So, MBTA, we really need to talk

The MBTA is in trouble. We all know this. They are in the red and they keep raising fare rates. Then they jack up the parking lot prices, by about 100%.

Then today comes news of more MBTA shadiness.

Red Line riders will be packed like cattle starting Monday as part of an MBTA plan to herd more passengers into already crowded cars by ripping out seats in the region’s overloaded subway system, the Herald has learned.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will run Red Line trains with two retrofitted cars that will leave only four seats on each for elderly and disabled users, according to a state official briefed on the plan.

The move, which will be discussed at today’s MBTA board meeting, will cut seating by half on some trains, which usually have four to six cars.

I have a better idea. Let's take out ALL the seats in ALL MBTA trains and have the staff jam the riders on so we can maximize the bodies on the train. Who cares about safety. Who cares about the elderly, pregnant women, kids and the disabled.

Oh yea, I forgot, this is all to help riders get a better experience. Well, gee, thanks guys. Read more!

How the internet helps folks grow a set

If you follow this blog, you know that yesterday I posted a rant about the MBTA increasing parking lot costs by $2. I know that $2 isn't a lot, but it drives the cost from $3.50 to $5.50 (if you park at Wellington or any where on the Orange Line I think).

From time to time, my rants get picked up by Universal Hub, as was the case with this post.

You'll note the comment by dot.douchebag.lane. Shim (she/him) thinks that I'm just another whiner. I'm complaining just to complain. This is far from the truth.

The whole point to my rant was that I'm getting a bit tired of getting squeeze for a buck here, a buck there, three bucks over here, 40% more in electricity costs, sky rocketing oil prices for home heating, etc., etc. It's just getting very difficult to live and raise a family in the state of MA (maybe this is the truth every where, but I'm a lifer so I have no clue).

Regardless...I have a good job and do some photography work on the side. I make enough money to support my family, pay our bills and enjoy some wiggle room from time to time - enough to keep the kids in activities and do some stuff for the wife and I. By no means are we the Rockafella's. We're comfortable with our slot in the middle class category for now. (Yes, I do have dreams of the three car garage, full functioning basement with man-town, one or two dogs, white picket fence, etc., etc. But, I know that dream is a bit off because my wife is at home with the kids and we're living off one income. That's cool. It's a sacrifice that I'm willing to make because it's for the health, growth and happiness of my family.

What drives me crazy about blogging and opening yourself to moronic commenters like dot.douchebag.lane, is that people tend to grow a set of balls because they are hiding behind the computer screen. Now I know I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree. I just know what I know. And what I know as it relates to this subject is that this is another area that I'm getting squeezed for my hard-earned money. The worst part is that there is no alternative. I can't drive to work because we have one car - my choice because it's easier to take the bus and train to work than have another car payment. It's sacrifice over convenience. I'm cool with that.

dot.douchbag.lane thought I was just whining. He pulled the inflation card. I understand that, but shim totally missed my point. Rather than outlining his stance and backing up his "original" thought, shim grew some balls and decided to attack me because he assumed that I'm a typical MA resident who just likes to complain. I could guarantee that thousands of other area commuters agree with me about this and just the cost of living in MA in general.

The kicker of it all is that shim decides to throw another jab at me as it relates to my hatred of pink hats. Yea, THAT topic again.

That's what makes me chuckle about blogging and interacting with people online in general. Arguing over a topic in an educated, adult manner is one thing. Acting like a moron, pretending to be a hard ass because you won't get touched up is another.

Regardless, I'm sure I'll run into dot.douchebag.lane on the T someday. Shim will be heading to Fenway, wearing shim's pink Red Sox hat and shim's "I heart Jacoby" booty tight t-shirt.

How do you like THEM apples?

Read more!

My response to the increase in MBTA parking fees

Apparently the MBTA is going to be raising parking fees.

Let me get this straight. Folks stopped driving into work and starting using the T more because of high gas prices. You, as in the MBTA, decide to jack up the price of parking by 100% or so, because why?

Oh sorry, to take advantage of the poor schmoes like myself who schlep into town each and every day on your broke-a$$ public transportation system that:

1. is more unpredictable than the weather
2. is littered with trash that supposed to be picked up by OUR tax dollars
3. is a safety hazard because there's ZERO security on the train
4. is a perv invested box that enables dirty old men to rub up against innocent, hard working women who are just trying to get home
5. has ZERO customer service - oh, sorry, you typically have ONE person manning the entire station because your kiosk machines are supposed to smile and say hello to us as they rake us for money

So great. Thanks. I appreciate you bending me over the barrel once again and taking another few hundred bucks out of my wallet per year because there is really no other option.

GFY,
The Big Guy Read more!

Fare Hike on T

Great, here's yet another "we're poor so let's raise the fare on the T" story". Is it me or does it seem like a story like this appears every other year or so, basically giving us a year's warning that in fact, T riding costs are going up.

Let me pose this question. Why haven't they figured out how to get out of the red? This is an annual problem they seem to gripe about so why not look at other ways to save costs WITHOUT sacrificing service as well as raising costs for the tax payers?

Aren't we taxed enough as it is in Massachusetts. Isn't this one of the most expensive places to live in the country? Aren't our parking fees the highest? And oh yea, don't forget about home heating and utility costs. Funny how the T is promoting ridership versus driving due to high gas prices yet, they are complaining that revenues are down.

It's crap like this that makes me want to move out of Taxachusetts.

Read more!

How long before a bridge collapses?

The Globe has a story about the Feds mandating that the MBTA slow down Red Line trains to a crawl over the Longfellow Bridge because it's basically crumbling.

I realize these sort of repairs can't happen over night but don't you think that if these structures were checked frequently that repairs could have been made as needed versus letting them compile and having to endure a longer project?

This is the sort of thing that really drives me nuts about politics. Who's going to fix these bridges? Who's going to pay for them?

I know the answer to the latter question. That's us, the tax payers. So instead of marginal increases in taxes, road tolls, etc., we'll see big jumps in costs to fares on the T and $1 increases to tolls. That's how those politico's roll.

Basically, ah shucks guys, we have a problem. But, we have the solution. Let's bend the tax payers over the barrel one more time and really stick it to 'em so we can rake in more money to fix these problems. Then we'll do it again in about a year because we're over spending on contracts and can't budget a state project properly.

Ah, gotta love Massachusetts. At least our sports teams are winning. ;) Read more!

Globe editorial about riding your bike to the T

Globe wrote an editorial about having better options for getting to and from the T, including riding a bike.

It's a great idea to have more flexibility in terms of utilizing public transportation. However, riding a bike to the T stop is really not that feasible unless you live within a 10 minute ride. Additionally, if you're in a business like mine (PR), riding a bike and wearing a sports coat or suit really doesn't work. It's easier to take a bus to the train station. I understand the "green" angle in all this, but let's be practical. Read more!

O-Line rumblings

I like reading this dude's blog because he basically writes what I'm thinking during my commute to work. This one's about strange people and the new grey hand loops the T has slapped on the hand rails.

Too funny. Read more!

A real commuter's tool

Now this is a great idea. Let commuters help other commuters. Don't rely on the MBTA to tell you when they screwed up.

Read more!

Funny MBTA story

I was taking my usual train to bus routine home this week when things went, lets say, off the beaten path. I'm sitting in the back of the bus, watching CSI on my iPod when I noticed that we are no where near the regular route. The idiot bus driver forgot the route and was winging it. People on the bus were furious. Lots missed their stop and either had to get off and walk or catch the other bus coming the other way to head back in the general direction where the would have gotten off. Luckily enough, the bus got back on the route and I was let off at my regular stop.

It's so funny how when the MBTA has a glitch, it throws us off our kilter. For example, if the train is late, running with delays, etc. people get cranky, pissed off, moody, etc. I guess it's a victim of it's own success. For the most part, the MBTA runs on time and gets you where you need to go.

It's one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. Read more!

Peace on the T

No T radio. Read more!