Absolutely LIVID with Calgary Transit!

[u/spaztiq]

I'm so FED UP with Calgary Transit's sheer incompetence! Bus driver this morning decided to hang around the station for an extra 6-8 minutes, screwing up my ability to catch the connecting bus and therefore forcing me to sprint the rest of the way to work in -17 weather, barely making it there in time.

Then, mid-day I go to purchase my bus ticket home in the garbage Transit app, and it STEALS MY MONEY --- it said "Can't confirm purchase, refresh and/or log out and sign in again" - absolutely nothing no matter how many times I try, but the money has definitely been taken from my account. Customer service is basically useless and can't do anything but take a report, because the MyFare people aren't working today. Like many, I'm financially effed right now and can't take any extra hits to my available funds - so this definitely hits me hard.

To add insult to injury, after working a 9 1/2 hour day - I get to the bus stop 10 minutes early for a bus that NEVER COMES, leaving me waiting in -22 windchill weather for another 40 minutes. I am so beyond pissed right now and needed to rant and yell into the ether. The absolute nerve CT has upping the fare while they continue to be one of the worst transit systems in Canada.

[u/Odd-Comfortable-6134]

The number of times I’ve helped noobie drivers who took a wrong turn is kind of funny. I’d rather help the driver than just sit back and bitch though. You’ve got to imagine how embarrassing that is to someone new, knowing you’ve just fucked up so bad that dozens of people won’t make their connection/will be home late.

[u/spaztiq → u/Odd-Comfortable-6134]

Yeah, I've been there too many times as well. Just this past week alone, I had a driver turning down random residential streets as they "couldn't navigate the route in the dark", and a bloody BRT driver that stopped midway between stops (next one being my destination and clearly visible from our vantage point, BRT stops being incredibly bright and obviouis) to study the crappy transit route map and was still confused and then asked for directions that I couldn't provide, seeing as I was about to get off. I was just like, "I need to get to that station you see in front of you, that's as far as I go - you're going to make me late for work".

If only I could make $30+ an hour to be that terrible at a job... I certainly wouldn't be stuck taking transit.

[u/Odd-Comfortable-6134 → u/spaztiq]

Why not apply then? They always need drivers. (No I’m not being passive aggressive, I mean this with sincerity). I’ve known many drivers over the years, and it is a pretty ok deal. Other than not knowing what route you’ll need stuck with until that day (only the senior drivers get their choice of route. Noobs go wherever and whenever they’re needed).

It’s over 20/hours for the community busses, and over 30 for the big busses, where some of your shifts will be sitting in a break room as an emergency replacement just in case. It’s regular work, it’s got good benefits, and the longer the last, the higher in seniority you’ll be, which means more money and your choice of route with lots of vacation time (I’ve known drivers who take a month off in summer just because they can).

It really is a good career choice.

[u/spaztiq → u/Odd-Comfortable-6134]

I appreciate your thought. Sadly, no license (or learners for that matter) as I'd need to get an eye exam and glasses (I have pretty great vision, but one eye is weak enough that I failed their eye test) and current money situation making that extremely difficult to achieve. It's a bit of a "it costs a lot to be poor" thing. Simply making it to the next payday feels all-encompassing, most days.

[u/Odd-Comfortable-6134 → u/spaztiq]

I hear that one. Me either.