Update on the 90A

Since October there had been some serious #gobusprobs on Route 90A. After years of reliable service during the 618 to 713 travel window, buses began to run seven to 15 minutes behind schedule almost every single morning.

In the Fall, this wasn't as irritating as it became once temperatures dropped. When the board switched in January and a new driver arrived, many of us on the bus hoped normal service would resume.

Nope.

After a dreadful start to February where many of us were left stranded in the cold 12 to 15 minutes past the scheduled arrival time, and missing sometimes two train connections, I quite simply lost my shit.

I went looking for answers and asked my husband to drive me to the station as I could no longer rely on GO Transit's bus service. This meant my husband would be 20 minutes late for work. In Winter this isn't a cause for drama since his work slows down, but come Spring, the option of being driven to the station disappears.

Taking an earlier bus is off the table. I already get up at 5:30. I'm not sacrificing any more sleep. Leaving later is out. I like leaving the office at 4:30 so I can be home by 6:30. I should not have to alter my routine, or, as many people suggested, buy my own car when I live 2 km south of regional bus service. We live where we live because of the bus. We have no desire to take on the expense of a second car just to drive the same route as a bus. That's just stupid. I know there are people in my town who do drive to the station but I don't have the same after work responsibilities they may have.

My husband works in town. He does daycare pick up and makes dinner. I don't need to be somewhere right at 6pm. So bussing works for us.

Anyway, now that I've defended my decision to be a GO bus customer, this morning I arrived at the station as the same time as my GO bus (7:05). I have the car because my husband is away on an ice fishing trip and I'm on day care drop off and pick up duty. But since last Thursday, he's driven me to the station.

I asked my fellow bus mates, as we tapped our Presto cards, if the bus was running on time just today or all week? Turns out it's a new driver and he's been on time at all the scheduled arrival times for each stop every day this week.

I know that many of us feel GO Transit only claims to listen to its customers but I want to believe that their customer and social media representatives really do care, and they do their best to fight the beast that is a provincial transit agency.

I've made sure to thank those who looked into this matter. Those of us who have stood in the cold waiting for a bus know how much we rely on a schedule, especially in these frigid temperatures.