16 July 2009

ACTION gets a facebook hate group

| johnboy
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You’re no-one in this town unless you’ve got a hate group on Facebook.

ACTION buses have now joined the reptoid big leagues.

From the group’s description:


    Tired of:
    *Waiting 30 minutes for a bus that never arrives?
    *Being late to work because your bus was late?
    *Leaving early to get to the bus in time and missing it anyway?
    *Not being able to get home after ten o’clock because the buses don’t run anymore?
    *Having your weekend plans delayed because of reduced weekend bus services?
    *Lazy or surly drivers?
    *The ACT Government continually promising to fix the service and NEVER doing anything?
    *Cuts in ACTION services (like the 312, 313, 314 and 315 routes) to your area (especially Tuggeranong)?
    *Buses that are so crowded they can’t take on new passengers?
    Then THIS GROUP IS FOR YOU!!!

Knock yourselves out, just don’t go threatening to burn any houses down.

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Having been forced to use the bus to commute to work for a month, I actually enjoy the experience and find Action and its drivers give a first rate service.

But hang about here, we are talking about the complaints of a group of people who lead such empty lives that they are prepared to waste the time and energy to join and participate in a hate group on Facebook for A BUS COMPANY!!

If I ever get so sad and uninspiring as to do something like that, please feel free to shoot me.

….. and I know that bud drivers think that they indicate for a sufficient enough period before pulling into traffic but they regularly don’t (and some don’t indicate at all). People behind need time to react and stop in order to give way. Also, it is a long way from the indicator at the back of the bus to the tiny (and barely visible) indicator on the side of the bus near the front and anyone who has committed to passing often doesn’t have time to see the small indicator and react.

Granny said :

I have been intensely dissatisfied with one driver and intensely satisfied with others….

I think that I have just worked out why I or any of the other passengers I travel with haven’t been able to put a smile on my bus drivers’ faces…..

Wow, so many positive comments about ACTION… I wonder how much ACTION is paying for PR on RA haha…

Anyway, ACTION sucks. Plain and simple.

The ACTION drivers are mostly well motivated people out to deliver the best service they can in often hostile and anarchic conditions on the roads.

This is great comedy

Anna Key said :

My main gripe is that some seem to sit at a bus stop for a while, no-one getting on or off, and then pulling out just as the traffic arrives. Yes I know they have right of way but at 80kph, there’s not a lot of margin for error.

The drivers will sometimes sit at a bus stop when they are running early. Most timing for runs is done by someone in a V6 Car & they add 30 seconds for a few passengers every few stops. But also a few years ago time would of been added due to a bus running late every day. But in 2009, that extra time isn’t always needed. This means that the driver has to either drive along at 40k’s or sit at abus stop for ages. But all this is being fixed at the moment.

Mike Bessenger10:35 pm 21 Jul 09

After all these years and all those unhappy people these bus things are still around. who’s the muppet?

I have found the drivers at worst cordial and nearly always polite and friendly. When my parents visited from interstate the drivers helped them with the best fares, timetables and routes for their sightseeing (it must have annoyed the hell out of the other passengers). I’ve had drivers make a slight detour to ensure I got home ok whilst in a tired and emotional state, radio to other drivers when I’ve needed to make a transfer (also when in a tired and emotional state).

My main gripe is that some seem to sit at a bus stop for a while, no-one getting on or off, and then pulling out just as the traffic arrives. Yes I know they have right of way but at 80kph, there’s not a lot of margin for error.

It had to be some sadist that made that rule up, I reckon. I also hate the way they have special lanes so the buses can get in front of all the other traffic and make them go at 40 kmh as well.

Thoroughly Smashed1:51 pm 17 Jul 09

Ahh, that’s not so good… If the bus pulled out without indicating first as required I wouldn’t be any happier about it myself.

Of course, Smashed, but I’m talking about forcing their way into traffic. I ride a motorbike, and on one occasion the bus just pulled out when I was part way past, and I had the choice of being hit by the bus, hitting a traffic island, or an emergency stop. Did the latter and made sure the driver knew my displeasure.

My point is that even when buses have the right of way, they should exercise that right safely and courteously – too often they don’t, and then drive slowly holding up other traffic.

Thoroughly Smashed11:21 am 17 Jul 09

54-11 said :

What really bugs me as a driver is when a bus aggressively pulls out in front of you after making a stop, and then trundle along at 40km/h to maintain their schedule.

Why not just wait for traffic to clear before pushing into traffic?

When re-entering the traffic flow from a kerbside or indented bus bay/stop, buses have right of way.

I gave up riding the buses several years ago, when caught in a snap strike. Use them occasionally but not often.

What really bugs me as a driver is when a bus aggressively pulls out in front of you after making a stop, and then trundle along at 40km/h to maintain their schedule.

Why not just wait for traffic to clear before pushing into traffic?

Finally a reason to join Facebook.

lol classic. I agree it’s a bit harsh on the drivers, the majority are fine andI’ve never had any problems with any drivers. Generally if you’re not an idiot, you don’t have any problems.

Who cares if a bus driver is a bit cranky? Just pay your money and go and sit down… you don’t need to have a 15min chat with them! Not that I think they are… just sayin’…

My biggest gripe about buses is that if you want to somewhere that’s not Civic, Woden, etc… you’re shit outta luck. It would take me 2 1/2 hours to get to work – but 20mins to drive myself. And the buses don’t even run when I finish.

HandyCap said :

Honestly… since the fare increase (single fares are $3.80), I have been refused change….

If anything, the fare increase has made all the drivers on our route happier and more friendly. One went so far to ask a young mum whether she could be on the return bus in less than 90 minutes, in which case transfer tickets would be enough. And change of a $20 has been no problem.

Danman said :

On the biannual occasion that would see me catching a bus, I always seem to have someone who has breakfast billies sit next to me…Peee-ewww

Wow, cool! I didn’t know that John Hargreaves posted here!

Felix the Cat8:12 pm 16 Jul 09

HandyCap said :

Honestly… since the fare increase (single fares are $3.80), I have been refused change (from $4 and $5 respectively) as the driver has stated “No coins, mate. Sorry!”. I asked him if people turn up with $10 notes and there is no change, would they pay? The answer was “Yes” and receive no change. Very cute….

Handy

WTF? No change! I would be putting my money back in my pocket and sitting pretty until change was forthcoming or driver agreed to waive the fare. Fair enough if someone rocked up with $50 or $100 note but not $4 or $5. I knew there was a reason I didn’t catch buses.

Granny said :

I have been intensely dissatisfied with one driver and intensely satisfied with others, particularly the lovely ones that drive our special school bus.

I think, as with every profession, there will be some on each side of the bell curve and a lot in the middle. I think the poor ones shouldn’t be above criticism, but we should be even quicker to commend those who excel.

Agreed, so are they going to change their quote to read: “*a number, but certianly not the majority, of non-specific but clearly identifiable drivers who are lazy and surly and who put the majority of decent drivers to shame”?

And I nominate skid to chair the public meeting! (Can we have it at Nichols, I understand parking isn’t a problem there?)

action buses? burn down their houses, i say… or wasn’t i supposed to mention that? ; )

a pretty timid ‘hate group’, really.

knockknock-eggman5:00 pm 16 Jul 09

I refuse to partake in further discussions as it is in breach of rule 14 of the internet.

14. Do not argue with a troll — it means that they win.

As an action group we don’t collectively hate them, we’re just worried about the extra road traffic & need for parking they create.
A public meeting must be had!

I don’t see the problem in a group wanting to improve service – client service included. The fact is, ACTION (the organisation, not the drivers) doesn’t have best practice business improvement strategies.

Pelican Lini said :

Only Losers Take the Bus

Well. cut them all out, then, smartness…

I have been intensely dissatisfied with one driver and intensely satisfied with others, particularly the lovely ones that drive our special school bus.

I think, as with every profession, there will be some on each side of the bell curve and a lot in the middle. I think the poor ones shouldn’t be above criticism, but we should be even quicker to commend those who excel.

Pelican Lini3:50 pm 16 Jul 09

Only Losers Take the Bus

Honestly… since the fare increase (single fares are $3.80), I have been refused change (from $4 and $5 respectively) as the driver has stated “No coins, mate. Sorry!”. I asked him if people turn up with $10 notes and there is no change, would they pay? The answer was “Yes” and receive no change. Very cute….

Handy

Granny said :

Oh, come on! It’s not a hate group. That’s ridiculous!

You’re right, Granny. It’s an intense dissatisfaction group:)

Seriously though, I get their point about timetables, late arrivals, cancellations etc, but I think they should leave the drivers alone. Everybody has their bad days.

Oh, come on! It’s not a hate group. That’s ridiculous!

Holden Caulfield2:13 pm 16 Jul 09

What is this ACTION thing you speak of.

Friska is bitching about the weather today!

arrghhhh thick socks with heels just doesnt work!

Good grief!

I’d lke to find out where the initiators of this facebook site work (if indeed they do) and put up a hate site about them. Some of my best mates are ACTION drivers and they love their work. I’ve also had some horrific experiences on the buses and in the interchanges (punch ups, threats with knives etc) and met my share of bad drivers etc.

There’s nothing quite lke tarring everybody with the same brush though. Some people will bitch about anything…

ACTION Bus Drivers are a friendly bunch, but they see the cute, nice, ugly, bitchy passengers all day. The last 2 bring their spirits down a bit. They try their best to ignore the bitchy passengers, but they just can’t get rid of them. But they try their best with the system they are given.

Although I’ve known about this Facebook hate group for quite a while & some of the complaints aren’t quite thought through.

Wow! Cool! I am joining this group of hate!

*chuckle*

smelly people = slept in, almost missed the bus, sprint to stop, forgot shower, breakfast, etc, on way out of door.

Nothing worse then smelly people either – why do people smell @ 8.00am ????

On the biannual occasion that would see me catching a bus, I always seem to have someone who has breakfast billies sit next to me…Peee-ewww

Its so bad I decided to ride the 16km rather than deal with it.

Friska said :

Nothing worse then smelly people either – why do people smell @ 8.00am ????

It’s weird, isn’t it? And worse on wet days. People don’t seem to see the need to clean their clothes, especially suits and coats.

Mind you, people who drench themselves in perfume are almost as bad. phew.

“*Lazy or surly drivers?”

That’s a bit harsh. I wouldn’t call them lazy. Surly, maybe.

why do people smell @ 8.00am ????

Because they haven’t washed since 7am, september 4th, 1969.

Nothing worse then smelly people either – why do people smell @ 8.00am ????

I usually get friendly drivers…But hate all the rest about ACTION.

The only thing I want to change is the BUS DRIVERS. Give us a smile and a hello once in a while.

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