Dean's Blog

So today I read in the electronic edition of a local paper, which yes I am too cheap to pay for, that a local Calgary Alderman is wanting the transit system to use GPS tracking on it’s buses so we all know when things are out of whack.

I think this is a great idea, and I suggested it many many posts ago. However, the sad truth is that transit officials know that everything is always out of whack, and I highly doubt that they will permit real tracking information to the ridership.

For example, this morning while riding the train the friendly voice that tells you what station you are arriving at came on with a ” -ding- Olympic Plaza Station,” which was followed by the driver coming over the intercom with (insert Scottish accent) “I don’t think that thing is quite right, it’s Olympic Plaza Station.”

But back to GPS, if they can tie it into the teleride system so that instead of telling you that three busses have come and gone in the 45 minutes that you have been waiting at the bus stop, it would mention about a delay, or problem. According to ‘insider information’ they have a huge staffing shortage, and busses are constantly breaking down on the way to their routes. I guess the yearly fare increases don’t go towards equipment or manpower, but the dark overlords and their black hole of red tape expense at middle management.

This morning while riding the last bus on my three-connecting route to work, the driver stopped suddenly at the side of the road and ran into a nearby 7-Eleven. I thought by the pace of his stride that he had some upset baked burrito about to erupt from the nether regions, but as it turns out, he sauntered back out some minutes later with a huge mug of Coffee and a big bag of snacks.

No wonder I’m forever waiting at the bus stop. It’s a good thing brain surgeons don’t do that.. “Ok, here is the most delicate part of the operation, and the whole point of our being here inside this guys head.. oh hey I need a coffee (15 minutes later) aahh, right, let’s close him up.” Doctor gets his snack, patient spends the rest of his life thinking he is a pigeon.