| rev:text
| - In all truth, it's hard to write a review on something that is spread out all over the city, and operated by so many individuals. With so many variables, it's easy to see both the good and the bad. But, nonetheless, here's my take on CTS...
Overall, it gets the job done. Effectively? Not often.
Transit operators? I have 'some' sympathy for 'some' these guys. There are good ones out there, don't get me wrong. But there are also the ones you can tell would rather be elsewhere, and then there are the ones that give all drivers a bad name.
The 'bad' drivers, are usually the ones that spark what I like to call 'insane transit user syndrome'. You know, those individuals that feel the need to yell and scream at ALL the drivers over the smallest thing. Granted, these individuals can usually be found in retail stores and shopping malls doing the exact same thing.
Then there are the buses & trains themselves... There are so many different styles of vehicles. Look at all the trains and buses CTS offers, and there's nothing uniform or consistent with them. There's old, new, and some of these vehicles look like they drove right out of a horror movie.
Schedules? Well, there are a few that generally run "on time", or at least run often enough that missing one isn't a huge issue. These are the ones, that I am grateful to now have to take to get to and from work, as well as to visit friends and clients. But, back when I lived out in Queensland, if you missed your bus, you were stuck waiting anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes for the next one. NOT cool if you were running late for work. Or if it was -30C.
I also feel that a lot of what frustrates people about CTS, is the cost, and the fact that we really don't see what the money goes towards. Yes, they're extending the C-Train lines, paying the drivers, etc., etc... However, improving the current routes, buses, and schedules would be a touch more effective at the moment, in my opinion...
Anyway, in parting, I'd like to share a few tips, to those of you who take the bus as often as I do. Hopefully, they make things a wee bit more bearable, and ease the frustration of taking CTS...
1) Check ahead of time, to see if your bus route(s) are affected by the never ending construction of the city. Check regularly, as these change often.
2) Arrive at your bus stop at LEAST 5 (ideally 10) minutes prior to the next buses arrival. I know, in theory we shouldn't have to, BUT, things in this world are rarely perfect.
3) Give yourself an additional 15 minutes of travel time. Leave early when possible, to avoid being late.
4) Bring an mp3/video player. Or a tablet/book/e-reader. Something to pass the time during your trip. Just ensure it doesn't distract you so much you miss your stop.
5) Be courteous to those around you, and treat everyone with a certain level of respect. What people fail to realize, is that how much you enjoy the actual trip, is determined by the people you travel with. Keep audio device volumes to a comfortable level for everyone, don't leave your trash on the seat for the next person, and don't be a total douche to everyone on the bus (drivers included). Remember, you get what you give =)
Live well, rest well, be well. =)
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)