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Umm what does the word “express” mean on bus routes #34 & #35?
I compared the departure/arrival times from before they changed in August, and they are all EXACTLY the same!! Where does the “express” part come in??? Still takes me an hour to get home every day!!! —What a jip
This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2010.
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They are “express” in the sense that they don’t stop at every single bus stop along the way downtown or back home again, only select stops. As per the metro transit website, “limiting the stops on these routes within the core will help us stay on schedule, getting you to your destination on time.”
Seems to me like you are bitching about absolutely nothing.
Exactly jono. Especially with the traditional increase in traffic since the start of September. Buses can’t fly. Well, maybe they can on the Jetsons.
yep, cause that’s what they do. get you there when you would expect…
ie. you arrive now as you did prior, regardless of the added traffic because of the fewer stops.
I am just wondering where you live whereby it takes an hour for you to get home! I used to literally get off at the second last stop of the 34’s run to Parkland and made it in 35 minutes…. which, by the way, was when the schedule suggested I would get there. Perhaps you should not count the walk from the bus stop to your front door……. Metro transit is not liable for that leg of your commute.
I don’t get why there are those really small buses now. I swear I felt like I was on a really comfy “short bus” yesterday. Yeah it was comfortable and looked like the inside of a plane, but there wasn’t nearly enough seats.
Err, Purple, you’re saying you haven’t noticed the 20 or so new articulated buses out there? Apparently, MT is getting more of those too.
I did notice them, I’m just confused as to why they would bring out smaller buses especially in the evening when people are going from DT to Clayton Park after work. They didn’t add extra buses on that route, just a smaller bus… and the normal buses were always blocked with people.
The “express” part refers to how quickly they can get extra cash out or your pockets for the same, slow service.
I agree purple….. there has been an increase of at least 10-15 people to my morning commute on the 21. And not just one day- every day now. If this continues there may be a couple of new babies on the way come June… although I do have to say- being smooshed up against a select few of the passengers wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world… 😛
The fare is the same on the express routes, sebastard.
Thing with the new express routes is that they were CONSTANTLY late because of all the extra stops coupled with the traffic. The extraneous stops were cut to allow the routes to follow the schedule and actually be ON TIME.
jonno: my mom takes the 21 every morning and she said it’s PACKED now compared to what it used to be.
Do you take the 21 with the older stinky lady that no one wants to sit next to?
Purple: they keep running out of busses. On friday, I think, the 25 was a metro x bus in the evening.
They’re already down a bus from that fire a couple weeks ago. It was one of the funky ones with the seats facing each other that they kept putting on the 35 route.
*35 not the 25.
last back to back post, I promise 😛
she’s not on my 21 run, adorable chat.
though I’ve seen many a new face on that bus the times I take it.
only really recognize about 8 ‘regulars’ on that route.
Oh wow PK… i believe that just might be the bus, if I am envisioning the lady of whom you speak. Now I am going to be trying to guess which one your mom is. Oh, and by the way- it was BACK to BACK to BACK to BACK posts… 😛
My mom’s definitely a regular on that bus. Going on 4 years. She has a great rack if that helps 😉 HAHA. (and she’d kill me for posting that so shhh).
When I used to take the 35 all the “regulars” lived in my building. I’d want to say hi when I saw them, or even offer them a ride home when I’d see them waiting when I started driving to work, but I didn’t want to appear creepy 🙁
Bahaha… well, great rack huh? I am sure the lovely ladies on my bus will not appreciate me inspecting their racks in hopes of disclosing Pretty Kitty Mama. Any other hints? Maybe I’ll put jonno on my forehead with a permanent marker and you can tell her to watch out for me.
My god…. i could not even imagine referring to my Mom’s……..errr… umm…. things… as a rack!
Hmm. Well…I think you mentioned you lived on Parkland, once? If so, she likely gets on at the same stop as you and she may or may not knit. I know she does on the way home, but she takes a different route then 🙂
Well, i don’t live on Parkland anymore….. I am one of the last people to get on the bus now 🙁 Hence my severe displeasure with the amount of people on the bus now. Time to start chatting up all the ladies then- at least the ones that don’t have the best seats….. hehe
I’ve seen a lady knitting… though I don’t remember the rack so it likely wasn’t ‘great’, as you put it.
though come to think of it, that could have been on the 80
I don’t mind the bus when it’s nearly packed, but definitely not full.
they way they cram those sardines on the #1 at times is pretty bad.
Standing though when you have enough room that you’re not smelling people’s hair they’re so close to you… that’s ideal for moi.
FYI “jip” (sic – should be “gyp”) is an offensive term.
Probably wasn’t my mom. She’d give TTFN a definite run for her chested money.
I take the 18 now in the morning and it’s the same route the dal and smu-ers take to get to 8:30 classes. Thankfully I get on at lacewood and am usually one of the first to get on so i get a great seat…by the time it hits knightsridge it’s PACKED. Still packed when i get off, which makes departing a bit tricky but oh well, I get a great seat so that’s all that matters 🙂
Buses lose a lot of time on stops and traffic. Can’t do much about the traffic (CRUSH IT! HIT THE GAS!) but taking stops away does help keep the buses more on schedule. Not entirely sure why Stadacona lost out on their stop, but Shambhala School gets one, but I’m not a transit planner, what do I know?
As for the MetroX buses on those routes, PK is right, we’re a little short on buses right now. To be exact, we’re short on working buses. This is because,
a) We don’t have enough mechanics, and the city won’t post for any more until we lose some
b) Vacations were picked last year when we had one garage. With two garages, one was left very short the first week of the split.
I’m thinking I could plan transit, but council has the final say, and those know-nothing-know-it-alls are useless as far as my line of work is concerned.
PK’s mom has some big-ass tittayz!
and those of us that really care…..
I FUCKING HATE THE BUS. ALL FORMS OF BUS. SCHOOL BUS, TOUR BUS, METRO BUS >.<
Ottawa’s OC Transpo has several express routes that really are express because they have their own ‘bus only’ routes through parts of town, eliminating traffic altogether.
Nobody pick up Donkey’s plate after he’s finished eating! He hates (the) bus 😀
Mmm OC transpo transitway…you literally have to flag the busses down and hold onto your hat because the buses BOOT IT through there.
Expresses busses in Ottawa are also more expensive. There are two types of express: regular express and rural express (think: routes coming into Halifax from say, Windsor). When I was there regular cash bus fare was 3 bucks, express was 4 bucks and rural express was 5 bucks. But no one paid cash (so much so that some people thought you couldn’t pay cash on the bus) — tickets were a buck each and you could use two on the regular routes, three on express and four on rural express. Plus you could buy the tickets individually if you wanted. And there were family day passes for 6 bucks. As well, the transfers are printed off individually and you get exactly 90 minutes on your transfer from the time the driver presses the button. Most busses there are ALF artic busses (think the new accordian busses on the 52) and to save time you can get on the bus through the doors on the back of the bus. However, there are regular inspections by supervisors where you have to show your valid transfer or pass as proof of payment and if you don’t have either you get a $50 fine on the spot.
Anyway — PDG: you serious about that Stad stop gone? That’s ridiculous! When I worked at Stad a few years back there were scores of people getting off and getting the bus outside there on gottingen…and even more who would catch the 35 at the north street entrance, but hardly anyone getting on/off at shambala. What a stupid STUPID idea. Stad is definitely a major employer in HRM ffs (all of CFB hfx is).
She doll, she.
Did I mention I hate the bus?
I’d hate the bus too if it wasn’t for my wonderful little purple ipod.
Grimace (yes I named the ipod) makes the bus bearable!
Halifax needs a skytrain.
I have a skytrain pass hon 🙂
Halifax needs a dedicated busway. There’s room to run two lanes down the centre of Robie, the whole way! (and then, in the north, where the old CN track used to be)
“Gyp is an offensive term” – I guess that’s why it’s always used in pejorative sense, Right? I mean, nobody speaks of being Gypped as a positive experience, or “teaching moment” if you prefer.
Dang, now I have to shell out $30.00 on “P.C. Speak for Dummies”. Fuck – what a gyp. >; )
Express – do you mean to say women are now spraying titty milk all over the commuters?
Heh.. my 21 still stops at Stad anyway. Matter of fact, it seems to stop at all the stops it always did. I guess some drivers aren’t up to speed on the “Express” part.
PK…. is your Mom’s knitting bag orange with some kind of floral or feather print on it? Didn’t get a good look at her knockers but it certainly looked like a knitting bag. Should I start warming up to her? hahaha
Damm, something stinks in here.
+1 for Grimace…
Mine would be called ‘Tin Man’ since it’s metallic grey.
I got to ride a short bus today! nice, plush seats though they’re quite cramped for a large frame….
Oh ok that’s logical. The departure times are exactly the same as before, the arrival times are exactly the same as before, and the duration of travel time is exactly the same as before. So naturally, the name should change to “Express”. Makes a lot of sense.
Why do people post without reading the comments put before theirs? It just makes you sound unintelligent.
Likely because most of the poster ARE unintelligent, jonno.
ralmn…. might I ask just where that magnificent scenery in your avatar can be seen on the globe? It’s distracting me from my work as I can’t help but dream about a land where drinks come in various coconutty shapes and the aroma of bikinis is all around.
coconuts also make excellent bikinis…
Indubitably! Which is rather ‘fitting’ (pardon the pun) considering they contain milk, and also COVER milk-containment units.
i wouldn’t want to wear them for the bottom cover…kinda scratchy
we can hollow out half a watermelon and cut some leg holes for ya PG.
Very scratchy – love the watermelon suggestion – laughter at work is frowned upon though…
Jonno – this is from Bottom Bay, Barbados (the most glorious island on the planet for heat, sand, drinking rum punch, eating fish and exploring safely – ie: not living on a resort). I would go back there in a heart beat.
Moi aussi ralmn, for all the reasons you mentioned and more! The only thing sweeter than Bajan nights are the sun-drenched sea-soaked days not spent at a resort. I’d move there in a flash if I had the resources to do so.
i do not care for melons…i less than three mangoes like my sibling oceanchickpea…screee
Don’t use the term “Gyp” (sic) as it is an offensive racila slur againts Eastern European Roma.
Unless you are in the habit of using other racial slurs, you should appreciate the origin of this term and delete it from your vocabulary.
Barbados … eh. One more North for me! My haven island and usual spot.
Jonno: the 21 actually isn’t an express bus, so I’m guessing that’s why you got the extra traffic on there — it still makes all the same stops.
And yepp, sounds like my mom.
now we gotta reality show goin on blitches…the bus and us
I fear that show would be dysfunctional, but very witty. Sebastian’s gonna need his own pope mobile like area … or NGF; arm restraints. Kay can ride on the hood. Ivan’s the driver. Everyone else on board, this bus goes straight to hell. Lol.
excellent a script in the making…but i must drive. a good passenger i do not make. vrooom
Ivan’s the ball turret gunner. And it goes without saying – this is a short bus straight to hell.
Wow, I was thinking dinky old school bus but someone had to get fancy. Welll then.
how can you exile PDG in favor of conductor Ivan, Donkey…. for shame.
Get the pro behind the wheel and let ivan mow down all the little punks as we sail on by.
oh but wait, I’m apparently not invited….
I’m starting a renegade bus of my own.
Jonno, angel, mindsnap, fat, and PK can pole dance while we race to hell.
Alright cool PK…. I’ll start washing my jeans on a weekly basis since I usually need to stand right in front of her. She sits at the front of the bus and I, being the third last to get on, always end up standing up, crammed into the front three feet of the aisle…. SOMETIMES even half-way over the forbidden yellow line. Actually there are two of us guys that get on within the last couple of stops- I wonder if she could guess which one is me if she had to.
And yeah- i realized that 21 wasn’t express after I posted, but filled up my double-posting quota for the day so I couldn’t recant.
Mmmmmmmm…mangoes, paingirl, I actually love them. Mangoes, passionfruit, and pineapple. Strand me on a deserted tropical island with just these three and I’d seriously resist being rescued!
Anyone else have three ‘tropical island list’ food choices?
jackfruit;guava; pommegranite(sauce only) 🙂
I said “Everyone else on board” that includes you zZz. Why would I put Kay “on” the bus and not you. Come on!
Do you think Kay would sit at the front by herself or demand a back seat (again, for herself) while saying that we’re bullies for not catering to her?
Up front.
I’m thinking kay needs more than one seat….
DEFINITELY if he ego is coming with her…