The Marta Chronicles

Relax and enjoy the ride . . . screeeeeeech! BANG!!!! that's the sound cars, tucks and buses make on the roads here. Another Marta bus involved in an accident this morning. In addition to that, a separate accident involved a tractor trailer turning over, exploding then bursting into flames . . . so much going on in just a matter of minutes. Now you know why I have a fear of driving, well more of a fear of the roads and other people driving. I have to give it up for the drivers for bus #36 - they are awesome - the most polite, professional, courteous drivers I have met - these folks don't take no stuff but they are polite about it, stern and very safe drivers (well except for that one that pulled over, unexpectedly without signaling, into another lane when it was pouring down raining, all that could be heard as WE continued traveling up North Decatur was blaring horns and screeching tires). I had more to say but I'm not much in the mood right now. I have a busy day. Plus I forgot, oh yeah - well I'll write about it later in the day.

I think I'm a netsnob . . . yeah, I'm sure, among other things or at least I have quite a few of the symptoms.

posted by Darni @ 9/15/2000 09:46:00 AM

Marta is working on changing their ad policy because "abortion ads" are showing up on the buses. The ads are too controversial . . . they say. How ‘bout that! Talk about controversial . . . lets talk about it. Abortions – aren’t they legal? I was reading David’s log and came across this ad, that he had photographed . . . I mean – come on people "eligable participants will be compensated" - okay, so they can buy more crack I suppose. Here’s this prominent medical facility asking Marta patrons if they smoke crack and if they do, well we’ll keep it confidential ‘cause we want to play with your brain. I understand the need for research, find out how things work, why they work the way they do, so on and so forth but, ah - we ain’t talking ‘bout finding a cure for an addiction here (the ad doesn’t specify this but I’m sure that MIGHT be, and I am speculating, MIGHT be the reason behind this particular study "the affects crack has on the brain" – though anyone who’s ever been, seen or knows someone who is or has been on crack definitely can attest that being on crack doesn’t do the brain good). Marta isn’t offended by these types of ads but the abortion ads are too controversial. How insane! They can post these little rip off companies advertisements, those small loan shark companies that cater to the desperate and the "poor" – but an abortion ad is too much for them to handle. Oh my god! They do have a right to accept which ads they want, but I don’t know it just seems somewhat silly. I suppose this new ad policy MIGHT exclude some of the other ads I’ve seen too – maybe the abortion ad opened some eyes . . . on a positive note – there are these, I think they are called "streetfair" ads, not really advertising anything – just promoting poetry and such – those are really
neat! But I’m just one person, one fare . . . who am I but a patron – one little
patron. I guess its best to leave the abortion ads to the yellow pages, it is best that way as to not give someone easy access to good and safe medical attention.
Maybe an ad on a Marta bus is no different than handwriting on the wall of a . . . no one really cares.

posted by Darni @ 9/14/2000 12:26:00 PM

Conversation from two teenaged patrons sitting behind me: "Dis lady say 'scuse me' 'cause I had my books in the seat next to me. I look at her and say "scuse me?'. She keeps looking at me and I keep looking at her. Just because she grown don't mean she gone disrespect me." Comical? I thought so too. I thought to myself that this child is disrespecting herself by even speaking about this on the bus, in front of other adults, in such an arrogant manner. I mean, did she pay $1.50 for her books to ride the freaking bus?!?!?! I guess she was expecting the "grown" woman to say something like "Excuse me, queen of the marta bus but would you mind moving your school books so I can have a seat. I'll even hold the books for you." Or maybe the woman said "scuse me" with an attitude, I don't know I wasn't there but I thought the conversation was comical, especially in the tone that the teenager was using, as if she would have beat down the woman, if the opportunity presented itself. But then, she probably would have.

Marta has spent $100 million on "updating" the trains, a new look and there will be two new stops. So I guess that's an incentive to increase the fare. Oh well,
they've been talking about an increase for some time now. I wish someone would give me a couple of million to redecorate my home . . . I remember writing a letter to Marta a few years ago about how dirty the trains were. At 6am in the morning, there's no reason for a train to smell, have paper and trash strewn everywhere. The trains don't run all night, most of the buses in major areas stop running at 7 or 8pm so that's
another reason alot of people don't take Marta, because sometimes you have to do some major over time on the job and "Marta ain't gonna wait for you" (refer to the rules of engagement). But I received a reply from, I think the general manager stating that there are so many people riding Marta every day, it isn't possible to keep the trains and buses clean, and they do the best they can. Ha! I have taken the CCT and everyone raves about how clean they are kept. I haven't had the opportunity to ride any CCT buses lately so I don't know if this still holds true (CCT is Cobb County public transportation - transports the same people that Marta does - refer to the rules). Anyway, after receiving the letter, a few months later I received some forms and a contract from Marta, as if I was some type of cleaning service - inviting me to
place a bid for contracted services - memo attached and everything. I figured this was their way of being even more funny, inviting me - a patron to place a bid to clean the trains or buses . . . and I still ride Marta regardless. Not because I love it so . . . I don't drive but I'm working on overcoming my fears. Because to be quite honest, I'm tired of Marta. I'm tired of Marta bending over backwards to cater to the North side of town. I'll get into that more later . . . right now I have work to do. Enjoy your day . . . and lets work together in clearing up this air pollution before our children have to walk around with gas masks (hell, it might happen before we're gone). Anything's possible when you're surrounded by the selfish and greedy.
I'm not talking about you Marta -

posted by Darni @ 9/13/2000 08:39:00 AM

Inconvenience is one of the poor excuses people use for not riding Marta. It used to bother me that people felt sorry for me because I take public transporation. They assume that I can not afford a car (who the hell can - just more debt to pay off). Even my past supervisors and bosses have offered me rides (if you think I can't afford a car then guess what, you're probably not paying me enough). BUT this morning, I found an inconvenience . . .

I don't drive because I have a fear of driving. People are so careless, they get behind these large vehicles and leave their brains at home. They care for no one but themselves, speeding down the highways as if they are driving an emergency vehicle. Slow the fuck down! You're not driving an ambulance or fire truck - geez! But this morning the complex that I just moved into, blocked off its back entrance. It is a new complex, a gated security community and the back entrance/exit was specificially for construction tucks and so forth. So, this morning I had to walk to the front of the complex, not a long walk - quite nice (I enjoy the exercise). Then cross 6 lanes of traffic to a sidewalk that does not exist. I go around a curve that doesn't have a sidewalk, there is the street and grass - nothing to "warn" a speeding car or bus but my flesh. Nothing but wet grasse and trees. Once I get to the bus stop, provided by Marta, I am surrounded by trees, thick creeping kudzu, two inch grass and things that hiss, buzz, chirp, gurgle and eat cheese. As cars go zipping past me at speeds similar to that of sound, I am livid! With the noises of nature creeping up directly behind me, my feet wet (I wore sandals) and nothing to keep the cars from bumping me into Marta's jungle, if they should loose control, I think to myself "no wonder no one wants to ride Marta!" I can finally feel some of the folks, even though most of them have never utilized Marta's services or only use them to get to the Braves games.

Yes this is a small inconvenience but a dangerous one. Hit and run accidents are at an all time high here. Just this past May and little girl was hit by a car, a speeding car that ran the red light (I heard the car when it hit her but I wasn't close enough to see it - that's how hard of an impact the crash made). The driver stopped but the damage was done. The child had just got off of a Marta bus . . . incoveneince can be a choice between life and death. I think I'll write Marta and see if they are going to do anything about cleaning up that "non-sidewalk" that they are utilizing. AND I'm working on getting over my fear of driving. You see I have the good sense to know that fear mixed with stupidity (other drivers) isn't a good combination therefor, I keep my ass from behind the wheel of a car. Common sense. BUT I'm going to work on overcoming that, so that I can be stupid instead of fearful and add to the congestion on the roads and the pollution in the air. Will my chronicles cease - nope. I have much to say and write about one being the disservice done to my uncle which is why I created the chronicles. That will come later, it will be soon, but later . . . enjoy your day and be safe.

posted by Darni @ 9/11/2000 08:16:00 AM