MBTA karma

[quislibet]

I am such a dork that the wretchedness of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority makes me think of World-of-Darkness roleplaying games. It often seems to me that my bad luck with trains and buses should be worth a few 'Flaw' points that I could spend on more Intelligence or extra Mafia contacts or a retinue of jealously worshipful blood-slaves.

Consider, if you will, last night. When I left my building, not a trolley was in sight, so I walked down to the nearest underground T station at Kenmore. There, to my initial delight, was a fabled 'Lechmere' train that would take me all the way to the commuter rail station without my having to change trains! This rare treat was only an illusion, however, for the train was too crowded to board -- well, too crowded except for the spaces located halfway between the doors, where there are possibly even seats available, but no one can get to them because everyone is standing right inside the entrance.

(I shifted to the present tense there; you may take it as a sort of generalizing instance or a vivid historic.)

So I took the next train -- at least it wasn't a 'B' trolley, which would have made my having walked to Kenmore somewhat pointless -- as far as it would go and then waited for a Lechmere train. After five 'wrong' trains, a too-crowded Lechmere car arrived to taunt me, and then another one which was re-routed and not accepting passengers. By this time it was clear I was going to miss the commuter train to Salem and so, having time to kill and only a surprisingly boring book about Graeco-Roman pirates to kill it with, I walked to the commuter rail station rather than continue waiting for a train one could actually get on.

And then -- and then! -- this morning my choice of bus over commuter rail was roundly mocked by the transportation gods, who caused the bus not to appear, or to appear early, or clouded my mind so that I could not see it.

This sort of thing happens to me all the time. But possibly it happens to everyone all the time, and I merit no special consideration. Good thing the MBTA is going to raise fares -- I'm sure that with the extra money they'll be able to improve service.

Comments

Who knows what evil lurks in the souls of bus drivers?

[jawalter.livejournal.com]

So, the MBTA is The Shadow, complete with the power to cloud men's minds?

Everything is suddenly, horrifyingly clear.

Re: Who knows what evil lurks in the souls of bus drivers?

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

I bet GE brought them to life, and NOT IN A GOOD WAY.

Re: Who knows what evil lurks in the souls of bus drivers?

[jawalter.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Soon everyone will understand!

[alonewiththemoon]

the T has been extra hideous this week, as have most of its passengers. Present company excepted, of course.

I did get to witness a little sports car firmly wedge itself into the B line tracks by the BU Bridge last Tuesday--the driver attempted an illegal left turn off the bridge onto Comm Ave, clearly demonstrating that the reason you are not allowed to do that is because it is all too easy to turn onto the trolley tracks instead. She probably could have backed out, but chose to drive forward and became stuck. Then to heighten the drama, a train approached! I wished desparately for a cell phone as I did not want to see somebody get splattered by the train. A guy standing near me did have a cell phone, but rather than using it to call 911 he used it to call his friend and describe what he was seeing. Luckily the train was on the opposite side of the tracks and saw the car. I imagine they must have needed a crane to get the car off the tracks. I also imagine that taking the B line that night must have sucked more than usual, but fortunately I was waiting for the bus.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

he used it to call his friend and describe what he was seeing

That's the state of the world for you.

(Although I'm not sure how a 911 call would have had a fast enough turnaround.)

[alonewiththemoon]

(Although I'm not sure how a 911 call would have had a fast enough turnaround.)

it probably wouldn't have helped, but at least I would have felt like I was doing _something_ and not just waiting to see the crash.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

I guess it might have got an ambulance on its way that much sooner, had one been needed.

[julishka.livejournal.com]

whenever i make the attempt to take the bus to work, complete with adding extra time in order to get downtown on time, the bus either: doesn't show up; i choose poorly and wait at the stop w/only one route option instead of two; i make it on the bus only to be foiled by insane traffic. all of these things cause me to be late - even when i've left early.

same with the T. i'll leave early to catch the train only to have it progress at a snail's pace from harvard to charles. what was once a 20 minute surplus of time turns instead into a 20 minute deficit.

MBTA: it's a friggen black hole of lost time.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

I thought my post might resonate with some readers.

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

I thought my post might resonate with some readers.

Just to extend the geek metaphor...

[sushigrade.livejournal.com]

Ah, but how do you know you haven't *already* spent the points from your Bad Public Transportation Karma on something else already, say, the aforementioned extra point of Intelligence?

...ye gods. I swear I'm not normally this geeky, but I'm currently involved in a game, and I guess it infects my other mental processes.

Re: Just to extend the geek metaphor...

[quislibet.livejournal.com]

My experiences with Boston-area public transportation never make me feel any smarter.

[frederic.livejournal.com]

Shortly after the appearance of the propaganda signs at stations with a face of some MBTA bigwig and the slogan "You have the right to be heard", I was stuck waiting for the D line for a long time. With a sharpie left in my pocket from work, the slogan was changed to "You have the right to be herded!" since I've experienced those packed moments especially when I had to travel through Fenway and Kenmore stations after a Red Sox game let out.

The worst part about crowded trains is that you can often see void space 10 or 12 feet from the door...

find pleasure where you can

[ditav.livejournal.com]

When a packed train arrives and is empty in the middle or the end (in front door only stops) I get a perverse pleasure getting on anyway and making hell for every idiot blocking my way to the empty part of the train.

You gotta find fun wherever and whenever you can, especially when it involves phrases like 'Pardon me (pause).....pardon me (pause)....get the fuck out of my way so I can get to the empty part of the train moron!'