On occasion, I've taken the GO bus and have used the bus service probably 50 times or so (return) from my rural Clarington home to the Oshawa GO station.
Different bus drivers but always, 99 percent of the time, I've been subjected to extremely pleasant operators.
Today was no exception. I had a lovely woman on the ride in and a nice gent on the way home. I was greeted and fared goodbye.
This is in stark contrast with my recent experiences with the TTC. Not once, in the several weeks where I've used the service due to a foot injury and difficulty walking, have I been greeted, thanked, smiled at or even acknowledged.
One incident two Fridays ago really put me over the edge when I bought tokens at the Queen Station and while absent minded, didn't drop one as my fare in the token box.
Incredibly, the collector pounded on the glass, screamed at me to pay my fare and then proceeded to berate me in front of strangers.
Oh hells no. Who did she think she was talking to? I'm not a fare jumper and a simple 'excuse me' into her microphone would have sufficed. I put a token in the box and calmly told her that I speak and understand English, that there was no need for such dramatic grandstanding. Honest to God. Who trains these jerks?
In contrast, tonight I had to pay the driver when I got on the GO bus at the Oshawa GO Station, and then my phone rang. I climbed on and sat down. The driver patiently waited for me and all the while, I'm oblivious to the fact I hadn't paid yet. A couple seconds went by and he kindly asked me where I was going and pointed to the fare machine. I jumped up, paid, and profusely apologized, saying I was distracted by the news I was given and he actually asked if everything was all right, with genuine concern.
Everything *is* all right.
Customer service. Isn't it nice?
I work 2 miles from Union, so I have the pleasure of taking the Bay St bus every morning. The bus drivers are basically rude, nasty people. Can I add incompetent? Twice last week they drove right past me while I stood at the bus stop outside union at Bay St. The buses were half empty. I mentioned to a driver "the previous driver went right by me" and got a sarcastic "Oh isn't that too bad". Why do I bother?
ReplyDeleteJust this morning the bus driver got out at Bloor St and disappeared for over 5 minutes, no word to anybody, just left. Likely went to the bathroom, but can't he just say "back in a minute"?
Also, the buses are filthy. I know that a lot of people use them, but GO trains look like luxury compared to city buses.
I'm glad that the days are lighter so that I can return to walking to union after work. I get 10 miles of walking in every week, and don't have to give TTC my money. I hate them.
I'm with Kary. I hate the TTC so much that I'll cab it.
ReplyDeleteThirded. I take the 145 express bus to/from work each day, so I get to pay double fare for rude drivers, spotty (late) service, and filthy buses.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite example is when the bus short-turned in the dead of Winter dumping myself and another passenger in the middle of a condo complex with no other service. We were told to 'wait until the next bus comes'. The express bus comes every 30 minutes, if you're lucky. When I pointed out to the driver that we were gonna be stranded with no cover for at least 30 minutes, he just shrugged.
If GO could ever get it together and provide enough parking at Mimico, I wouldn't have to be abused for my $6.00 fare.
TTC has no excuse to not keep its buses clean. Every other local bus oeprator manages it (and I've sampled most in the GTA).
ReplyDeleteAs for politeness... I think the problem is that only a certain (small) percentage of the population wants to be a bus driver because they like it (including the being pleasent part). Big cities need proportionally more bus drivers than small ones, and Toronto has obviously exhausted its supply of people who want to be bus drivers. Hence, most of the drivers are only in it for the money.
That said, TTC should really hammer the point home that being nasty to customers is never right, whether the customer is right or wrong.
(NB: I always say "thank-you" to bus drivers when I get off, because my motehr taught me to... you get some shocked expresssions on TTC drivers' faces when you do :-) )
So true! I've been doing this commute for over 20 years now and I walk from Union to College everyday, all weathers, rather than use TTC. Go bus drivers are excellent.
ReplyDeleteAmazing to know I'm not the only one who experiences superior GO Transit driver and ticket sales service, yet horrible and rude TTC driver ("operator") and ticket booth service.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how our experiences are so similar, there's obviously an issue if the TTC (subway, streetcar and bus) has consistently negative service while GO (train and bus) has incredible service. It can't be simply related to ticket fares, that should be irrelevant. What is it!? Wow.
The big difference is GO doesn't deal with even HALF the amount of arse holes as the TTC does. They also don't deal with as much traffic congestion, construction, bad drivers, smart mouthed people, hourly fare evasion. TTC management treats their drivers like garbage, the Union even seems to have stepped aside since being essential service. I am an ex TTC driver who now drives for GO. I would not go back and do that job for 80 bucks an hour never mind 29 bucks. Did you know that over 800 TTC drivers are assaulted every year? GO might get 2-10 and that's it. No matter how a person might speak to you, there is NO excuse to put your hands on them or spit on them. I feel for them I really do.
ReplyDeleteI remain ANON for obvious reasons.
-> It always amaze how most you people always have the worst to say about transit operators yet most of you get on the bus WITH NO BUS FARE or feel your 3.25 or 6.00 is enough to disrespect and abuse operators. It is not fair in any world and on any level.
ReplyDelete-> Yes I understand the transit runs late due to traffic, construction etc rather than taking a taxi or UBER one waits for the bus to argue with an operator that has been sitting in traffic waiting to get to your stop.
-> You can not go into Tim Hortons or McDonalds with no money and expect to get food or disrespect the employees why do it to the operators?
-> At the end of the day with the growing traffic and the bad driver so the road one should try and leave earlier.
All you complainers make me laugh..because i am one of you too. There is good and bad anywhere you go.. But for some reason, fairly privileged people complain. TTC provides more than decent service in my opinion.
ReplyDelete