When I decided to ride the bus instead of drive to work, I knew there would be trade-offs. I had to leave earlier, couldn’t carry as much stuff with me, couldn’t easily run errands after work, and sometimes had to sit and stand next to some interesting smelling people. I knew all this but decided that it just cost too much for a parking space and gas. Plus, it was the environmentally-friendly thing to do. Until recently, I had only minor quibbles with bus service.
For those of you who don’t know, The Honolulu bus system (The Bus) has a long history of winning awards and providing excellent service. I used it as a high school and college student and it was great. However, in recent years, service has deteriorated mostly due to budget cuts which I completely understand. The price of fuel skyrocketed so they needed to alter, and even eliminate, some routes. I can see running the buses less frequently in the middle of the day or later at night.
That brings me back to my situation. I catch the #9 bus at the very top of Waialae Ave. and get off at what would be considered the other end of that street. This morning, and many mornings for the past 2 months, the bus was packed. It has nothing to do with school because only one kid got off at Kaimuki high school. I don’t know if they eliminated one bus from the morning schedule but I do know that it is a tinier bus that now picks me up! So, as if it weren’t bad enough to be standing, I’m standing in a cramped aisle.
As I was standing in the bus, I couldn’t help noticing the advertising placard for HEA, the bus GPS/locator application that is supposed to tell you when a bus will arrive at a stop. When I first discovered this service, I was actually ecstatic. A website that could tell me when to be where to catch a bus? What a concept! Then reality set in. When it worked, it was great, when it didnʻt, it was worse than a fraud. It wasnʻt just that times were off. Evidently, there are invisible buses and I donʻt have the special glasses to see them.
If you or someone you know is a bus rider, please let me know. Letʻs band together and demand better service!
***Inserted Text***
When I went to the Support Forum for HEA, I discovered that it has practically been abandoned. There are a few questions posted but no answers.
So That's Life?
Bus Stop Blues
08/08/2012When I decided to ride the bus instead of drive to work, I knew there would be trade-offs. I had to leave earlier, couldn’t carry as much stuff with me, couldn’t easily run errands after work, and sometimes had to sit and stand next to some interesting smelling people. I knew all this but decided that it just cost too much for a parking space and gas. Plus, it was the environmentally-friendly thing to do. Until recently, I had only minor quibbles with bus service.
For those of you who don’t know, The Honolulu bus system (The Bus) has a long history of winning awards and providing excellent service. I used it as a high school and college student and it was great. However, in recent years, service has deteriorated mostly due to budget cuts which I completely understand. The price of fuel skyrocketed so they needed to alter, and even eliminate, some routes. I can see running the buses less frequently in the middle of the day or later at night.
That brings me back to my situation. I catch the #9 bus at the very top of Waialae Ave. and get off at what would be considered the other end of that street. This morning, and many mornings for the past 2 months, the bus was packed. It has nothing to do with school because only one kid got off at Kaimuki high school. I don’t know if they eliminated one bus from the morning schedule but I do know that it is a tinier bus that now picks me up! So, as if it weren’t bad enough to be standing, I’m standing in a cramped aisle.
As I was standing in the bus, I couldn’t help noticing the advertising placard for HEA, the bus GPS/locator application that is supposed to tell you when a bus will arrive at a stop. When I first discovered this service, I was actually ecstatic. A website that could tell me when to be where to catch a bus? What a concept! Then reality set in. When it worked, it was great, when it didnʻt, it was worse than a fraud. It wasnʻt just that times were off. Evidently, there are invisible buses and I donʻt have the special glasses to see them.
If you or someone you know is a bus rider, please let me know. Letʻs band together and demand better service!
***Inserted Text***
When I went to the Support Forum for HEA, I discovered that it has practically been abandoned. There are a few questions posted but no answers.
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