MBTA karma
Nov. 7th, 2003 03:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quislibetI 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.
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.
