Unsuck DC Metro: Welome Aboard Metrobus

anon · 675 weeks ago

The law says he can't talk to passengers. It doesn't say they can't talk to him.

Kara · 675 weeks ago

I believe it also refers to 'while the bus is in motion' too, whether explicitely or in context.

Anon5 · 675 weeks ago

I think that's just WMATA policy, not the law. If you could refer us to the relevant statute, I would be grateful.

Sam · 675 weeks ago

It's WMATA's policy not to allow bus drivers to talk while driving in order to be compliant with the law that covers distracted driving. It's a little of both.

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Sean · 675 weeks ago

Didn't the driver violate the law by ordering the passenger off? He obviously was talking when he made the command.

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brian · 676 weeks ago

who knows why the bus was late, and maybe it wasn't the bus driver's fault. not hard to imagine that a driver of a bus full of other irritated people doesn't want to talk about it.

get over yourself and just get on the bus. also, 'thug' has racial connotations, so stop being an ass.

9 replies · active 671 weeks ago

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Daily Rider · 676 weeks ago

That is right. I am repulsed every time I hear the term "jackbooted Nazi thugs."

Who knows why the bus was late? The operator, we expect.

DCRider · 676 weeks ago

Why don't you just put it back in the deck thug?

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One take · 676 weeks ago

I don’t see too many Caucasian soccer moms proudly wearing ‘Thug Life’ T-shirts. Nevertheless, there might be a few out there driving around in their Volvo wagons.

Sean · 675 weeks ago

Thug is a compliment to many black people. "What up thug?" I hear it a lot among black people in the Metro.

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brian · 675 weeks ago

you should try addressing some black people as 'thug' and then tell me how they respond.

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Kara · 675 weeks ago

There are no white thugs? I will remember that next time one bullies someone.

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brian · 675 weeks ago

black people: please don't use 'thug,' it has negative racial connotations.
white people: no thanks, we'll keep using it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-muller/a-thug-...

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brian · 675 weeks ago

(it's okay dudes, i'm white too, so you don't have to feel weird about me calling you out)

apparently it's not anything new in these comment threads either:
http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com/2009/12/pa...

#unsuckunsuckdcmetro

Just Me · 671 weeks ago

I love this forum!!! I go back to my fellow operators and we get a good chuckle! carry on...lol

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asfasdf · 676 weeks ago

Bus drivers chat up the pretty ladies ALL THE TIME, so the no talking bs don't cut it.

There are a lot of nice bus drivers, but the bad ones ruin it for them.

Curious George · 676 weeks ago

Jackie! Been a long time girl!

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Stan Dessel · 676 weeks ago

You should be happy we have hiring standards. You're welcome!

2 replies · active 675 weeks ago

Kara · 675 weeks ago

Alive?

John · 675 weeks ago

Dude whats up with your twitter account?

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Arnaud · 676 weeks ago

I used to take the bus almost every evening on Wisconsin Avenue (lines 31, 32, 36 or 37). At rush hour, you usually wait 10 minutes between each bus at Tenleytown... But on Friday evening, it turns completely crazy! Because of the "Not In Service" Buses... On Friday end of the afternoon (and only on Friday!), most of the buses are not in service... It's very common to see 3 of them in a row, followed by a packed bus...
My best is 7 "Not in Service" in a row, on a Friday around 5pm!
What are the WMATA rules concerning those buses? Why specifically on Friday?

Since that, I decided to boycott metrobuses (I didn't take one since Jan 1) and now walk or bike on Wisconsin Av... And here comes the second problem with bus: They don't pay any attention to bikes! It's completely insane!
I literally stop biking when a bus arrives close to me, and wait a couple of minutes for it to be far from me before going back on my bike! They are by far the worst drivers on Wisconsin Avenue!

... And no!
I won't bike on the sidewalk: Sidewalks are for pedestrians, kids, strollers and wheelchairs... not for bicycles... If drivers don't show any respect for bikes, it's not a reason for me to disrespect the pedestrians.

6 replies · active 671 weeks ago

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nate · 676 weeks ago

you can't expect them to work on friday afternoons. you must believe in slavery.

Arnaud · 676 weeks ago

Do the bus drivers have to work a certain time (like 10am to 5 pm)? Or do they have to do a certain number of travel (like 6 times from beginning to end of the line)? If the answer is the latter, that could explain everything: They just don't stop so they can be back home earlier for the weekend... And it's what I think...

Guest · 675 weeks ago

The only Not In Service buses at that time of day are the ones heading downtown, where the majority of people are getting off from work, to start a one way trip back uptown.

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Guest · 675 weeks ago

As a pedestrian, thank you SO MUCH for not biking on the sidewalk! True, drivers need to show more respect for bikes, but thank you so much for not taking that out on the sidewalks!

Arnaud · 675 weeks ago

You're welcome ;-)
I'm actually planning to buy a GoPro camera to put on my helmet, to be able to send video of inappropriate bus drivers to WMATA and Unsuck...

Bob · 675 weeks ago

See, I take the 30's too and they seem to be one of the few lines that actually run consistently on time. Maybe I just deal with them going south in the A.M. rush, though.

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elle · 676 weeks ago

as a paying customer you are definitely entitled to a personalized explanation as to why your night was totally ruined. I FEEL SO BAD FOR YOU BRO.

2 replies · active 675 weeks ago

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Red Line · 676 weeks ago

You're right- the rider is not "entitled" to an explanation. However, it's a totally reasonable question and doesn't warrant nasty behavior from the bus driver. He could have just shrugged if he didn't want to say.

dddddda · 675 weeks ago

Or he could have just said "I have no idea, sorry about your wait." Situation diffused (assuming the OP really wasn't being hostile and just asked what was up with the long wait between buses).

Guest · 676 weeks ago

Jackie's out trollin' aplenty!

Sizzle · 676 weeks ago

The bus in Silver Spring was probably the same driver that almost killed me by blatantly running a red light at East-West highway and the Blairs shopping center (right by the Metro Station/NOAA).

Anon · 676 weeks ago

If you think they're bad at Colesville and Georgia, they're even worse at Colesville and East West; I've almost been hit or seen others nearly hit several times when crossing with a cross signal.

But, to be fair, regular cars are just as bad. They come barreling down the street and make right turns at full speed, without even bothering to check if there are any pedestrians, and then honk their horns like mad if you happen to be crossing already.

1 reply · active 675 weeks ago

anon · 675 weeks ago

They're not just as bad. They may be as prevalent, but a bus, being much, much larger, figuratively carries a lot of responsibility. It's much more dangerous for a bus to barrel through an intersection than for a car to do so. Their sheer bulk should mean that the driver is more careful than a car driver, not just AS careful.

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brian · 676 weeks ago

'unsuck dc metro' where uppity white people meticulously detail every annoyance on the metro and then use racially tinged words like 'THUG' to vent their thinly veiled racism.

8 replies · active 675 weeks ago

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mariterri · 675 weeks ago

How do you know they are "uppity" and "white"? Just curious.

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brian · 675 weeks ago

just being snarky and going on a whim. i really don't know though.

mark and sean, you dudes white?

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Sean · 675 weeks ago

I'm an Apache. What are you?

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brian · 675 weeks ago

cool. very white.

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Guest · 675 weeks ago

so, what, that's like 80% white, right?

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12th St · 675 weeks ago

There's a difference between snarky and dopey

hummer · 675 weeks ago

It's just TNB, bro.

DCRider · 675 weeks ago

Unlike your completely unveiled and deliberate racism....

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ANON · 675 weeks ago

Cyclists, FAR MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, think they are cars, and ride as if they are cars. Guess what... you are not a car. Stop riding your bikes 10 mph in the MIDDLE OF A CAR LANES and be AWARE of cars around you and how >>>YOU<<< can be causing back-ups and very dangerous situations. Stop acting like you are entitled to ride your bike in an OBLIVIOUS manner to cars on the road. Yes, cars should yield to cyclists, but cyclists need to lose the f'ing arrogant "I OWN THE ROAD" attitude and start being more conscious of other people/cars around you. You are a douchebag if you block up lanes of traffic behind your pretentious self-centered f'ing ass. I've seen this all the time in DC. ALL THE TIME.

2 replies · active 675 weeks ago

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Kara · 675 weeks ago

Umm, legally, they are vehicles. Just like motorcycles are. In most areas (particularly urban ones) bikes can not ride on sidewalks as they are not pedestrians. Bikes can get moving violations just as a car can. If a bicyclist breaks the law and a nearby cop does nothing about it the officer is not doing his job.

Yes, they go slower than cars though. So I agree they should be on the right.

dddddda · 675 weeks ago

Um, when I ride a bike, legally, I AM a car. Sure where there's a bike lane, I should use it when possible (when there's not a taxi or some other random douche parked in it), useful (not making a left turn at the intersection), and safe (pedestrians haven't decided that the bike lane belongs to them, there's not a humongous rut in the middle of it, etc.). I should also get over to let cars pass under the same conditions plus where the lane is wide enough to let them do so safely. Don't like the fact that my right to ride safely is equal to your right to drive? Don't drive in DC. I go out of my way to use streets where there are bike lanes to minimize my impact on drivers, but it's not always possible for me to get from point A to point B without using a SHARED travel lane.

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beamer4prez · 675 weeks ago

LOL @ the Bike rider. Based on your description, the bus driver was in the right and you were in the wrong. Nothing pisses me off more than bike riders who refuse to follow traffic laws. You are a vehicle like any other car or bus out there.

2 replies · active 675 weeks ago

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jkuchen · 675 weeks ago

Huh? Since the bus can go faster than a bike, the bus get the right of way? Remind me not to be anywhere around you when you're driving.

nel344 · 675 weeks ago

beamer4prez is correct. Had the bike rider dismounted his bike and been WALKING in the crossWALK he would have been in the right.

When he is on his bike he is a vehicle, not a pedestrian and would have been going against the light (and other traffic laws) and therefor in the wrong.

Jay · 675 weeks ago

the first amendment prohibits the government from making any law that introduce on free speech. talking to a bus driver while he is in his seat is not protected under the first amendment. you sir, are a moron. the second amendment says we have the right to own guns. does that mean i can carry a gun to work? no!

i wish people actually paid attention in their civics class.

2 replies · active 675 weeks ago

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GUest · 675 weeks ago

I wish people had paid attention in grammar class. "...introduce on..."?

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jkuchen · 675 weeks ago

And I wish people wouldn't use the word "moron" when "person who is misapplying the First Amendment" would have worked just as well.

Mike · 675 weeks ago

I made a comment to a bus driver about him being late and he told me "what do I expect it's raining?" What the hell does rain have to do with you being late?

Another bus driver that a made a comment to about being late said "welcome to the big city." What the hell does living in a big city have to do with not sticking to schedules?

1 reply · active 671 weeks ago