Unsuck DC Metro: Slippery When Driven Unsafely

Monday, November 22, 2010

Slippery When Driven Unsafely

From Kimberly:

Waiting in the rain for the bus, I was ecstatic when it actually came on time.

I was taking the L2 north to Chevy Chase Circle and got on at 20th & L Streets around 3:30 pm.

I got on the bus and said hello to driver, as I normally do. I was met with a blank stare.

OoooooK.

I got two steps past the driver, and he peeled off, racing down the street.

Because of the rain, the center aisle was wet. And because it was wet and the driver jerked out and race away, I lost my footing.

It was a comical fall. My feet flew out, and I landed on my back and on my laptop. The loud THUNK I made shocked the other riders.

So embarrassing.

As another rider helped me up, the bus driver just continued his pace and didn't even look back.

Look, I know these things happen, and I'm not the type to complain because of falling because it's wet.

However, the bus driver definitely should have asked me if I was alright.

I hate that bus drivers race off like that, especially when the bus floors are wet.

I see how they wait for the elderly - can't they wait for others as well?

Metro really brings out the worst in people, and I found myself I hoping that one day that bus driver falls and the person responsible doesn't even flinch. Ugh.

I'm going to go ice my back now. Thanks Metro!

Other items:
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Comments (26)

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+7 Vote up Vote down

· 748 weeks ago

Most drivers seem to want to get to the end of their shift regardless of the safety of the passengers and other traffic/pedestrians. They're a menace. I'm hoping the bus cams will curtail what I have long thought was outrageous behavior.

An experience similar to this one made me abandon riding the bus for good even though as a walker/driver, I'm still easy prey for their predatory driving.

4 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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ann · 748 weeks ago

A lunch break and go to the bathroom. 20 min

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Geraldine · 748 weeks ago

OK, I'll be the first to ask. Ann, what are you talking about? I "know" what you're talking about but what does that have to do with the post or the comment above it?

+1 Vote up Vote down

annon · 748 weeks ago

The only time a bus driver can go to the bathroom is at the end when they only have 3 to 7 minutes then start a new trip

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Autumn · 748 weeks ago

That's not true. On the L2 route, actually, there is a mini bus terminal on Calvert Street where bus drivers have stopped to use the bathroom. This is in the middle of a route. It happened more than once while I was on the bus - in the evening.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Everly Non · 748 weeks ago

I have rarely seen a Metro bus driven in a safe manner. For years now. I am rather terrified of crossing roads, especially Wilson Blvd in VA even with cross walks and walk lights. They believe in a "right turn on red and run you down" concept. I am surprised though this driver never thought about a possible lawsuit for injury and, adding to it, his own devil-may-care attitude about the entire situation.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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ann · 748 weeks ago

if it is raining the slip n fall on the bus is not covered as a liability

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Megan · 748 weeks ago

I was advised that Metro buses are not allowed to turn right on red - so if you see buses that are, please report them - even if you believe it will not help.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Ha! · 748 weeks ago

Left turns on red only!

-2 Vote up Vote down

yarny 1p · 748 weeks ago

While I feel bad for her, having fallen in front of people, and the risk of damaging a laptop ... on most busses, if the driver waited for everyone to sit down, the bus would never move. Not for lack of seats (sometimes) but the longer the bus is sitting there, the better the chance someone else is going to come running down the street, waving their hands, begging the bus to pause for them. Vicious cycle. Plus, a lot of people (not necessarily the woman in question) dwaddle when looking for a seat - rather than taking the first available seat, or quickly moving to the back, they ponder the seatmate, look for a window seat, don't want to sit too close to the back door...

6 replies · active 748 weeks ago

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Anony · 748 weeks ago

Amber, those are some good points, but I don't think anyone is suggesting the driver not drive away from the stop. We just want the driver to drive the bus at a normal and safe take-off speed, instead of gunning the bus and making anyone lose their balance. Unfortunately, it seems these drivers just aren't trained to take off gradually: they drive as if they are in a small car alone, instead of with a bunch of people, including elderly and small children in the bus.

+4 Vote up Vote down

GDopplerXT · 748 weeks ago

I ride the bus to and from work every day and drivers like these are not the norm in my experience. Far more common are the passengers that Amber describes - taking forever getting on the bus; trying to juggle a cup of coffee, two bags, a phone and a book while digging around for their Smartrip (why did they wait until they were on the bus to look for it?); slowly walking down the aisle to see where the empty seats are and who they do or don't want to sit next to...of course while this is going on several more people have arrived at the stop so we're waiting a little bit longer now.

Rather than worry about the occasional problem of unsteady acceleration by drivers, I think people should focus more on the constant problem of unnecessarily long passenger loading time. (Note that this will help keep buses on schedule, which will reduce one great incentive for unsafe bus driving in the first place.)

+5 Vote up Vote down

GDopplerXT · 748 weeks ago

I should also mention the seat-hogs. They increase loading times since new passengers have to negotiate their way around the seat-hogs to be seated themselves.

Also I'll mention the passengers who must stand, but choose to stand all the way up front near the driver. This also slows down boarding time. I don't see this as a huge problem but it always makes me wonder.

0 Vote up Vote down

graxczyl · 747 weeks ago

Since every metro bus seems to have a back door, perhaps signs could be printed to instruct standing passengers to stand there. They would still be near a door and could get off quickly, but they would not be blocking the entry of additional passengers. It seems like a no-brainer to me.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Anony · 748 weeks ago

I guess neither of us know how frequent these rough take-offs are, and even if we did, they would probably be different on different bus lines. I can say I have experienced the rough take-offs numerous times (with at least two different drivers) enough times that I think it should be a training issue.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Anony · 748 weeks ago

I too find the unprepared people frustrating, but people I see on the L line during rush hour are pretty well-prepared.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Anony · 748 weeks ago

In the past, I've complained about drivers taking off jarringly before people are seated on the L line before and they actually seemed to have corrected it...for a while..then it went back to what the OP described. I think the cameras will only work if someone is reviewing all the footage they compile. The only way any footage would be reviewed is if there is a complaint about a driver with specific date and time. I think that WE have to bring a safety culture to Metro because Metro sure as hell won't do it on their own.

I would encourage people to complain when this sort of incident happens, and if it is complaining on Metro's web form, copy and paste your message into an e-mail to yourself so that you can later have the date/time stamp if you need to refer to it later..or if you need to bring the Washington Post into it...as the guy who almost fell into the escalator hole at Tenleytown Metro recently did: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti...

+4 Vote up Vote down

WTF · 748 weeks ago

Why would a metrocrat talk to cargo???

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Lee · 748 weeks ago

you have to hold the hand rails in the future

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Anony · 748 weeks ago

It sure helps, but they're too high for many people. That leaves only poles until you can get to the part with forward-facing seats.

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annon · 748 weeks ago

oh well

-2 Vote up Vote down

ann · 748 weeks ago

I like "Unsuck's" photo of a female bus driver. wish they were hired

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Anon · 748 weeks ago

It's Sandra Bullock and Keanu from Speed

-1 Vote up Vote down

Geez! · 748 weeks ago

This doesn't sound like Metro's fault. Get shoes with decent traction, have the SmarTrip ready to scan, and regardless of how quickly the driver pulls off, you're not likely to have an accident. The same thing happens on Fairfax Connectors and the riders who pay attention stay on their feet and those who don't usually end up on their butts!

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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the OP · 735 weeks ago

i'm not saying it's metro's fault - i said, these things happen, especially when it's raining. i did have my smart trip ready to go, before the bus came to the stop. the bus driver pulled away from the stop extremely and unusually quickly before i could have even sat in the first seat or before i could have reached up for the handrails. considering it was raining and wet, i would think the bus driver would at least want to make sure i was able to get a hold of the handrails before he pulled away - that's all i'm am asking for. well, that and a simple "you ok?" when i land hard on my ass.