I often take the #159 back to Portland Hills, maybe a few times a week.
I can’t help but feel like I am going to have a heart attack every time I am on it with the way people rush to get on and off that bus.
There’s always a heard of 9-5’rs and suits standing around the Barrington stop in the early evenings/late afternoons and when the bus pulls up it’s like they’re fighting for their lives to get on it. There’s usually more seats than there are people—slow down!
Maybe we’d be healthier if people didn’t push and shove to get on a bus with ample room that won’t be leaving without you. I’ve been butted ahead of, shoved and pushed just so middle-aged office-worker types of all kinds can get on the bus first and alleviate any worry that they won’t have to wait another 10 minutes.
—Usually the last one off.
This article appears in Nov 5-11, 2009.
and when a line forms outside on cold days and when the bus arrives and the suits come from indoors and try to cut to the front of the line. also sucks,
At least you got on it. It never even arrived for me, and then I complained to Metro Transit they blamed me saying I should have called them from the bus stop. Last time I checked I didn’t see a phone at the stop. Assholes. I hate Metro Transit. I recently reported a driver for smoking on an out of service bus. Again, they blame me saying I have no proof. Fuckers. Advice to all, take pictures of everything Metro Transit does illegally and screw sending it to Metro Transit….send it directly to CBC and CTV,
sebastian – unless you filed that complaint in person at the bus barn on Ilsley Ave, you never spoke with someone at Metro Transit – you spoke with an HRM call centre employee who has likely never set foot on transit property. The actual Metro Transit call centre on Ilsley was closed down once HRM came into existence.
We should install the same queue system they have in Montreal where everyone gets in line to wait for the bus. It’s the rule there so you don’t see anyone cutting in line.
I agree BRoc! It impressed me to see people lining up to get on the buses in a city where everyone seems to be in a rush to get nowhere. Now if only the same could be said about the cattle rushing to get on the metro…
Sebastian just email HRM and they will forward it to a supervisor. Its to bad I dont have your email address. I could give you a number to call. Good luck anyways.
I’ve had this issue before with suits, fat kids, panhandlers and welfare moms.
All it takes is a simple, “Hey, chief! Line-up starts back there!” Most suits are chumps so they’ll either comply or act cocky, which allows me to tap them on the shoulder and repeat the previous statement.
NGF don’t take that shit.
I’m betting kay comes out to the bus (when Desi has the car to go play at Whistler’s or Curly’s) and starts barking, “Kaydies first! Er, ladies first!”
They’re pushing for the front facing seats, next to the windows, which are prime bus real estate. Sideways seats with no one sitting on them are next, but these are hard to sit on comfortably when the bus is whipping around corners. Then the front facing aisle seats.
Take the Sackville Link instead. Much more orderly crowd. Or take the Woodside Link, the bus gets there (usually) before the ferry so the lineup is just a walking line.
Great ideas, PDG, unless you don’t live in Sackville or Woodside. 😉
One of these days, when you’e not in a rush to get to Portland Hills, try this OP. Catch the Woodside ferry instead, then catch the 165 Link (which is lined up with the ferry) to get to Portland Hills. From the Halifax ferry terminal to Portland Hills, this trip takes around 25 mins (as opposed to 20 for the 159) and avoids bridge traffic. Bonus, crowds are less this way and the ferry has more seats.
i miss the subway(t.o. not so much) when its late its kinda creepy…but during rushhour watch out, people know exactly where to stand so they can get the “good seats” when the doors part…but on buses and street cars the lineup rules as it should, fat is correct the peoples have to police themselves…large shoulders are also a plus