Rob's Rants

Did you wake up acting like a douche-bag or did you just have a bad day at work?

1. What does it matter what the reason is for a delayed train? Why must you be informed? What if the reason is none of your business? Do you really care why you’re going to be late?

Yes it matters. This serves two purposes, one for the T and one for the rider. For the T, whose reputation is one of incompetence, it at least tells people that they have some ability to control the situation. If I sit on a train not going anywhere for 25 minutes with no reason I start to wonder if anyone in charge even knows or cares that something is wrong. So a demonstration of basic competence, that they understand the situation, would go a long way.

For me it gives me a measure of control. One of the worst commuting feelings is creeping along at 2 mph from station to station on the subway and not knowing if it will ever get better. By telling me what’s wrong, I can decide whether to stay and stick it out or to get off at the next stop and walk or call a cab. Since I ride the same Commuter Rail train almost every night, and ride in one of the same seats, I get to know some of the conductors. One night we stopped three stations before mine and sat for 15 minutes. No announcement was made about why, just “we are waiting for clearance to proceed.” After 15 minutes I overheard a conductor’s radio … a train had derailed at the Worcester end and they couldn’t move it out of the way … and two trains were held ahead of us. With that information I was able to decide to call my wife and she drove and got me and returned me to my car before the train made it to my station. With information I can determine my own fate … without it, I just resent the MBTA for screwing up my life.

Also, people are willing to cut the MBTA some slack. We understand that stuff out of the MBTA’s control happens, like when a Jeep full of drunk BC hockey players suddenly turns left into a Green Line trolley. If I’m stuck three stations behind the incident and getting more and more pissed off, knowing that three drunk douche-bags drove into a train would at least get me mad at BC hockey players. By not saying anything I just assume that the incompetent MBTA f’d up again.

2. This is a great idea. Give the conductors huge wads of cash in the slim event that a train will be delayed for more than 30 minutes. I’m sure none of them would get mugged. I’m sure that would make the train much, MUCH safer.

Commuter Rail conductors already collect cash fares and carry huge wads of cash. I had the Commuter Rail in mind when I suggested this, but on a subway, I don’t see why credit couldn’t be applied to the original method of payment (Charlie Card or Ticket). At every subway station you can exit through the same turnstiles that you came in at, so an MBTA employee should be able to arrange the credit transaction. At least give me a voucher I can apply to my Charlie Card at a later time using one of the machines.

3. Another stellar idea. Let’s let people off so they can trip, break an ankle, fall off a bridge or get lost somewhere. I love this one! And I’m sure the T wouldn’t be bogged down in lawsuits for the next century. Many people are morons! You can’t trust them to make good decisions!

With that last line you sound like a Government Bureaucrat working for the MBTA. Maybe you are a T employee. I stand by my original statement. If you can’t evacuate me safely during a non-emergency, then there’s no way you’re going to do it in an actual emergency when people are panicked! And that, my friend is a serious fucking problem. Besides, the liability issue could be solved easily. The T is a Government entity and as such can be exempted from a lot of the liability which private corporations must deal with, if appropriate legislation were enacted. I’m no lawyer, but States do have a form of sovereign immunity, unless legislation or the state constitution specifically allows citizens some redress. From Wikipedia:

In Hans v. Louisiana, the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Eleventh Amendment re-affirms that states possess sovereign immunity and are therefore generally immune from being sued in federal court without their consent.

Whether a state allows suits against its agencies in state court can be addressed in legislation. Furthermore, even if suits are allowed, the law will rapidly settle around some standard of reasonableness. Perhaps states could be indemnified if they announced a disclaimer before letting me out:

“Ladies and Gentlemen. We are about to open the doors to allow those passengers who wish to exit to do so. Please be advised that you are in a really dark tunnel full of rats, broken glass, syringes, and possibly CHUDs. By leaving the train you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and may in no way hold the MBTA liable for whatever tragedy befalls you out there. You further acknowledge that you may be subject to death by electrocution, death by impalement, death by being run over by another train, crabs, infection from a dirty syringe, and zombie-ism. The closest stairs to the street are ahead on the left. Good luck, and keep your heads down.”

As an example (don’t ask why I chose this), here’s how the State of Connecticut deals with the problem of bicycle paths and liability for people falling down on them:

(b) Each person, firm or corporation using the pedestrian walks, bicycle paths, bridle paths, entrances or exits provided for in section 13a-141, 13a-141a or 13a-142e, or using any lane or other part or facility of any highway, road, bridge or parking facility provided by the state for bicycle traffic or using the walk or path connections provided for in section 13a-142, shall do so at his, her or its own risk, and no liability shall accrue to the state or any agency, including the Route 11 Greenway Authority Commission created under section 13a-142e, or employee of the state for any injuries or damages to any person or property which may result, either directly or indirectly, from the use of such walks, paths, entrances, exits or connections.

Just write the same thing only substitute “leaving a stalled train” and be done with the problem.

4. So the difference here is walking on the platform vs. walking on the train? You have to go to the same place…

This is a Commuter Rail thing again, but no…. The difference is being asked to walk down the aisle of one or more crowded train cars with bags, backpacks, strollers, bikes, and other difficult to navigate things, or using the closest door and walking outside where I don’t have to worry about smacking the heads of the people still sitting down. And it’s the difference between making 300 people queue up to slowly make it out the one door the T decided to open today versus having 150 people each at two doors or even 75 people at four doors if you’re emptying two double-decked cars. Cuts the time to get off the train at least in half at the terminal inbound stop.

5. Ok, this one actually makes sense. You should be able to board the train when it’s ready.

I knew you’d come around and admit I was right.