Unsuck DC Metro: Wonder Why Bus Ridership has Fallen Off a Cliff

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wonder Why Bus Ridership has Fallen Off a Cliff

Metro reported (PDF) that bus ridership has fallen 7 percent, while rail ridership was down 2 percent. Wonder why.

From DZ:

A few weeks ago, while everyone else in the District was on the Mall for the rally, I found myself in Georgetown for work. When it was time to go home, I set my trusty Droid to NextBus and looked up when the G2 was expected to leave from its terminal point at the front gates of Georgetown University. I made sure I arrived about 10 minutes before the NextBus-listed departure time to be absolutely sure I didn't miss the bus.

I didn't miss it, alright. It was already sitting there, the engine idling, the doors closed, no driver in sight. And so I waited. The NextBus clocked clicked down to 1 minute, then displayed "Arriving," then moved on to the next bus in the list. The G2 continued to sit there, engine idling. Finally, after about 25 minutes, the driver materialized from God-knows-where, got in, opened the doors to allow the crowd that had gathered to enter, and commenced the route.

Is there some rule saying DC law does not apply to Metro? Because I'm pretty sure I remember seeing signs posted at Friendship Heights warning bus drivers about not leaving their buses idling. A search of DC regulations reveals the following:

900 ENGINE IDLING
900.1 No person owning, operating, or having control over the engine of a gasoline or diesel powered motor vehicle on public or private space, including the engine of a public vehicles for hire, buses with a seating capacity of twelve (12) or more persons, and school buses or any vehicle transporting students, shall allow that engine to idle for more than three (3) minutes while the motor vehicle is parked, stopped, or standing, including for the purpose of operating air conditioning equipment in those vehicles, except as follows: (a) To operate private passenger vehicles; (b) To operate power takeoff equipment, including dumping, cement mixers, refrigeration systems, content delivery, winches, or shredders; or (c) To idle the engine for no more than five (5) minutes to operate heating equipment when the ambient air temperature is thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32° F) or below.
AUTHORITY: Unless otherwise noted, the authority for this chapter is § 412 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, as amended, 87 Stat. 790, Pub. L. No. 93-198, D.C. Code § 1-227(a); and § 3 of the District of Columbia Air Pollution Control Act of 1984, D.C. Law 5-165, D.C. Code § 6-906 (1995 Repl. Vol.), Mayor's Order 93-12 dated February 16, 1993.
SOURCE: Section 3 of the District of Columbia Air Pollution Control Act of 1984, D.C. Law 5-165, 32 DCR 565, 647 (February 1, 1985);as amended by final rulemaking at 46 DCR 6017 (July 23, 1999); as amended by the Healthy Schools Act of 2010, effective July 27, 2010 (D.C. Law 18-209), published at 57 DCR 7548 (August 20, 2010).

So, let's see:
Bizarre NextBus phantom bus arrival times that don't remotely correspond to reality? Check.
Bus not keeping to posted schedule (The G2 schedule says there are G2s departing from that stop at 1:22 and then not another one until 1:52. I got on at 1:32, and it didn't leave for a few minutes because it took a while for everyone who'd gathered to get on.) even when there's no traffic to prevent it from doing so? Check.
Violating DC law? Check!
Ironic that they had the rally here because if there's anything on the planet that's the antithesis of restoring sanity, it's Metro.

And consider:
Crashy
Reckless
Hit n run
KFC
Texter
Gamer
Newshound
Chatters
Burny
Fail
This

And Metro's answer? This!

Maybe people just don't want to pay for this "service" any more.

Other items:
Metro getting rid of some bus stops (WaPo)
December track work (weeknight/weekend) (WMATA)
Express buses on the way (WMATA)

Comments (33)

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+9 Vote up Vote down

· 750 weeks ago

I've stopped taking the bus because at least half the time I feel the driver is driving dangerously. I walk or bike most places now and keep far away from the deathbus

+5 Vote up Vote down

aaron · 750 weeks ago

My favorite was the 96 bus that I tried to take one night. There was a bus parked with it's lights off just down the block before the first stop at McLean Gardens. My wife and I walked up to it, the driver opened the door and said that his bus was not the next one running that route. After we walked back to the bus stop the lights go out inside. A few minutes later a young lady walks up and knocks on the door, the lights come on, the door opens. She gets on the bus, the lights go out again.

We waited for a few more minutes to see if another bus would show up (last route of the night) and ended up taking a cab home instead.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+6 Vote up Vote down

Yeah · 750 weeks ago

You only get a ride if the driver does too?

+4 Vote up Vote down

anonymous · 750 weeks ago

and how much did they just hike the fares for the buses? 18%?

+8 Vote up Vote down

Todd · 750 weeks ago

And I've been having more and more trouble just getting a bus to stop at the bus stop - time and again, an almost empty bus will zoom by without pausing. Even when stopped for a light at a bus stop, bus drivers will refuse to open the doors and let people on.

So ... what's MetroBus's purpose? to move people from place to place? or to provide jobs with no responsibility for the drivers?

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

@kara_h · 750 weeks ago

I used to have a fun one ... the bus stop sign in front of my office complex had fallen down and there was not another stop going in the same direction for at least a mile.

The normal driver knew to stop there (the fact that it was across the street from a bus shelter may have been a small hint). The days that we got a sub were no luck though ... we could wave, run after the bus, phone metro, all to no avail.

+8 Vote up Vote down

More is More · 750 weeks ago

I saw this very same thing happen the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

I was catching the B30 express bus from Greenbelt to BWI. When I arrive at the bus terminal, there was a B30 sitting at the curb with no bus driver. However, since the line for the B30 was considerably long, the bus driver just decided to walk away with the doors wide open. The bus was filled to capacity and I imagine only a small portion of those people ponied up the $6 fare. Even though these buses only run every 30 minutes, I decided to wait for the next one anyway.

The next B30 bus arrived and the SmartTrip reader was broken, so again, no one was being charged.

The way Metro was handing out free $6 bus rides, I would have never believed they were running a deficient!

+5 Vote up Vote down

Terri · 750 weeks ago

I was waiting to get my bus to Pentagon metro on Tuesday morning and the busdriver came and then went without stopping. There is no way he missed me because there were no cars around the stop to block his view. In addition, he was travelling at a high rate of speed.. This morning the same bus driver did stop (a few yards past the bus stop) and then proceeded to nearly pass two other passengers at two other stops. each time the passenger had to walk about 5-6 yards up the street to get to the bus that past them. At least he stopped this time, but he is still driving way to fast in a residential neighborhood with very windy and narrow streets. I just don't get it.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+6 Vote up Vote down

Ian · 750 weeks ago

This happened to me recently on the 16 line on Columbia Pike. I was sitting in the bus kiosk, reading and waiting for the bus. The bus driver zoomed past, but eventually stopped about 30 yards down the street (after I jumped up and ran after the bus). Then the driver berated me for not flagging her down. I very nearly said some naughty words to the effect of "It's not my damn job to make you stop at the bus stops on your bus route!!!"

0 Vote up Vote down

yarny 1p · 750 weeks ago

Just a different perspective - there's so many 16s that go to different places. If you were trying to get to Culmore (16F) you probably wouldn't want to get on the 16A (Annandale). I hate it when I'm on the 16Y and people are flagging it down and then don't get on because it doesn't go to their destination. People have written to Dr Gridlock about this, too, whether the bus should stop at every single stop when there are multiple busses coming to the location. Generally, the busses will get more and more off schedule and back up traffic, and the consensus is that people waiting should be mindful and step up to the signpost when the bus is coming.

I've certainly seen 16s leave people behind, I only feel bad when those people are up and active at the stop. When someone is just sitting in a bus shelter, I wouldn't assume they wanted to get on a bus either. When I lived in Portland and exclusively rode the bus, that's how it worked - if you were back in the shelter, the bus wasn't stopping.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Ian · 750 weeks ago

You've made a lot of assumptions that aren't true --- although to be fair, I wasn't entirely specific on the details.

First, I was going to the Pentagon --- every 16 (A,B, D, J, & H) goes to either Pentagon or Pentagon City.

Second, this was just after the morning rush hour. There would be no other bus passing that stop for at least 30 minutes. The bus driver knows the schedule, and its unreasonable to assume that someone waiting at the bus stop doesn't want to get on the bus.

Third, the schedule on the 16s is wildly unpredictable (big shock), so IMO it is unreasonable to expect people not to find some way to distract themselves while waiting for a bus that is sometimes ten to twenty minutes overdue. Again, it's not my job to be jumping up and down and waving a sign in front of the bus stop --- it's a damn bus stop on the 16 route to the Pentagon. If there's a person there, the bus should stop, and if it's a misunderstanding and the person doesn't want to get on, I guess that's too bad for the people who might have lost two or three whole seconds off their commute.

+4 Vote up Vote down

ElanVitale · 750 weeks ago

10 A/B busses running to and from Braddock Road have been on a roll lately. They drive right past stop frequently on Mt. Vernon Avenue. Last week the driver got off the bus (left it running) to go into the 7-11 and buy a soda. We (the passengers) looked around "WTF" at each other. Last friday, the 10A bus to pentagon from braddock road drove right past the bay at high speed and proceeded to leave the station. Someone flagged him down at the crosswalk. About 12 of us got on the bus, in full view of the station manager who also had a "WTF" look on his face.

+12 Vote up Vote down

· 750 weeks ago

So many Metro workers seem to lack any kind of respect for the job. This leads to disrespect for the customer and traffic laws. Sadly, the union seems to be the enabler in this never ending spiral. Hope they enjoy those jobs now.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 750 weeks ago

Just another failure in a long list of failures. Metro is not unsucking, despite every effort on the part of the Unsuck blog. When, oh when, will we ever see the end of poor service at Metro?!!

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+9 Vote up Vote down

SoBar · 750 weeks ago

When?

Right after we get a new board, get a completely new management team, and get rid of the union.

In other words, right about the time pigs fly between ice skating gigs in hell.

-4 Vote up Vote down

GDopplerXT · 750 weeks ago

"...despite every effort on the part of the Unsuck blog."

I think you misunderstand what this blog is. There are very few ideas here on how to "unsuck" the DC Metro system. This is basically a site where folks can anecdotally point out obvious faults of Metro and then others can join in the complaining.

There's a big difference between pointing out something that's broken and actually trying fixing it.

+7 Vote up Vote down

anonymous · 750 weeks ago

This blog has done way way way more than any other news outlet to improve Metro. The attention to texting drivers led to a zero tolerance policy. The uncovering of the escalator cover up no doubt led to a lot of hand wringing at metro. Anything that can be done to bring accountability to Metro is a HUGE improvement to the current system and a lot more than merely a gripe.

To be fair to the spirit of your post, it is also cathartic to read this blog or it makes me laugh. All MAJOR improvements.

+4 Vote up Vote down

a bit incredulous · 750 weeks ago

I've given up on NEXTBUS - it never seems to be accurate. But what's really starting to get on my nerves is the total lack of attention to a schedule. Ok, when it's rush hour - sure, I'm willing to allow that buses get stuck, too. But when they show up early and don't wait? Or when the last bus of the evening just doesn't show up at all? Oh, and try complaining about a bus showing up early - it gets you nowhere. But it is a big deal - if i rely on the schedule to grab a bus that's supposed to be at my stop at 7:21am - and it leaves at 7:12am instead - or if it's at night, and it's supposed to get to my stop at 7:56pm and shows up at 7:40pm....that's just as bad as being late. WTF?

+6 Vote up Vote down

VeggieTart · 750 weeks ago

I often catch an S bus at 16th and Euclid going south. There's a shelter there, but oftentimes in the morning, the driver will stop just past the shelter so we have to step on a patch of dirt and work our way around a garbage can to get on the bus. Sometimes the drivers manage to align the door WITH the garbage can.

And don't get me started on bus drivers running red lights.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Anonymous · 750 weeks ago

How in the hell do you screw up NextBus??? Oh wait. Metro can screw up ANYTHING. NB worked well for about a week.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 750 weeks ago

I missed the 38B today because I got stuck waiting to cross at an endless light. No worry, another was scheduled to come in 10 minutes.

The 10-minute later bus never came, and neither did the one after that. And in this weather, it was a pain in the ass to deal with. How do buses disappear from the schedule like that?!

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+4 Vote up Vote down

Will · 750 weeks ago

Could it have been bus bunching? I know this is a huge problem on the 90's. During rush hour they come like every five minutes. 30 minutes later like 4 or 5 show up at once.

I would love to see Metro operate some sort of express bus on that line and/or dedicated bus lanes.

+1 Vote up Vote down

@VeggieTart · 750 weeks ago

Bus bunching is a huge problem on many lines, I am sure. It's not unusual for me to see three or four S buses at the same time coming down 16th Street. The 38B is so unreliable, I have never seen them bunch. It's such a fustercluck, I've been catching the Circulator from Rosslyn after work and thanking the bus gods that they took over that crappy Georgetown Blue Bus.

+2 Vote up Vote down

anon · 750 weeks ago

Metro Bus Rules states operators do not exit the bus and leave running. You need to call or write and file a complaint.
I wrote (3) complaints last week when on Little River Turnpike (2 different bus drivers) and (1) bus driver on Jefferson Davis Highway had a headset on talking on the phone. The 2 bus drivers on Little River Turnpike had their left hand up to their ear and talking on the phone with people on the bus, mostly appeared to be Hispanic American riders.

The Metro Bus Drivers still are not being fired for using electronic devices while driving the bus. DOT, Mr. Ray La Hood's statements must not be a
mandate with Metro's Union and Metro's Mgmt.

If you see a Metro bus driver on the phone, headset, texting or any other device film it right away! I have my cameras ready now when I go to Little River Turnpike again.

+1 Vote up Vote down

GlenmontGirl · 750 weeks ago

I don't usually ride the bus, since I take the train to work. But last year I rode from Rockville to Glenmont on the the bus (for some reason I thought it would take less time than the train; this turned out to be wrong).
When we got to my stop I pulled the cord and half-stood. I was sitting in the seat closest to the driver, so he definately saw me. Then he proceeded to blow right past the stop. Same thing at the next stop I could have gotten off at. I gave him an "Are you kidding me?" look, and he looked back at me with a weird smile on his face. In the end I had to get off at the Glenmont Metro and walk an extra 1/4 of a mile home. I know that isn't much, but I could have saved that time and effort if the guy had just stopped when I requested to be let off the bus!

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

RudePerson · 750 weeks ago

I actually shout at bus drivers who do this to me. No vulgarity or anything, but a pissed off sounding "Hey!" usually does the trick.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Kat · 750 weeks ago

I did that once (my story was posted on here a few months back) and the jerk yelled at me to not yell at him while he was operating a bus. I told him to do his job. Apparently to him, since I live so close the Pentagon, I should just walk home from there instead of getting out in front of my apartment building.

+1 Vote up Vote down

SLIM · 750 weeks ago

you know that when you called that phone number to complant about a bus driver. You are sitting there listing to a recording saying " all are operater are busy and your called will be answer in the order of............. ten to fifteen minture later.
DON'T DO IT ON YOUR CELL PHONE. ITS COST YOU MORE THAN IT WORTH.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 750 weeks ago

Sounds like the other buses could learn a lot from the 5A. Best.Metrobus.Ever! Drivers (at least in the morning) are friendly/informative, they drive safely, and in three months time I've only had one run late. Even though it was late, we still got to Herndon-Monroe in time to get a connecting bus. I don't know if it's the limited stop thing or what, but I've never had a second's trouble on 5A.

+2 Vote up Vote down

anonymous · 750 weeks ago

I take the bus reluctantly and, yes, I hate waiting for hours at the badly marked bus stop, or missing my bus because it came too early, etc, but I feel compelled to say a few nice things about MetroBus. I imagine it can't be easy to keep buses running on schedule in DC's traffic. How often do you see a driver cut a bus off or not let a bus pull out of the stop? My bus drivers are generally pleasant and drive safely enough. And I really haven't had any major issues with Next Bus recently. And, hey, it is a cheap way to get to work.

+1 Vote up Vote down

JJJJJJJJJJJ · 749 weeks ago

I gave up on the bus. I caught a bus once from the State Dept to K street (or was trying to get there in a reasonable amount of time). BUT the bus, it seemed, showed up early. Good for me, I thought. Oh noooo...the bus manager stopped the bus and proceeded to write up the driver. So, what may have been one minute early or nearly on-time for me, became at least a ten minute delay for the bus. I got out and walked. I did complain to Metro but you know where that went...no where...somebody probably deleted it.

+1 Vote up Vote down

@DCzenC · 749 weeks ago

how about when you are running toward the bus (facing the driver)? you are only two or three yards away, they see you, shut the door and drive away....

+1 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 749 weeks ago

The NextBus works just frequently enough to lull your hardwon distrusts, then (usually when you're running late or trying to make a crucial transfer) phantom buses promise to arrive and then disappear, OR you give up and therefore when your back is turned a bus that isn't appearing on the NextBus system drives up and departs before you can retrace your steps. And then there are the mysterious idling buses that don't accept passengers and then drive away empty ...