Here’s a summary of my bus ride downtown yesterday, a beautiful clear day with no snow delays.
I checked the schedule, #1 is on a 10-minute schedule, departing Mumford at 1:30, so arriving at my stop at about 1:36. I arrived at 1:33 and called GoTime (or whatever it’s called now) to confirm the bus time. Next bus will be there in 11 minutes. Hmm, that’s at 1:44, not 1:36. At 1:45, no bus, called again. Next bus in 7 minutes, followed by another in 12 minutes. So, my bus will now arrive at 1:52, okay. 1:52, no bus, oh, but finally here it comes at 1:56. As the schedule says, the #1 is on 10-minute service. What happened to the 1:36? The 1:46?
On the way home, made the call, next bus will arrive in 9 minutes. It arrived in 3, matching neither GoTime, nor the online schedule.
So, Halifax Transit managers, if you’re wondering why ridership is lower than you’d like, maybe you should try to imaging the daily frustration of trying to get somewhere on time each day, using the service you provide. It isn’t easy. –Often Late in Halifax
This article appears in Dec 22, 2016 – Jan 4, 2017.
Perhaps it is Christmas and traffic to the mall is heavy so the bus is delayed due to the congestion. I dunno, perhaps leave earlier and factor in you share the world with others and life isn’t all about you!
Leave 20-30 minutes earlier or buy a car.
Leaving earlier than I need to always works for me on the buses. This is effective when driving too as there can be unexpected delays any time, any where on the road. A car does not guarantee promptness.
OB, its impossible to drive your own car in this city and be on time, so drivers leave early when it is important. I suggest that you try the same strategy. Keep up the bitching, nothing gets fixed if no one complains.
Did you even check the Holiday schedule?
Im with the OB on this one. The “leave early” strategy more often than not leaves me waiting for 40-60 minutes in the elements wondering where the bus is? Suggesting leaving early is a cop out the same as some one saying if you dont like your job you should have studied harder.
The system is broken and anyone with any authority to fix it doesn’t care as their opinions are its better than nothing.
It was Boxing Day! Happy holiday spirit to you!
No wasn’t the Christmas traffic!
Who do you think drives these buses, OB?
A Halifax Driver! You’re already seen so many bitches on here regarding how horrible drivers are here for the most part.
It’s not really the schedule, it’s the driver!
I got stuck behind a bus once on Parkland drive doing 30km/hr. First thought that popped into my mind was “Doesn’t this guy have a schedule to keep and get to stops on time?!”
So here you go! That’s why they’re late.
As much as I’d like to support public transit, it’s not the best means of commuting in Halifax.
We have enough free parking in HRM so it’s best to buy a car if you want to get to your destinations on time.
Also the post is dated Dec 26, and OB said “Yesterday” which was Christmas, meaning holiday hours. #1 operates every 15 mins, and the bus still wasn’t on-time. following the schedule, so to the genius with the “Christmas Traffic” excuse, the road were practically empty considering almost nothing was open!! Think for a change!