I can’t tell you how many people (at least 2-3 groups per week) get on my GREEN line train heading south instead of the ORANGE line train heading to Midway at the Roosevelt stop. I’m trying to avoid the obvious “aren’t people stupid” line here and figure out what goes wrong. Because believe me, for most of the people who make this mistake, it is apparently a HUGE mistake with massive consequences, judging by the looks on their faces when they figure out where they are actually going. I once saw a comedian on Comedy Central who mocked white people’s fear of getting on the wrong subway train to Harlem or the South Bronx as if they though people where just waiting on the platforms there to stab lost white people. I think the same idea applies to coming south on the East 63rd Line. If anything, I’ve found people to be over helpful to potentially lost white folks. (yes I do know where I’m going).
So what is the problem? Is it the confusion of two trains coming through? Is it improper signage? Is it the bland and confusingly general announcement (your attention please, and outbound train from the loop will be arriving in approximately one minute) delivered in a voice that if repeated enough would force Jack Bauer to crack? Is it inexperience? Maybe the CTA should paint the train’s entire outer body with their respective line’s colors as they did with the pink line.
On the other hand, maybe people are really just not that intelligent. The orange line trains have (granted, somewhat small) orange signs on them that say Midway (the name of the airport for the non-Chicagoans) with a little plane logo. The green line trains have green signs that say Ashland/63 in white lettering or white signs with green lettering that say East 63rd. No orange. Nothing about Midway. No planes.
Oh yeah, I can see why it’s so challenging.
Peace.
Showing posts with label CTA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CTA. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Oh the CTA!
"..no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs or activities of a public entity or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity." -Title II, Americans with Disabilities Act
As my readers (I assume that Greg, Christine and Sarah are still the only three) know, I work at a rehabilitation hospital. My co-workers all use wheelchairs and we often ride the CTA together. We exclusively ride buses.
Title II of the ADA mandates that public services must be accessible to people with disabilities. The CTA's compliance with Title II is frankly pathetic. Let's go through a point by point examination of how the CTA claims it is working towards compliance in its March 2006 "CTA Accessible Buses and Trains."
1. "As of April 29, 2005 CTA reached 100% accessibility on all of its bus routes. All CTA buses are equipped with lifts or ramps."
I know that this is technically true. All CTA buses have some sort of mechanism for assisting those who use wheelchairs on to a bus. To say that there is 100% accessibility on CTA buses is laughable. 100% accessiblity means that 100% of people who are in wheelchairs can get on 100% of buses operating on regular routes. I have traveled with my wheelchair using co-workers 10 times. 3 times we waited at least 15 minutes for the driver to figure out the ramp. Twice the bus driver flatly refused to pick up my co-worker, claiming that the lift or ramp didn't work, even before trying. Twice the bus driver let the ramp off in such a way that my co-worker had to pop a 75% wheelie to avoid running into a mail box or fire hydrant. 3 times it went smoothly. Let's be generous and say that my experience is something more along the lines of 50% accessibility. The excuses of a bus driver not knowing how to work the lift or ramp or mechanical failure do not elicit much sympathy from me. Would a driver leave the bus depot without knowing how to operate the blinkers, AC or gear shift? Do they not check at the beginning of a bus's run to see if everything works?
2. "88% of train cars have accessible doors and there are at least 72 rail stations with elevators or ramps."
It is admittedly a complicated procedure to make the L accessible. But CTA congratulates itself on making 72 stations accessible, seemingly at random. New service schedules (such as the Pink Line) often make transferring and getting to work even more complicated for people who use wheel chairs because the Loop L is about accessible as the top of a Mayan pyramid. Accessibility on the L should be a priority, but it is not for the CTA.
Read this longer paragraph:
3. "There are times when a bus will be too crowded to board or where customers already in the priority seating decline to move. A bus operator can only request -not require- other paying customers to vacate the priority seating. Customers with disabilities face the same option as anyone else when a bus arrives without room to board- wait for the next one."
Condescending- yes. Filled with wriggle room for a non-compliant CTA bus driver to make excuses- you bet ya. Customers with disabilities do not actually "face the same option as anyone else" when a bus driver or passengers are uncooperative. We who do not have a disability can wedge ourselves into a spot standing and can balance ourselves. Title II and common decency suggest that a little more proactive approach would be in order.
The CTA needs to be 100% accessible for people with disabilities. It's not.
Peace
As my readers (I assume that Greg, Christine and Sarah are still the only three) know, I work at a rehabilitation hospital. My co-workers all use wheelchairs and we often ride the CTA together. We exclusively ride buses.
Title II of the ADA mandates that public services must be accessible to people with disabilities. The CTA's compliance with Title II is frankly pathetic. Let's go through a point by point examination of how the CTA claims it is working towards compliance in its March 2006 "CTA Accessible Buses and Trains."
1. "As of April 29, 2005 CTA reached 100% accessibility on all of its bus routes. All CTA buses are equipped with lifts or ramps."
I know that this is technically true. All CTA buses have some sort of mechanism for assisting those who use wheelchairs on to a bus. To say that there is 100% accessibility on CTA buses is laughable. 100% accessiblity means that 100% of people who are in wheelchairs can get on 100% of buses operating on regular routes. I have traveled with my wheelchair using co-workers 10 times. 3 times we waited at least 15 minutes for the driver to figure out the ramp. Twice the bus driver flatly refused to pick up my co-worker, claiming that the lift or ramp didn't work, even before trying. Twice the bus driver let the ramp off in such a way that my co-worker had to pop a 75% wheelie to avoid running into a mail box or fire hydrant. 3 times it went smoothly. Let's be generous and say that my experience is something more along the lines of 50% accessibility. The excuses of a bus driver not knowing how to work the lift or ramp or mechanical failure do not elicit much sympathy from me. Would a driver leave the bus depot without knowing how to operate the blinkers, AC or gear shift? Do they not check at the beginning of a bus's run to see if everything works?
2. "88% of train cars have accessible doors and there are at least 72 rail stations with elevators or ramps."
It is admittedly a complicated procedure to make the L accessible. But CTA congratulates itself on making 72 stations accessible, seemingly at random. New service schedules (such as the Pink Line) often make transferring and getting to work even more complicated for people who use wheel chairs because the Loop L is about accessible as the top of a Mayan pyramid. Accessibility on the L should be a priority, but it is not for the CTA.
Read this longer paragraph:
3. "There are times when a bus will be too crowded to board or where customers already in the priority seating decline to move. A bus operator can only request -not require- other paying customers to vacate the priority seating. Customers with disabilities face the same option as anyone else when a bus arrives without room to board- wait for the next one."
Condescending- yes. Filled with wriggle room for a non-compliant CTA bus driver to make excuses- you bet ya. Customers with disabilities do not actually "face the same option as anyone else" when a bus driver or passengers are uncooperative. We who do not have a disability can wedge ourselves into a spot standing and can balance ourselves. Title II and common decency suggest that a little more proactive approach would be in order.
The CTA needs to be 100% accessible for people with disabilities. It's not.
Peace
Friday, July 07, 2006
CTA Layer Cake
I ride the CTA a lot. Theorectically, one can take the CTA (bus or rail) from any point in the city and arrive within 4 or 5 blocks from any other point in the city. The trip planner web site is fantastic and the Chicago Card (when it works) is dynomite.
But I have just one (well multiple actually) beef with CTA buses. It's what I like to call the CTA layer cake. Say for example you're waiting for a bus at oh, Pulaski and Lake or Chicago and Keeler for a bus that's set to pass at 3:15. The CTA Layer cake is when instead of a bus passing at 3:15, 3:30 and 3:45, all three buses pass by at about 3:40.
I've often wondered what is the recipe for the layer cake. Is it drivers drag racing? Can't be traffic, because one bus is early and one is extremely late and the other just kinda late. Is it some sort of traffic management strategy?
All I know is that it's dandy. It becomes almost central american style bus riding as all three drivers are trying to pass one another, to pick up fares, to get back on schedule. All you need are some chickens and M-18 gang members robbing people to make it totally like riding the tomates in Guatemala.
So here's my plea to the CTA. We're an obese enough city. Cut out the cake.
Peace
But I have just one (well multiple actually) beef with CTA buses. It's what I like to call the CTA layer cake. Say for example you're waiting for a bus at oh, Pulaski and Lake or Chicago and Keeler for a bus that's set to pass at 3:15. The CTA Layer cake is when instead of a bus passing at 3:15, 3:30 and 3:45, all three buses pass by at about 3:40.
I've often wondered what is the recipe for the layer cake. Is it drivers drag racing? Can't be traffic, because one bus is early and one is extremely late and the other just kinda late. Is it some sort of traffic management strategy?
All I know is that it's dandy. It becomes almost central american style bus riding as all three drivers are trying to pass one another, to pick up fares, to get back on schedule. All you need are some chickens and M-18 gang members robbing people to make it totally like riding the tomates in Guatemala.
So here's my plea to the CTA. We're an obese enough city. Cut out the cake.
Peace
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
What has he got in his pockesses???
Let me relate to a story of a bad day and why the CTA's "technology" fits largely into it.
I came home one day from work at a rehabilitation hospital on the West Side by my usual pre-pinko line madness: blue line to green line. Walking off the el at 63rd and Cottage Grove, I noticed that people were running (literally) inside their homes as I passed by. Never one to miss cues to "something might be up" as I walk through the Grove Parc project.. wait, have you noticed how many CHA projects took their cue from Ludacris when they were named: Lake Parc, Grove Parc, others. Hmmm, maybe someone should have taken that as an omen about the CHA's management ablility. Anyhow, as I walk past a group of young fellas, I hear the words every white male walking through the 'jects longs to here: "get the f out of here, cop!" Whoowhee! So I haul myself to my house, relieved to be home, only to realize I've left my keys "out west." Whoops.
Now I have three options. One, walk back through Grove Parc to the el. Two, walk 8 blocks to the Metra train station and ride south to my in-laws, where Sarah and Hannah are. Three, take the bus and meet my boss halfway to collect my keys. Option one is out, for perhaps understandable reasons. Option Two: I don't have any cash and Metra conductors are notorious for not letting people ride free. Jerks...
So on to option 3. Which means rolling up to Cottage Grove to catch the #4 or 4X or something... anything.
In the span of 30 minutes, 6 buses cruise by heading south. Not one north...
On to plan d... run up to 55th to catch the bus to the green line... which I do. Only now, my CTA Chicago card decides not to work and the CTA bus driver has no compassion for me... so I have to empty my pockets of change, probably stuffing about 6 dollars into the damned machine.
As the evening progresses, it becomes apparent that my Chicago Card is kaput. According to the lovely CTA person I talk to on the phone, this happened because of credit cards, etc. in my wallet. So they'll send me a new one, and since its May, they'll wave the fee for a new card.
As Mike Doyle would say... WHAT??? are you kidding me? Your card is so fussy that it can't reside in the same pleather space as my Discover card and had it not been the month of May, you would have charged me for assuming the CTA had made a card that could actually be used for more than one month? I hate to be a snide New Yorker, but no ones card in NYC suffers such trauma from plastic mixing.
So now my wallet is one pocket and my Chicago Card in another one. I feel like a woodsman with all these things in my pocket.
Just no nail clippers or I'll be taken down by Homeland Security.
I came home one day from work at a rehabilitation hospital on the West Side by my usual pre-pinko line madness: blue line to green line. Walking off the el at 63rd and Cottage Grove, I noticed that people were running (literally) inside their homes as I passed by. Never one to miss cues to "something might be up" as I walk through the Grove Parc project.. wait, have you noticed how many CHA projects took their cue from Ludacris when they were named: Lake Parc, Grove Parc, others. Hmmm, maybe someone should have taken that as an omen about the CHA's management ablility. Anyhow, as I walk past a group of young fellas, I hear the words every white male walking through the 'jects longs to here: "get the f out of here, cop!" Whoowhee! So I haul myself to my house, relieved to be home, only to realize I've left my keys "out west." Whoops.
Now I have three options. One, walk back through Grove Parc to the el. Two, walk 8 blocks to the Metra train station and ride south to my in-laws, where Sarah and Hannah are. Three, take the bus and meet my boss halfway to collect my keys. Option one is out, for perhaps understandable reasons. Option Two: I don't have any cash and Metra conductors are notorious for not letting people ride free. Jerks...
So on to option 3. Which means rolling up to Cottage Grove to catch the #4 or 4X or something... anything.
In the span of 30 minutes, 6 buses cruise by heading south. Not one north...
On to plan d... run up to 55th to catch the bus to the green line... which I do. Only now, my CTA Chicago card decides not to work and the CTA bus driver has no compassion for me... so I have to empty my pockets of change, probably stuffing about 6 dollars into the damned machine.
As the evening progresses, it becomes apparent that my Chicago Card is kaput. According to the lovely CTA person I talk to on the phone, this happened because of credit cards, etc. in my wallet. So they'll send me a new one, and since its May, they'll wave the fee for a new card.
As Mike Doyle would say... WHAT??? are you kidding me? Your card is so fussy that it can't reside in the same pleather space as my Discover card and had it not been the month of May, you would have charged me for assuming the CTA had made a card that could actually be used for more than one month? I hate to be a snide New Yorker, but no ones card in NYC suffers such trauma from plastic mixing.
So now my wallet is one pocket and my Chicago Card in another one. I feel like a woodsman with all these things in my pocket.
Just no nail clippers or I'll be taken down by Homeland Security.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Circle Line First Impressions
I went to the CTA's website to read about the mythical Circle Line, a plan to create transportation corridors that are not "loop-o-centric." Fine idea, considering how the economic geography of the Chicagoland region has changed. Before reading the plan, what I feared was another manifestation of the infamous "Plan 21." For all you non-conspiracy theory readers, Plan 21 was the 1st Daley Adminsitration's plan to transform Chicago into a European city: dense, wealthy core surrounded by upscale residential neighborhoods, with poverty, crime, and "inner city" issues pushed out beyond, to the city outskirts and the suburbs.
Well, after reading the documentation on the Circle Line, it pretty much fits the "outta of the city they want us gone" (Common) or "ethnic cleansing" (Jonathan Peck of SYOC) critique of the 2nd Daley Adminstration's "development" plans. The corridors contemplated are close in West and North Side neighborhoods. The West Side neighborhoods included only extend to Western. In other words, they are the old Italian, Jewish, Greek, etc. neighborhoods close into downtown, not the Little Villages, North Lawndales or Austins. Not to mention that the entire southside, south of Pershing (or Ogden depending on the version of the plan) is excluded. It's only ironic if you have no sense of race and class in this city to note that the Green and Red Lines, both of which serve predominantly black, working to lower class neighborhoods, are the only ones that do not extend to the city's boundaries or into nearby suburbs.
Is it enough that the CTA steadfastly refuses to improve service on South Side bus routes at the same time it refuses to extend the Red Line to city boundaries rather than its arbitrary end at 95th street? It unfortunately seems that the CTA's Circle Line plan is another example of Mayor/Gran Potentate Richard Jr. Daley's shortsighted vision of urban development.
Well, after reading the documentation on the Circle Line, it pretty much fits the "outta of the city they want us gone" (Common) or "ethnic cleansing" (Jonathan Peck of SYOC) critique of the 2nd Daley Adminstration's "development" plans. The corridors contemplated are close in West and North Side neighborhoods. The West Side neighborhoods included only extend to Western. In other words, they are the old Italian, Jewish, Greek, etc. neighborhoods close into downtown, not the Little Villages, North Lawndales or Austins. Not to mention that the entire southside, south of Pershing (or Ogden depending on the version of the plan) is excluded. It's only ironic if you have no sense of race and class in this city to note that the Green and Red Lines, both of which serve predominantly black, working to lower class neighborhoods, are the only ones that do not extend to the city's boundaries or into nearby suburbs.
Is it enough that the CTA steadfastly refuses to improve service on South Side bus routes at the same time it refuses to extend the Red Line to city boundaries rather than its arbitrary end at 95th street? It unfortunately seems that the CTA's Circle Line plan is another example of Mayor/Gran Potentate Richard Jr. Daley's shortsighted vision of urban development.
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