anonymous · 762 weeks ago

McGruff gets to punch him....but only once.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Ever and Anon · 762 weeks ago

He gets a handshake, a head nod and a whispered comment about a raise, and then back on the job! What's missing? No twinkie for him today! Bad driver! Bad bad boy!

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anonymous · 762 weeks ago

They won't be allowed to feed the raccoons for a week.

1 reply · active 762 weeks ago

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unsuckdcmetro 92p · 762 weeks ago

Nice.

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Guest · 762 weeks ago

No supper!! Ok, well maybe just a light snack.

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Rbs · 762 weeks ago

Enshrinement in the ATU 689 Hall of Fame

+1 Vote up Vote down

ANON · 762 weeks ago

A firm talking to followed by a round of drinks from everyone.

+1 Vote up Vote down

@chrispulaski · 762 weeks ago

I am shocked that one of the "guest" comments said the person would receive two weeks off without pay. They must not know WMATA very well.

It's been shown time and time again that even with suspensions, the employees still get paid. I'm guessing this bus driver's "punishment" will be the standard 4 to 8-week suspension WITH pay. If he gets fired, he'll be rehired with back-pay.

I mean, that's if he/she really gets punished at all.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 762 weeks ago

Whatever the punishment is that WE come up with, make sure it's not "race" or "slavery" related! :-P

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Joe · 762 weeks ago

WMATA punishment? Shouldn't the driver be charged with some sort of crime, like hit and run?

My experience is that Metrobus drivers are usually pretty good when they have passengers on board but as soon as they flip on the "out of service" sign, they turn into speeding, red light running, not-staying-in-their-lane, running down joggers, hitting-and-running crazy drivers. Of course, if I had to drive in this traffic everyday and had to stop every two blocks, then I might get a little aggressive too.

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Max · 762 weeks ago

A night with the Dupont Circle Janitor/Prostitute?

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jw9 · 762 weeks ago

fleeing the scene of an accident is a criminal offense in VA, maybe the prosecutor should do something if wmata doesn't

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Patrick · 762 weeks ago

The punishment: A promotion and commensurate pay raise, obviously.

After all, just look at the stories that have been circulated about it! After all, as the saying goes, "no press is bad press." This safety-minded professional's actions have once again brought WMATA to the fore, getting their name mentioned on newscasts, blogs, and the tip of every commuter's tongue. I mean, people are really talking this time; just LOOK at all of that press coverage! Congratulations, hit-and-run bus driver - you've done WMATA a great service.

You will be remembered forever. Or at least until one of your fellow drivers decides to one-up your achievement by plowing through a crowded crosswalk or something.