30 Days of Plight. Stephen Dare goes JTA every day.

[Eazy E]

The amazing thing is you seem surprised that the JTA system is ineptly run and designed.  Anytime something is run by government it is run poorly and has bad customer service.  This is so common (although not universal) that it should be considered akin to a law of nature.  And to think you Obama people want this same bunch to control and ration life saving and life sustaining health care.   

Yeah, because the insurance system right now is run SO incredibley efficient, right? 
God, this argument makes me sick-- people act like our current system is so infallible, when, in fact, it's anything but.  But, why try something new, might as well stick with the current, crappy-beyond-belief system, right?

way to know how to use html tags, dork.

and, before anyone blows a gasket, that dork is ME, in case you missed it.

[RiversideGator]

The amazing thing is you seem surprised that the JTA system is ineptly run and designed.  Anytime something is run by government it is run poorly and has bad customer service.  This is so common (although not universal) that it should be considered akin to a law of nature.  And to think you Obama people want this same bunch to control and ration life saving and life sustaining health care.   

Yeah, because the insurance system right now is run SO incredibley efficient, right? 
God, this argument makes me sick-- people act like our current system is so infallible, when, in fact, it's anything but.  But, why try something new, might as well stick with the current, crappy-beyond-belief system, right?

No system devised by man will be perfect, but if you want to see real incompetence and inefficiency let the government run it.

Anyway, I am sorry I interjected this.  I dont want to threadjack Stephen's JTA thread with a debate on government run health care.

[vicupstate]

The amazing thing is you seem surprised that the JTA system is ineptly run and designed.  Anytime something is run by government it is run poorly and has bad customer service.  This is so common (although not universal) that it should be considered akin to a law of nature.  And to think you Obama people want this same bunch to control and ration life saving and life sustaining health care.   

If the fine folks in Ponte Vedra used the JTA to get around, the problems described in this thread would disappear virtually overnight. Trust me.  It is only because the least resourceful and powerful among us use the system that these problems persist. 

[gatorback]

The amazing thing is you seem surprised that the JTA system is ineptly run and designed.  Anytime something is run by government it is run poorly and has bad customer service.  This is so common (although not universal) that it should be considered akin to a law of nature.  And to think you Obama people want this same bunch to control and ration life saving and life sustaining health care.   

I think NASA, and NOAA run great(See Mars Landers).  And locally, JEA is 120% well managed. 

[Midway ®]

Yeah, but those are the exceptions that prove the rule.

And you could prove the rule even more by citing more exceptions!

[JaxNole]

The Green Line in Boston will let you ride free if you don't have your money ready just so they can stay on schedule.

If they are running late they don't collect fare from anyone. I'm not sure if that's their official policy but it happens every time I'm there.

Not only that, but the outbound, above-ground trains are free!

[Ocklawaha]

HA HA HA HA Stephen, YOU are in for an adventure. EVERYTHING you have said so far mirrors my experiences as a JTA commuter in 1984...NOTHING has changed! WOW!

OH GUYS! Good wife Libby and Eldest daughter popped in this morning when I was down in the dumps over the computer mess and gave me a brand new LapTop. So watch out JAX. He's Bacccck! Hee Hee

Ocklawaha

[JaxNole]

from my experience in cities like NY & Chicago the bus drivers are a bit strict on the exact change rule. In New York of course, they kicked me off the bus and told me to get correct change and wait for the next.

In Seattle the particular bus I rode was a bit more forgiving, he just took the extra .50.

I've never quite understood the exact change rule either, if i'm willing to pay an extra .50 just so I can keep the flow going, what's the problem?

When I was in college in Boston, the drivers there would let me slide if I was short.  (I have seen the Riverside trolley drivers drop in extra change to make someone's fare if they didn't have enough.)  Both in Boston and here, they'll gladly take more than the posted fare; the passenger just needs to meet the minimum.

[gatorback]

I just ran 100 steps to catch the 100 flyer to the airport. I was 30 seconds late but the driver stopped thank god.

[Coolyfett]

Day T-2 (the saturday before the official 30 days)

The JTA shenanigans are a little too egregious to deal with.

There are only two conclusions to be drawn from today's first experience.  Either something is seriously wrong with me, or JTA is hiring their bus drivers solely from a pool of ex corrections officers, who largely need psychiatric attention.

From the shady corner of 6th and Main, I caught the E5.

After brutally offending the bus driver with a question so insulting that I felt lucky to have escaped a public flogging----, i.e. "How close do you get to Forsythe and Main?", I fumbled for the newfound wonder of my 40 dollar Month Pass.

"Here is my pass" I flashed it at him, hoping perhaps to curry back the favor I had already lost with my first question. 

"You have to swipe it." he said rolling his eyes.

This was a bit of a surprise.  No one had really mentioned swiping the damned thing.  I looked around for somewhere to do the swiping.  There is a little hotel door key looking slot thing on the pay tower.   

"There?"

The Busdriver, and it was not my imagination, began staring holes through me, in an attempt to drill straight through my heathen soul.  He waited until I got the card completely out of its little plastic protector and was about to attempt my first swipe.

"Is it July 1?" he asked venomously.

"No?" I responded wondering what the combination of venom and date question was about.

"Then why are you trying to use that pass?"

"Well I picked up the pass yesterday and they said it would be good for the busses"  Looking down at the pass, I did notice that the word 'July' was printed on it large as life.

"You cannot use that pass and they didnt tell you it would be good."

This last line was delivered in such a way as to question either my competence or manhood.  I decided to ignore it.

"Well what do I do?"

Apparently cash was the only option.  I grubbed around in pocket, produced bills, managed about 70 bucks in 10s and 20s.

"All I have is 10s and 20s, do you have change?"

"No."

I looked around imploringly at the, by now riveted, passengers.  With no disrespect, none of the people on the bus were likely to have change for a 10, except one pleasant woman near the front.  She didnt.

The bus slammed to a wrenching sudden stop, nearly catapulting me into the windshield and causing the pleasant looking woman to grab a panic bar to keep in her seat.

"Sir you will have to get off the bus."

This seemed a little unreasonable to me, and I interjected.  Look, I obviously have a 40 dollar month pass and plenty of cash, its clear Im not trying to defraud the JTA of a hard earned dollar.  Cant I just stay on until we get to the station?

Silence.  The driver opened the bus door.

By now the bus had travelled to the east side of springfield down 1st street.   On a Saturday Morning, there isnt an open business to get change for what seems like miles.  The bus driver knew this.  Dropping me off so far from civilization was a deliberate fuck you.

So I asked him his name.

"What do you need my name for?!"

Just curious.

"You don't need my name.!"

"Actually you are supposed to give me your name"  I peered around to look at his badge.  He manuevered his body so that I would have had to climb into his lap to see it.

"What do you need it for, then I'll tell you my name"

"Well actually Im going to make a voodoo doll for the JTA, and it helps during the burning ceremony if I can chant your name over it."

Clearly he knew a smartass when he saw one.  (By now the pleasant looking woman was shaking her head ruefully)

"You tell whoever you want to.  My name is (unintelligible) Brinson."

I got off and walked the additional 12 or so blocks, cursing the name of JTA to the skies.

I wonder how many people have had a similar experience where the customer loyalty or positive experience was tossed to the maws of the transit hellhounds for the sake of that stupid dollar?

Wow man!! you are really going though with it huh?? Id have to say stephens story is credible. I have seen this a couple times when I use to ride the R5 to UNF. Them buseys look like ex wrestlers even some of the chicks, and they expect everyone to know where they are going and what they are doing. JTA bus drivers don't like questions.

Stephen man you have to be a lil more aggressive. Everyone hates the rider that doesn't know anything. ESPECIALLY the drivers!!! You bought the card, it has a black strip on it like an ATM or credit card you'd have to know it has to be swiped somewhere man lol.

Learn one route at a time. Shit you probably could learn 5 in a day if your off work and have the time. Don't act like an airhead on the bus man. You don't want anyone trying to follow you home.

Why did your July card not work in July again??

[Coolyfett]

The Skyway, incidentally is a smooth piece of work for downtown.  I hopped on the skyway at Hemming Plaza using the 40 dollar monthly pass (there is a swiper at the turnstyle.) and was able to make the turnstyle work for the first time in months.

I was so intrigued by this, that I stepped back out and dropped 50 cents in to see if that worked as well.

It didnt.   Strange. 

HA HA HA HA HA HA man you have to use exit turnstyle on the left. The one closest to the library it is broken and swings both directions. Something is jammed in the coin machine your change is not making it to the coin box. That bum that was sitting near the bench went to the machine and sucked the coins out with this plastic  looking thing. Don't believe sit around and watch. Incredible.

[Coolyfett]

The amazing thing is you seem surprised that the JTA system is ineptly run and designed.  Anytime something is run by government it is run poorly and has bad customer service.  This is so common (although not universal) that it should be considered akin to a law of nature.  And to think you Obama people want this same bunch to control and ration life saving and life sustaining health care.   

If the fine folks in Ponte Vedra used the JTA to get around, the problems described in this thread would disappear virtually overnight. Trust me.  It is only because the least resourceful and powerful among us use the system that these problems persist. 

Valid......sad but valid.

[David]

When I was in college in Boston, the drivers there would let me slide if I was short.  (I have seen the Riverside trolley drivers drop in extra change to make someone's fare if they didn't have enough.)  Both in Boston and here, they'll gladly take more than the posted fare; the passenger just needs to meet the minimum.

Oh they will? I can't say from experience, i've never taken a bus in jax.

I have this thing about getting where i'm going in under an hour......

That's really all it is with JTA, it takes too long. What about sub-hubs? You know,  a  place  on the southside or westside, that does transfers for all points south or west instead of having to go downtown for everything. Going 5 miles the opposite way to go 15 miles back the way you came just doesn't work.

[JaxNole]

When I was in college in Boston, the drivers there would let me slide if I was short.  (I have seen the Riverside trolley drivers drop in extra change to make someone's fare if they didn't have enough.)  Both in Boston and here, they'll gladly take more than the posted fare; the passenger just needs to meet the minimum.

Oh they will? I can't say from experience, i've never taken a bus in jax.

Yeah, last week, when coming back from The Landing on the Trolley, I didn't have change, but a dollar bill.  Since I didn't want to waste $0.50, I told the driver I was paying for the passenger behind me and he waved both of us on after I inserted my bill.

I think this thread is great.  I agree with a previous post that recommends learning a route before riding.  Ever ride the MTA in NYC without looking at a system map?  The MBTA in Boston has system maps at its major stops, but not all and good luck finding a bus route map at a stop.

JTA has room to improve in terms of boosting ridership with too many deficient items to list, but riding without knowing a route is worse than driving in an unfamiliar city without a map or GPS.

[BridgeTroll]

I walked further down, with bus anxiety gripping my colon.

  I have enjoyed the humor so far... What if you need to you use a bathroom in your travels??