Have unruly Capital Transit riders affected your willingness to ride the bus?
See related: City addresses unruly bus riders
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October 18th, 2009 at 12:24 am
Yes; during my school years, I rode the bus home nearly everyday. I had some unpleasant experiences on the bus, and even at the bus stop. Nearly every ride I was disgusted in some way, shape, or form. There was always the drunk passenger, the parent with the uncontrollable kids, the teenager with ear deafening music, the homeless guy, the stinky one, the person who doesn’t know about person bubbles, the person who doesn’t give up a seat for an elder or a pregnant woman, or the one with their mouth hanging wide open.. The list goes on and on. I have always enjoyed the presence of the driver. It takes a lot of patience for a person to deal with such non-sense for a living. I have always had pleasant experience for the driver, and I always thanked them when I exited.
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October 18th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Just get rid of the buses and make them walk.
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October 18th, 2009 at 9:23 am
the driver should carry a truncheon with which to beat them.
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October 18th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I do not let my kids ride the public transit primarily because of the intoxicated and unruly ridership that I’ve regularly witnessed on my rides to and from work. These select drunks are often rude, foul smelling and unpredictable in their behavior. The bus drivers are not prepared to deal with these riders and the rest of the riders must resort to ride in a state of fear. Not only are our buses unsafe, but the bus stops are also unsafe and in disrepair. Vandalism is rampant and cigarette butts, empty alcohol containers and broken glass are everywhere — not to mention the conditions in the winter when there’s moderate to heavy snow.
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October 18th, 2009 at 9:51 am
ITS A SHAME PEOPLE & DRIVERS CAN’T FEEL SAFE ON BUSSES ANYMORE. FOR MANY ITS THIER ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, TO & FROM WORK, SHOPPING, DOCTOR APPTS. SCHOOL & COLLEGE & WHEN TOURIST ARE HERE A WAY FRO THEM TO ENJJY THE BEAUTY OF JUNEAU. SO IF WORSE HAS COME TO WORSE THEN YES USE A SECURITY PERSON PLUS CAMERAS & A SHIELD AROUND DRIVER SO THEY CAN’T BE ABUSED OR GOD FORID THAT` IT WOULD CAUSE BUS TO CRASH. I AM NOW CLASIFIED AS AN ELDER BUT i WON’T STAND FOR AYONE ABUSING ANYONE WHEN I AM NEAR WITH MY CANE. I’LL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
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October 18th, 2009 at 9:58 am
And the Mayor wants to spend more money on transit system that no one want to ride? How about a Mono rail from town to valley full of stinky drunks?
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October 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am
It could be worse.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/17/BAH11A743M.DTL
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October 18th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
No, but then I’ve only ridden the bus a couple times. I wouldn’t hesitate to ride just because of a few jerks. Eventually, they’ll be dealt with appropriately.
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October 18th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
How about cracking down on those inconsiderate idiots who smoke in the bus shelters?
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October 18th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
It’s not like this is a “new” problem; it’s been going on for years! We used to ride the bus to the laundromat every Saturday morning and had to deal with drunks, punks and other aholes. Once we got a car we swore we’d NEVER ride the bus again and I’m happy to say we 20 years later, we still don’t have to take the bus. It was always stinky, dirty and the bus driver didn’t care who he let on the bus and never did anything to control the idiots that were out of control. One time as we were getting off the bus, after having to deal with VERY unruly teens throwing crap around at each other and jumping over seats, my husband asked the bus driver why he didn’t do something about them. The driver said “it’s not my job to babysit people” and left it at that.
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October 18th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
My son uses public transportation in Seattle, and has for 10 years and said they have cameras as well as security guards on every bus and he has NEVER had a problem on the bus. Sounds like we need to invest in cameras as well as security guards since some people don’t know how to behave when riding the bus; or for that fact whenever they are out in public.
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October 18th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Cameras on every bus in Seattle? Yes. Security guards? No. They have fast responding Metro Police. Are there that many incidents up there? Are we taking drastic action over one unfortunate incident?
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October 18th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
One of the problems we face in this community is that we are underpoliced. JPD just doesn’t have enough sworn officers to cover this big of an area or population. Increase the number of officers and the department will be better able to respond to incidents like unruly bus riders.
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October 18th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
like the city would invest in stuff like that would be great….but since when would the city would spend money on public transportation they have more better things to do like public corruption government spending money on materealistics ….cabins …..cars ….sarah palins clothes…last i checked she signed a corruption free bill or something….
why does she get away.. and others pay for their mistake like Bev Maske…… or why does congress get a pfd when they dont even live in this state?
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October 18th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
It’s affected my willingness to get a job as a bus driver.
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October 18th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Are the drivers allowed to carry firearms? That would certainly cut down the bad behavior.
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October 18th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
The security guards are dressed in plain clothes and most of the time people don’t even know who they are. But I think squirlgal1 has the right idea.
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October 18th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I would suggest JPD occasionaly ride the bus to sober up some of the livelier patrons- and it would be cheaper than installing cameras
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October 18th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I wont ride them due to being grooped by some drunk a few years ago while working with a client. Its over-crowded, the shelters smell like smoke and urine, and thats on a good day downtown. The punks from school with the loud music and foul mouths, make riding not peaceful or likeable. I will not subject my children or clients to that behavior anymore. Its cheaper to drive my car and know what I am sitting on or next too.
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October 19th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Supply bus drivers with a breathalyzer wand.
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October 19th, 2009 at 5:26 am
Mandate that politicans have to use public transportation and see how fast our buses become first class rides!
How about denying service to the stinky drunks? Any other business would turn them away so why should bus drivers and passengers have to put up with them in s small, confined space?
They should also put cameras in the bus stops. One stinking smoker or drunk and people make other transportation arrangements.
The buses need cameras; not hiring more JPD to once in a blue moon ride the bus.
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October 19th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Seattle lets police officers ride the bus for free. Given the huge area served by Metro many officers use the system to get to and from work utilizing the park n rides. It works great and costs Metro nothing. Could it be done here… sure the officers could be offered a free ride on the bus. But how many would really make use of it?
I don’t see that happening, unlike Seattle and other large cities, Juneau does not have the geographical area to make people see the benefits of taking the bus vs driving. For most people work is just a 20 min drive not a 2 hour commute. To be honest, I am just as guility, I can be at work in 12 min, 20 if I swing through for coffee. Bus would double my commute and I would have to walk a bit….
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October 19th, 2009 at 8:43 am
907bus…..you’re comments are about 4 months late and have absolutely nothing to do with this bus issue. Give it a rest.
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October 19th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I was on the bus with 12 WELL behaved R.A.L.L.Y. kids this summer headed to the pool and we were playing the slient game, i.e. we were dead quite. and a rude drunk women had the guts to let me know how disrespectful my kids were and how riding the bus is a privlege. The kids didnt know what they had done wrong, considering they hadn’t. Mean people suck!
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October 19th, 2009 at 10:28 am
The problem i see is not only with the passengers but 1 or 2 of the bus drivers not paying attention to the people with disabilities looking for a place to sit. they don’t make the people (kids) move out of the front for them, and how rude the bus drivers are to it’s passengers, they make it a point to not make a a show for the other passengers by yelling at the riders. just because they know they have the power to remove someone off the buss they abuse there authority. and some 2 bus drivers outta the bunch i know of drive like they are drag racing. we get pulled around on the bus. dang. slow down. and respect the passengers, maby we will all show respect to you to.
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October 19th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
People that smoke are given the priviledge of smoking by the bus shelter the people that wrote the ordinance should ride the bus and see how it is to have people smoking right by babies, elderly, and kids. If the smokers are told of the law on smoking by the bus shelter, they just argue the fact they are 10 feet away and somtimes there is 10 feet of people waiting for the bus. THE CITY NEEDS TO JUST BAN SMOKING AND QUIT GIVING SMOKERS OPTIONS TO INFECT INNOCENT BABIES AND KIDS; AND ELDERLY PEOPLE!
The people that chose to go to the bars are better protected from smokers. People that ride the bus don’t have a choice, people that work and have to ride the bus.
Some kids are very disrepectful and don’t listen to adults when they are told to not put there wet shoes on the seats, after they get off the bus someone else has no knowledge of not knowing the seat is wet.
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October 19th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
By the way I don’t think “willingness” is the correct word if any had the “Willingness” I would not willingly ride the bus.
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October 19th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Yes, it has affected the way I use Capital Transit because of unruly riders. In any mass transit system, I am always concerned about my safety and the safety of others. You have to be very careful when you are near to unruly crowds.
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October 19th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
its not the “unruly” passengers who have my bus riding experience sick, it was the Lack of ventilation and circulation of fresh air plus the smell cleanliness of the bus that made my bus experience less comfortable. A personal car is so much better at least I have more control over cleaning the inside of my car.
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October 19th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
that is a lack of cleanliness and the lack of smell from cleaning products, you know, when you go in to a hotel room of how nice it is to smell since the Maid cleaned the room and everything smells, you know, CLEAN. That is how every public area should smell from public buses, taxis, restaurants, and public buildings.
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October 19th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
I have a better idea, I lived in Anchorage and my brother and I took a ride on the doubledecker bus its was a wonderful
bus ride but we ran into a problem we had a very uncouth fellow on the bus he was very annoying so the bus driver just
stopped the bus and order him off the bus. The problem was solved and the jerk had to walk. ha hal
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October 20th, 2009 at 1:56 am
When I smoked I never smoked by “THE CHILDREN”. So let’s not put spin on your agenda huh? Unless you are refering to the cronic drunks that don’t really give a f then you should clarify…
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October 20th, 2009 at 5:45 am
yes squirlgal…there’s law and there’s order……
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October 20th, 2009 at 6:15 am
I don’t really like riding the bus if I don’t have to, unruly I just pay no attention and get to where I need to go, sometimes though there are jerks that just need a good old fashion 1 and 2 ass whoopin.
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October 20th, 2009 at 6:57 am
As a frequent patron of the public transit system most people are very respectful when there are adequate seating available for all. When they are not, random acts of kindness are witnessed every day with people helping each other and adhering to the code of conduct listed on every bus. However every conversation on the bus can be heard by all no matter where you are sitting. Alcohol, drugs, sex, domestic violence and racism are conversations you hear frequently by a few passengers. For the most part the people who ride the bus are a reflection of the community we live in. A bus driver has enough responsibility already. Why not have an assistant to monitor the code of conduct?
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October 20th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Drunk people should not be allowed on the bus anyway, your not supposed to be drunk in public! I thought there is a law about this and the driver should turn them away..
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October 20th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
These comments have a penny’s-worth of actual rudeness and a pound’s-worth of people who cannot tolerate deviations from their standards of cleanliness/appropriate behavior. Juneau needs more resources to help the homeless keep themselves clean and sober. Police officers and jails are inefficient and cruel ways to do this.
Let us look at the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:40: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King [Jesus] will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you have done towards the least of my brethren, you have done also to me.”
Even if you aren’t a Christian it should be plain that charity towards the poor and needy is the best way to create happiness on Earth.
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October 20th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Most drunks in Juneau have a lifetime free pass to ride the bus. Most of them are on SSI. They get food stamps. They get APA. They sell their food stamps for half price to buy booze. Every first of the month when they get their free money they drink until they are broke. Then they go to the Glory Hole or the Polaris house to get a free lunch.
I work a full time job. I don’t get anything “free”.
These people are pissing away the money that I work for.
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October 20th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
So how much is a bus fare nowadays?
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October 20th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
$1.50 one way or $36.00 a month
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October 20th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
I spend about that much a month in gas for my car with a commute from the valley. My car is paid for and I have freedom and don’t have to deal with drunks. Think ill continue to drive.
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October 20th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
The disrespectful people that include the drunks, teenagers, smelly ones, etc…should be told to walk. Frankly, I don’t ride it and hope I never have too. I am sure there are some fine people who ride the bus, but I say, get rid of it. The fine people are probably the only ones that pay the taxes for it anyways.
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October 20th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
ok Drunks and public safety issues are one thing but come on people, teenagers with loud music? Boohoo! smelly people? god forbid your delicate noses be offended. Its called public transportation so deal with it. PUBLIC means even the smelly ones have a right to ride. What a bunch of hoitytoits!
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October 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
F the bus. Fo Sheezy!
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October 20th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I ride the bus Monday-Friday to and from work. Quite frankly most (though not all) bus users are polite and even the rude ones haven’t affected my willingness to ride the bus. I do think the drivers need to enforce the code of conduct and some of them do enforce the code. Also, people do need to be mindful of other people on the bus and their needs…
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October 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
The only thing keeping me from taking the bus to work is that it can’t get me there that early in the morning. I’d have to get up a full hour earlier to get ready and meet the dang thing to, just to go to work 15 or so minutes late every day.
So…it’s not the passengers, but the fact that the bus doesn’t run early enough in the morning that keeps me from riding.
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October 21st, 2009 at 7:56 am
The bus drivers are just that-bus drivers. They are not the police. When was the last time a police officer boarded the bus? It seems reasonable that a police officer would board the bus every once in a while to do patrols. Cameras-great idea you pay them once and they work for the rest of their lives.
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October 21st, 2009 at 9:14 am
Articles like this are why this paper is totally untrustworthy and will never be taken seriously in this town! The management and the person that is responsible for putting this trash and bias type of opinion as a part of a news paper needs to be fired. This is actually not surprising coming from this management team and the Empire.
Taken from todays paper:
By Leonard Pitts Jr. | McClatchy Newspapers
We are gathered here today in sympathy with our brother, Rush Limbaugh.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 5:57 am
You people are living in the past when it was ok to ride the bus. The population is growing get used to it, its only going to get worse.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 6:05 am
What???? What do I care. I’m Wayne Ivers from Yakutat!
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October 22nd, 2009 at 6:11 am
it will be safe to ride the bus as soon as Wayne Ivers goes back to Yakutat.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
How much of this recent so called ‘uptick’ in population in Juneau is the other small towns dropping their losers on us ? This town is getting a degree scummier all the time.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 am
I agree with Smelly Guy I mean you can’t tell a person who stinks “go take a shower” I mean you can but what if they don’t have money to go have a shower? You can’t expect everyone who rides the bus to be Mr. Clean and Mary Poppins. Not everyone in this world looks like Heidi Klum.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I can believe that people are complaining about a good Capital bus system. I have lived 14 in Los Angeles, California and 22 years in New York city and compared to those cities, Juneau bus system is safe. Please appreciate the goodness of our best Capital in the world. The crime is low and just because people smelled bad does not qualify them to be evil. So be thankful that we live in this safe city and not in LosAnchorage, or Chicanchorage.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Bottom line, still for a secure riding situation, video monitoring is essential. A video record that is maintained for 7 days (or longer) before being discarded would help the driver by documenting unruly passengers that were removed from the bus. Passenger safety would be enhanced while vandalism would be reduced. My bank ATM machine is video recorded just as many stores and public terminals are monitored for public safety. A vast number of school buses in America are protected this way. When people KNOW their actions are being observed, they behave better. In a small town where people are known, it is even more effective. Simple fact. $1.50…$36 a month….as always Juneau is penny pinching the wrong way. Cheap fares that produce a poor commuting experence are doomed for failure. Kind of like public housing. Those with strict standards and effective enforcement thrive and do the job the public hoped they would…those with loose rules and lax enforcement spiral downward until the project is so bad it is torn down.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 8:07 am
Have unruly Capital Transit riders affected your willingness to ride the bus? No, Not really. I use to have to ride the bus full blown pregnant and people didn’t give me a seat or with a new born even… Thats a given some times… walking into a store – do people open the door for you? sometimes … Some people just need to have customer service classes OVER & OVER is all.
And the bus drivers need customer service and need to learn to use their “authority” the proper way… like by NOT allowing intoxicated people onto the bus or even people under the influence…. Also if there are loud “unruly” people/teens… then the bus driver should be able to put a stop to it.
who knows… who cares.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 am
I commuted by bus and bicycle in Juneau from 2003 through 2007, now I do the same in Anchorage. I firmly believe that it is up to the riders on the bus to set the standard for proper behavior. If someone is out of hand it is our responsibility to let them know their behavior is unacceptable. Failure to do so is actually accepting that sort of behavior.
On the bus, in a restaurant, at the mall or in the workplace, individuals have a responsibility to hold those around us accountable for their behavior. I expect civilized behavior from those around me and am willing to let others know this.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I don’t own a car here in Juneau, and I’ve been a loyal and constant passenger on the bus system here for 6 years. It’s mainly because I believe in public transportation and it’s my way to support it. But I do have issues with the occasional person, or person’s who decide they are more important or special than the others that are “sharing” the ride. The one’s that decide to take two seats, or create a block to an available seat and pretend they aren’t aware of what they are doing. Those (when the bus is standing room only, or sit down full) that are capable of giving up a seat for an elder, or mother with a baby and don’t. Then, yes, there are the loud passengers, or the one’s that openly share their problems over a cell phone without respect to those that are listening whether they want to or not, and the music … that’s also loud and not suppose to be. Someone mentioned about the folks that smoke in the bus shelters. I think its rude, disrespectful and according to the ordinance that’s posted in the bus shelters, it’s against the law. I’ve said something several times and this is the only time I do feel threatened.
Which brings up my answer to the subject we’re suppose to be writing about. My willingness to ride the bus has never been threatened by the presence of unruly passengers. It effects the tone of the ride, but it’s not kept me from riding the bus. Yes … I think cameras will help, and the posting of a security person will also. In the meantime, the bus drivers need to be more forceful in regard to the unruliness, turned up iPods, and the smokers. Another thing that might help is if there’s a security vehicle that cruises the system who’s on the lookout for smoking and graffiti offenders and dealing with them. It would be great if there were a 24/7 number a person could call to report the offenders. This way, those of us who would like to take shelter while waiting for a bus, but can’t, can discretely call and report it. That report would then be relayed to the driver who in turn would then issue a warning to the offender. Right now, there is no way to contact CCT for such things.
Bottom line. As in any other city or town that has a transit system, our transit system needs to take ownership of rider and driver safety and health. Put some of that money that’s going into that ugly parking structure that’s being built downtown, and some of the money that’s buying a fleet of new busses and make riding and waiting safe for all.
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October 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Sorry…A couple of times that I rode the bus, I have had my music turned up loudly. I am 43, and it was mainly to drown out the noise and foul language being used by the “minors and youth.”
I apologize if the operatic song “Barcelona” offended you regular riders, and I will endeavour not to ride the buses again, to avoid annoying all of you.
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October 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I haven’t had any bad experiences per say with the riders but with the bus driver’s themselves.
My daughter who had just turned 18, took my grandson to the clinic because he was really sick. When she tried to catch the bus back home the bus driver told her she could NOT ride the bus back home because she didn’t have an adult pass. This was in the middle of winter mind you! She left my daughter and sick grandson at the bus stop in freezing weather! Of course I let them know.
when my car broke down and I had to take the bus to work the bus drivers did not wait for me to sit down after placing my quarters in the slot and began to drive away each time leaving me to hang on to the poles to prevent myself from landing on the floor!
There ARE a couple of courteous bus drivers don’t get me wrong.
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October 25th, 2009 at 7:53 am
I have taken rides on both Capital Transit in Juneau, and King County Metro buses in Seattle. Prior King County Exec. Rom Sims, who is now working for President Obama, with ther Federal HUD program, worked on this issue. He was able to get a program started awhile ago, to get security cameras on most of King County Metro Buses in the Seattle area. Capital Transit should look into this. I think it’s a wonderful idea for public safety.
Also, King County Metro, has a “Transit Police” enforcement. Those are members of the King County Sheriffs office that are responsible for overseeing passanger safety on all King County buses.
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November 13th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I say so, dealing with “Punk” kids, drunk or weird adults, makes a lot of people think twice and some times change their plans when dealing with the transit system. I know I actually like taking the buses when you can get on, sit back and get off at you stop with out having to hear a lot of unnecessary (usually unfounded) opinions, be pushed around and try not to get hit, or felt up.
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November 17th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
OMG the bus system here is horrible. I had to ride it once. NEVER again. It smelled like urine and stale beer. One obviously drunk man kept touching his penis area. Another drunk female was encouraging him and she had peed herself.
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November 18th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Wow, kinda funny responses. Folks its PUBLIC transit, thats the joy of this country, doesn’t matter who you are, if you pay the fare your allowed on. I’ve sat on buses with dudes trippin on god knows what with guys in suits on the other side. We’re all humans here folks, kids are loud, people swear, and not everyone is as nice as they should be. Say good morning to your drivers, give up a seat to someone who looks like they need it more, you have to do your part too. As for when its just over the top, if something is really going on that is making you feel uncomfortable, say something. Doesn’t have to be a confrontation, but let your thoughts be known. Thats ALL YOU CAN DO, smile, remember this is the bus and when all is said and done, its really not what makes or breaks my day.
PS-Ive been thinking of moving up to Juneau from my current location, awesome entries, sounds like I’d love the place.
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