2008 Woodie Awards
After changes in '06-'07, Metro sees lower ridership
Roger Sauerhaft
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: Campus
Despite the improvements Laidlaw made to the buses, many students continue to voice displeasure with the Miami Metro.
First-year zoology major Rich Guarnera said the buses are
generally unreliable.
"It's annoying that they don't always stop and sometimes they drive by so fast that we don't have a chance when we see it coming," Guarnera said. "Sometimes we have to wait inside because of the weather. Maybe if (drivers) stopped for a minute or something at each stop there would be less complaints."
According to Kelly, if nobody is standing at the stop, buses are not required to stop, except at the Ditmer lot and on Spring Street in front of the Shriver Center.
In addition, Kelly said, buses are required to stop at the Wells Mills Drive stop because it is a layover - meaning if buses are ahead or behind they get back on schedule with this stop.
Kelly said students don't take into account a number of factors when riding the buses.
"(Complaints) are often about being late, and often they come as a result of someone being late (to an obligation)," Kelly said. "They don't often take into account the traffic or the weather."
Kelly explained there is a procedure for handling complaints.
"When complaints come, I call the driver and ask if there's a problem," Kelly said. "If I get continued calls (about a route) I go monitor it myself.
Kelly said the times posted on the signs are just a general idea of when the buses will come - sometimes they're a little early, sometimes they're a little late.
The issue of whether or not a bus runs on time depends on a number of factors, according to employees at the bus headquarters.
"The intersections outside of Laws (Hall) and Shriver (Center) at certain times of day have floods of kids walking everywhere, many times on cell phones and not paying attention, going very slowly, that can put buses five minutes behind (schedule)," Kelly said. "(Drivers) can (also) get behind when they need breaks (because) it's not healthy to drive a route for seven straight hours without taking any breaks."
First-year zoology major Rich Guarnera said the buses are
generally unreliable.
"It's annoying that they don't always stop and sometimes they drive by so fast that we don't have a chance when we see it coming," Guarnera said. "Sometimes we have to wait inside because of the weather. Maybe if (drivers) stopped for a minute or something at each stop there would be less complaints."
According to Kelly, if nobody is standing at the stop, buses are not required to stop, except at the Ditmer lot and on Spring Street in front of the Shriver Center.
In addition, Kelly said, buses are required to stop at the Wells Mills Drive stop because it is a layover - meaning if buses are ahead or behind they get back on schedule with this stop.
Kelly said students don't take into account a number of factors when riding the buses.
"(Complaints) are often about being late, and often they come as a result of someone being late (to an obligation)," Kelly said. "They don't often take into account the traffic or the weather."
Kelly explained there is a procedure for handling complaints.
"When complaints come, I call the driver and ask if there's a problem," Kelly said. "If I get continued calls (about a route) I go monitor it myself.
Kelly said the times posted on the signs are just a general idea of when the buses will come - sometimes they're a little early, sometimes they're a little late.
The issue of whether or not a bus runs on time depends on a number of factors, according to employees at the bus headquarters.
"The intersections outside of Laws (Hall) and Shriver (Center) at certain times of day have floods of kids walking everywhere, many times on cell phones and not paying attention, going very slowly, that can put buses five minutes behind (schedule)," Kelly said. "(Drivers) can (also) get behind when they need breaks (because) it's not healthy to drive a route for seven straight hours without taking any breaks."
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perry gordon
posted 4/24/07 @ 8:21 AM EST
In response to your story on the Metro, I was flattered to read that I was now the "senior vice president of finance for parking and transportation services. (Continued…)
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