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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Mailbag Memo to Metro

Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 8:10 AM

A reader writes:

I have a tip for Metro:

TURN ON YOUR FUCKING AIR CONDITIONING
WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK
It's 100 degrees outside and you know what? It's even hotter on a bus that is crawling through downtown traffic than off that bus. That's a quick way to make people ditch a lengthy commute for the air cooled luxury of a single-occupied vehicle blasting down I-5

Oh, and the 26 local behind my 26 express? Windows closed up tight. To keep all that delicious comfort inside
Jesus Fucking Christ

Oh yeah, is there a legitimate reason I saw so many buses with all their windows open (no AC, clearly)?

Comments (36) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Only 30% or so of the fleet has AC.

Some buses that have AC have stupid riders who open the windows.

Posted by stinkbug on July 30, 2009 at 8:14 AM

Also, they released this memo yesterday:

http://www.transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/…

Posted by stinkbug on July 30, 2009 at 8:16 AM

Only the busses that don't have stairs have A/C- which as #1 said, is about 30% of the fleet.

Posted by no_such_number on July 30, 2009 at 8:25 AM

@1 I've had drivers, on busses with A/C, stop and refuse to move until all the windows were closed on days that topped out in the high 80s. The windows closed up pretty quick.

Posted by Renton Mike on July 30, 2009 at 8:25 AM

A friend of mine said that her bus driver only ran the A/C for 30 minutes yesterday. He turned it off saying that was all he could run it for. And that was his explaination.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on July 30, 2009 at 8:26 AM

Well, that's a lot more buses with AC than when I lived there. Still, what's the point if they're not using it?

Posted by Matt from Denver on July 30, 2009 at 8:31 AM

I do understand now that some buses just don't have A/C. But in regards to what @5 said, how could a driver turn it off? That's insane! I'd pay more if it meant a more comfortable commute

Posted by Stripes on July 30, 2009 at 8:46 AM

#1 beat me to it.

And the whole construct around if they have AC and are not using it seems a bit presumptuous...based on slog this would appear to be two buses.

I wonder if this will be the equal and opposite pairing to the December snowstorm with people now deciding to rally behind new buses with AC?

Hopefully not.

Posted by Derek

on July 30, 2009 at 8:49 AM

When the buses enter the DSTT and switch to electric, I think the AC gets turned off, but I'm not sure. Can someone confirm that?

Posted by stinkbug on July 30, 2009 at 9:08 AM

Damn straight! After yesterday's f**king oven ride home (on a bus that was 45 minutes late), I drove the car in to work today.

Posted by seattle mike on July 30, 2009 at 9:21 AM

Where was this friend @5? If the bus was entering the bus tunnel, it is required to turn off the a/c.

Posted by Jenny from the Block on July 30, 2009 at 9:22 AM

My favorite "tip" from Metro on riding buses during hot weather:

"Remove jackets and sweaters you wear in air conditioned buildings before you board the bus."

Posted by seattle mike on July 30, 2009 at 9:29 AM

AC is a heavy load on the engine so in stop and go traffic in hot weather you MAY have to switch off the AC to keep the engine from over heating. It makes being stuck in traffic in the summer that much more fun.

Posted by wl on July 30, 2009 at 9:35 AM

Hot tip: Link and Sounder nice chilly AC. No windows for idiot passengers to open either. Too bad I can't use either to commute from Maple Leaf.

Posted by Chris Stefan on July 30, 2009 at 10:01 AM

I am so thankful Link was up and running before this heat wave (A/C, baby!!). Pregnant and always hotter than those around me and on a back-roads commuter bus, I think even the morning trip in to work would have killed me. I am sorry for those who still have to ride in those over-sized easy-bake ovens.
I think I'm in love with light rail...

Posted by Allyn on July 30, 2009 at 10:05 AM

I want, I want, I want, I want, Me, me, me, me, My, my, my, my, now, now, now, now.

Wah, metro rider. Would you like some cheese with that whine?

Posted by Lily Fluffbottom on July 30, 2009 at 10:13 AM

Metro fail. Again. Just another indication, as if we needed another, that the entire notion of buses as viable public transit is bunk.

Posted by schmacky on July 30, 2009 at 10:20 AM

My bus overheated yesterday. Frankly, I'd rather get home quickly with no AC so I can sweat in peace than be stuck somewhere on a broken down bus because the AC was running for too long.

Posted by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

on July 30, 2009 at 10:22 AM

schmacky, what the hell are you talking about?

Posted by stinkbug on July 30, 2009 at 10:22 AM

@15- Exact same situation! I'm 5 mos pregnant and every time I had to go on the 7, I would feel nauseaus- it is absolutely the most packed, rowdiest, loudest bus route imaginable. The link changed my commute to work into the most pleasant experience imaginable.

I would be curious what routes the AC buses go on- I feel as though I always notice the eastside buses have AC, and it feels like another example of the south end getting ignored. The 7 is an extremely high volume long route that would benefit greatly from AC equipped buses, and I have never once seen AC on one.

Posted by sibley on July 30, 2009 at 10:29 AM

On the 73 express we were glad they had air conditioning.

Hint: stop opening the windows if there is A/C on the bus.

And, no, gangsta rap does NOT make you look cool, fool.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on July 30, 2009 at 10:33 AM

@20- I was over-heated and feeling nauseated and dared to open a window on a warm morning and a lady on the back seat told me it was too windy for her and please close the window. Left me thinking if she'd rather I was sick all over the floor. I wanted to suggest that she find a more comfortable seat away from the breeze...

I know what you mean about the "nicer routes".

Posted by Allyn on July 30, 2009 at 10:37 AM

@ ALL, it was NOT in the tunnel or even a bus that goes in the tunnel at any point.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on July 30, 2009 at 10:47 AM

My bus broke down after sitting on 3rd Ave for 15 min waiting for traffic to move. Once traffic moved we didn't. I thought my bus mates were going to revolt and rip him apart. No AC of course, we were all dripping wet by the time we were allowed off the bus to cross traffic to the sidewalk.

Posted by Megaroo on July 30, 2009 at 10:47 AM

@22, did you give in and close it or no? I would have told her to move. Or you could puke on her.

Posted by charlesb on July 30, 2009 at 10:55 AM

@22, did you give in and close it or no? I would have told her to move. Or you could puke on her.

Posted by charlesb on July 30, 2009 at 10:55 AM

@22- I have been kicking myself: a man got on the bus, sat in front of me and closed (without asking) the window we shared. I was only a few stops away from my destination so I didn't say anything, but now I wish I had. Or, vomited on him- either way, lesson learned. DON'T close a window near a pregnant woman! Heh.

Posted by sibley on July 30, 2009 at 11:01 AM

@7 the driver actually suffers more then you. We have windows that make the sun bore into us. As a metro driver, I wear sunblock to prevent burns- even in the A/C coaches. @9, you are right. When a hybrid enters the DSTT, the driver places the bus in hush mode. Because the bus runs entirely on battery, "frivolities" are automatically turned off. This also happens outside of the tunnel when the hybrids are having issues with the fuel cells responding poorly. A driver may choose to turn off the A/C and the internal lights- just to keep the bus moving. For routes like the 41- that layover outside of the base in direct sunlight- they are hotter then outside when they first enter the tunnel. Trolleys are much worse. The wire sags so much in the heat, you have to drive slowly. The poles just fall off anywhere. Also the heat causes the many of the power substations to over heat- especially the one at 5th and jackson. @20- no trolleys have a/c. The 7 usually has a/c on weekends, because it is replaced with a hybrid for reroutes ( although that happens less because they need tunnel buses on weekends for tunnel routes now.) If you walk up stairs- no a/c. Only low floor coaches have them. At least only the ones functioning properly. I used to pick the routes I drive in the summer based on which bus routes had low floors. One can't depend on that now. Our fleet is falling apart at the same time our ridership is maxing out. If it runs- I'm happy.

Posted by KT-Kat on July 30, 2009 at 11:06 AM

@25 - yeah, I gave in. I'm a wuss...

Posted by Allyn on July 30, 2009 at 11:14 AM

Thanks for the good data, KT-Kat. And presumably the good driving.

I've lucked out in that the 17 has no stairs and thus AC. (But I do hope that less, uh, privileged routes have AC too.)

Posted by leek on July 30, 2009 at 12:17 PM

@17 do you take the bus?

I have been taking the bus at least twice a day at least 5 times a week for nearly 10 years now. Summer heat or rainy walks to the stop, neither stop me. I certainly prefer the buses to driving myself.

I take two separate routes to get to and from work right now, both of them are standing room only to and from work on a daily (well Monday-Friday) basis. Also, taking the bus from my apartment to downtown Seattle is quick and easy and then I don't have to worry about parking.

So yes, please further explain your comment ... are you just saying that there should be something else??? Or that people aren't using it??? Or that the buses don't actually take you anywhere??? Because it is a pretty viable option for a shite load of people ...

Posted by Take it all in on July 30, 2009 at 1:34 PM

I had become convinced that Metro buses simply didn't have AC, and only ST buses did.

(Which would suck on those days when Metro shafts you with a stock Metro POS bus instead of a proper ST bus -- and charges you ST fare of course).

Posted by K on July 30, 2009 at 2:21 PM

To the person who whined about not having AC on the bus, I'm with you...however, did you EVER, EVER, EVER think how it must be for the poor bus driver? Imagine sitting in the front next to THE HOTTEST PART OF THE BUS, in traffic, downtown, with the sun blaring in your window.
Today, when I got of my god forsaken #4 bus, and saw my uniformed bus driver sweltering away so that I would be able to get home safe and sound to my air conditioned home I said, "You are the HERO today! Thank you so much!"
Whine, yes, but give credit to the working class heros too.
Boo Metro for not having AC. Yay bus drivers for sticking it out.

Posted by Over heated but grateful on July 30, 2009 at 6:03 PM

Buses might be mass transit, but they are certainly not rapid transit. I rode the buses in this city for two years without a car, and I hope to never have to use them again. The lack of a/c, the pools of urine/vomit on the 7, late or missing buses, it all added to the breakup. It should not be much of a mystery why most people choose their cars, bikes, or walking.

Posted by seattlebikeguy on July 31, 2009 at 10:22 AM

God you people are ridiculous! The buses going to "nicer" places are the ones with AC? According to a couple different bus drivers over the last few days, the trolley, or electric buses, do not have AC. Which is a large majority of the buses that run in Seattle proper. Which totally sucks, but it has nothing to do with the "niceness" of the area.

Posted by marsgirl

on July 31, 2009 at 3:30 PM

I imagine it all somehow relates to the fact that Metro is broke as all fuck. Maybe it's cheaper on gas, maybe shit be broke and they don't have the money to repair it, can't afford new buses with A/C to replace the ones without...

Posted by lbd on August 2, 2009 at 10:35 AM