Worst and best!!!

LandoverDivision · October 01, 2008, 03:35:24 PM

Actually, Ride-On isn't the worst or best. Every transit system has it's ups and downs. Ride-On does have a lot of routes and stuff like that, but they still have too many old buses on the road plus (a completly off the subject comment) they have by far the WORST route and destination voice I have ever heard. Anyways, Ride-on is great. The Bus isn't the worst transit system also. They could do a lot better then they are doing, but Jack Johnson is an a hole. Hopefully in the next few years, they can improve the transit system here.

Perry · October 01, 2008, 03:43:18 PM

I can't criticize anyone's transit system. I know so many people that work for many of them and know that they do what they can with the resources they have. I respect what they do and if it doesn't work, well either people need to be more flexible or there needs to be better funding sources to make it better.

LandoverDivision · October 01, 2008, 03:47:14 PM

Quote from: Perry on October 01, 2008, 03:43:18 PM
I can't criticize anyone's transit system. I know so many people that work for many of them and know that they do what they can with the resources they have. I respect what they do and if it doesn't work, well either people need to be more flexible or there needs to be better funding sources to make it better.

So true. Like people say The Bus is terrible. It's really not their fault. It's our stupid government here.

aznboy4305 · October 07, 2008, 11:23:23 AM

Thats why I don't have systems like The Bus or Howard Transit as my worst, they're doing the best they can with what they got. Its the systems who DO have the money and resources but are doing complete WTF crap with it. *cough*FFX*cough*NJ Transit**cough*PACE*cough*

Being broke is one thing, being retarded is another.

WMAveteran · October 08, 2008, 12:22:21 AM

Quote from: aznboy4305 on October 07, 2008, 11:23:23 AM
Thats why I don't have systems like The Bus or Howard Transit as my worst, they're doing the best they can with what they got. Its the systems who DO have the money and resources but are doing complete WTF crap with it. *cough*FFX*cough*NJ Transit**cough*PACE*cough*

Being broke is one thing, being retarded is another.

I have always had positive experiences on NJT and it certainly operates one of the most diverse transit fleets on the planet (everything but airplanes) and serves virtually the entire state of New Jersey as well as part of Pennsylvania and New York. I don't believe there is an equivalent transit agency in the USA.

NewFlyer9736BCT · October 08, 2008, 01:42:12 PM

Best: Broward County Transit
Worst: hmm...this is a tough one to decide, considering that I rode a few TAs and liked them all.
...maybe Fairfax Connector

Tristan · October 08, 2008, 03:31:26 PM

It's amazing how unpopular Metro Magazine's 2003 Most Improved Transit Agency (Failfux Disconnector, if you will) is around here. I think I have more bad experiences than this whole board put together but it's validating to know that I'm not the only one who can't stand that agency. How much has the recent strike influenced your decisions? Of the two garages, which is your favorite? Mine is North because of the RTSes and the fact that less than 98% of their routes are those stupid loops.

Scrabbleship · October 08, 2008, 06:40:32 PM

I know I haven't been around here for that long, but why all the Fairfax Connector hate. I know their routes are a little inane and their service in parts of Fairfax are lacking (a line going directly from the Metro to the Fairfax Wegmans would do gangbusters), but I just can't see what is so bad about them.

The TA I cut my transit teeth on, (City of) Poughkeepsie Transit, makes FFX look like Ride On and makes PG The Bus look like FFX. Unidirectional loops, unnecessary and inane route mergers to make unridden routes, rollsigned Gilligs with coin drop boxes and advanced security cameras, nonexistent maintainence, poor service hours, and more. If it wasn't for the fact they have limited Saturday service, it'd be worse than PG by far! The corresponding Dutchess County system isn't much better though it seems like a typical rural system that hasn't caught up to its area is fast becoming suburbia.

As for a best: it's hard to pick a best. I'd have to call a tie between MBTA, WMATA, Bee Line, and Ride On.

LandoverDivision · October 08, 2008, 07:02:30 PM

I'm very surprised little people said WMATA was their favorite. For a second, I thought this topic was talking about your favorite transit system outside of the D.C Area.

WES · October 09, 2008, 12:04:05 PM

Quote from: Scrabbleship on October 08, 2008, 06:40:32 PM
I know I haven't been around here for that long, but why all the Fairfax Connector hate. I know their routes are a little inane and their service in parts of Fairfax are lacking (a line going directly from the Metro to the Fairfax Wegmans would do gangbusters), but I just can't see what is so bad about them.

The TA I cut my transit teeth on, (City of) Poughkeepsie Transit, makes FFX look like Ride On and makes PG The Bus look like FFX. Unidirectional loops, unnecessary and inane route mergers to make unridden routes, rollsigned Gilligs with coin drop boxes and advanced security cameras, nonexistent maintainence, poor service hours, and more. If it wasn't for the fact they have limited Saturday service, it'd be worse than PG by far! The corresponding Dutchess County system isn't much better though it seems like a typical rural system that hasn't caught up to its area is fast becoming suburbia.

As for a best: it's hard to pick a best. I'd have to call a tie between MBTA, WMATA, Bee Line, and Ride On.

Number one practically all of their routes were ones that WMATA had and all they did was just "redesigned" those routes. Can anyone name me a FFX Connector route, other than the 621 that wasn't stolen from WMATA.

Number two, there are areas of Fairfax County that they can serve and get decent patronage but don't. Fairfax doesn't serve Burke other than rush hours.

Number three, they used to have routes that went outside FFX County. Anyone remember the 110?

I am sure anyone whose been around here can think of more.

P.S. Is it me or would FFX County been better off being with WMATA. With all of these service disruptions because of labor issues, the way their pay rate is going they could equal to WMATA's overtime and or cost FFX County as much as it did to give the money to WMATA. It is also odd that other local T/As don't have this problem but FFX Connector.

Tristan · October 09, 2008, 08:03:27 PM

Fairfax Connector's routes are confusing (South County, predominately), they have bad customer service (I'll give you stories), their connections are atrocious (they don't even connect to THEMSELVES, much less other providers)...I've filed complaints about HOURLY buses running SEVERELY EARLY on SUNDAYS (one time I missed a bus that was six minutes early, another time I was able to run very fast across dangerous Richmond Hwy to catch another on the same route a couple months later that was 8 minutes early) that have never been responded to, I've seen drivers refuse service to patrons who showed up at the door after they have rolled 3 feet away from the stop, again, on a Sunday with hourly headways, I have had buses not show up at all and then their so called customer service representatives lie and claim to have called the garage and find out that the bus was on time - this after I had waited over an hour for the bus, being at the stop about 20 minutes before it was due, and I was only on hold for about eight seconds, how can you call the garage, the garage call the bus, and relay the answer back to you in eight seconds, you can't even dial a phone number in eight seconds, this is starting to turn into a ranting diatribe against them so I'm gonna cut it short.

Go to hell Fairfax Connector.

Tristan · October 09, 2008, 08:26:16 PM

South County routes aren't even true loops. Trips are still point-to-point. You might want to go "the long way around" from Springfield to let's say Edsall Road (321/322) because the "short way around" was early or there was a bad connection or you missed it for some other reason...but once the bus gets to Van Dorn, you have to get off and wait for another bus. Maybe this is only the case at night, but what's the point of a loop route that ends in the middle?

MetroLinerXLZ · October 09, 2008, 10:44:20 PM

Quote from: Tristan on October 09, 2008, 08:03:27 PM
Fairfax Connector's routes are confusing (South County, predominately), they have bad customer service (I'll give you stories), their connections are atrocious (they don't even connect to THEMSELVES, much less other providers)...I've filed complaints about HOURLY buses running SEVERELY EARLY on SUNDAYS (one time I missed a bus that was six minutes early, another time I was able to run very fast across dangerous Richmond Hwy to catch another on the same route a couple months later that was 8 minutes early) that have never been responded to, I've seen drivers refuse service to patrons who showed up at the door after they have rolled 3 feet away from the stop, again, on a Sunday with hourly headways, I have had buses not show up at all and then their so called customer service representatives lie and claim to have called the garage and find out that the bus was on time - this after I had waited over an hour for the bus, being at the stop about 20 minutes before it was due, and I was only on hold for about eight seconds, how can you call the garage, the garage call the bus, and relay the answer back to you in eight seconds, you can't even dial a phone number in eight seconds, this is starting to turn into a ranting diatribe against them so I'm gonna cut it short.

Go to hell Fairfax Connector.

OOOoooo....HARSH words man, Harsh words.

But I get where you're coming from on South County. That's why I don't even use those routes unless I'm tryna connecK a DASH bus.

LandoverDivision · November 06, 2008, 10:07:15 AM

Ride On isn't always up-to-date with technology. That's why you see messed up buses still on the streets. For those of you who said Ride On was the best, ARE YOU SERIOUS? I have absolutly no beef with Ride On, but do they have trains? NO!

79MetroExtraMD · November 06, 2008, 10:29:38 AM

Quote from: landoverdivision on November 06, 2008, 10:07:15 AM
Ride On isn't always up-to-date with technology. That's why you see messed up buses still on the streets. For those of you who said Ride On was the best, ARE YOU SERIOUS? I have absolutly no beef with Ride On, but do they have trains? NO!

They have a good system. Not every system has to have a rail system and there are systems that need a rail system (or better one if you're Baltimore). Rail construction costs more than bus operations and takes alot of property to build upon. You also have to realize that Ride On is a county operation. As for the buses thing, it happens but at least they run. They are slowly replacing buses but at least they have decent buses.

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Worst and best!!!