an interesting evening

Saw Thorndon on film at the Film Archive tonight.  I don’t know why I don’t go there more often. It was a collection of clips from 1906 to 1972 and they were fascinating.  The non-speaking clips had a live piano accompaniament which was really well done. There wasa little bit of unnecessary commentary – all she did was read out the titles of the clips which were already on the films themselves. 

My journey home was amusing.  Clearly the students are back in town and celebrating the beginning of their year. I heard one young man complain her kept getting ID’ed everywhere just because he was carrying a skateboard.

Waiting for the bus I had two guys sit beside me and promptly unzip a padded cloth case.  From it they retrieved some religious work.  One promptly started to read out loud, very loud, to his friend. At this crowded busstop they went on to discuss the meaning of what they were reading.

The bus trip itself was more entertaining. The woman ahead of me spent ages quizzing the driver before she finally got on.  It was quite annoying as it took a long time till she finally asked the question she actually wanted answered.
Passenger: Does this bus go up Bowen St?
Driver: No
Passenger: Where does it go?
Driver: Molesworth St
Passenger: How far up Molesworth St?
Driver: The whole way, then through Thorndon.
Driver: Lady, where do you want to go?
Passenger: Railway station but I don’t know where to get off.
Driver: Hop on and I’ll tell you.
Passenger: (Holding a snapper card) Will it just be a dollar?
Driver: (looking a bit confused) Yes, are you paying by snapper or cash?
Passenger: Snapper
Driver: Then just hold it up to the reader, it works it out for you.
Passenger: But how does it know how far I’m going

Meanwhile there’s about 10 people behind her waiting to get on the bus. She sits right up the front and everyone files on. Then the questions start. So many questions about the bus routes and timetables and fares and anything else about the busses you could imagine.

After about 5 stops the driver completely flipped out. He got up and collected one of every different timetable from the little plastic holders. Over and over he kept saying to the woman, “Take the timetables, they’re free, they’re full of all the information you’ll need, take the timetables.”  He did it in a way which was half creepy, half helpful. It was really odd but more bullying then anything. The passenger really didn’t want the timetables, she said she didn’t use the bus often.  She had a snapper but I don’t think she was a local yet the snapper made her look like she should know how things worked.  I thought it was kind of sad, she just wanted reassurance she was heading in the right direction.  I’ve caught enough buses in foreign cities where I know my destination but I don’t know the streets or suburbs along the way.  You rely on drivers or fellow passengers for help getting to where you want to go.  The driver, he didn’t help her, he made her feel stupid for asking for help.

passengers are an optional extra

Have you tried catching a bus lately? I’ve lost count of the number of buses which have just simply not bothered to slow down and stop to pick me and other passengers up from my stop.

It used to be that if a driver approaching a stop saw someone looking at the timetable they’d slow enough to check that the passenger wasn’t looking for that bus.  At the weekend while on a bus I watched a person signal a bus then turn to pick up their grocieries. The bus started to slow when signalled but then sped up and drove off while the person was picking up their groceries – that’s just mean.

I heard one bus driver complaining about the super gold cards - he thought more elderly folk are catching the bus and it is slowing the bus runs down – the super gold card users take longer to get on and off the bus and apparently expect the drivers to wait till they’ve found a seat. It seems therefore the best answer is to rush past potentially fare paying passengers in order to make up some of that time.  I guess they’ve run out of things to complain about with snapper so the free rides for the elderly is the next target. Where’s their christmas spirit?

mr grumpy drives the 14

Had the most hilarious bus ride home courtesy of the driver’s running commentary. That and his bad mood.

After I snappered on the guy behind me did likewise only to be told by the machine he had insufficient funds. He just shrugged and got out his wallet. He really didn’t seem that bothered. Then the driver started up. “bloody ridiculous things, stupid system, they should get rid of it”. The passenger pointed out it was his fault and was trying to hand over his cash. But no, the driver had’t finished “caused nothing but problems from day one” he added.

Doors closed and we drove off. We got to the next stop to find another bus already there, over-filled and taking on passengers. We were the second half-empty bus of two which had started 10 minutes apart and ended up together. “Typical” shouts our bus driver as he pulls up along side, “Thought it would be him, he never knows when  to stop”.

For the rest of the trip he directed his anger at cyclists not peddling fast enough.

hello mr snapper

On a Wellington bus:

[Passenger boards bus and swipes snapper card]
Snapper Machine: Please try card again
[Passenger swipes card]
Snapper Machine: Please try card again
[Passenger swipes card]
Snapper Machine: Please try card again
[Passenger swipes card]
Bus Driver: [Shouting] Hold it still
Passenger: [Startled] Its my first time
Bus Driver: [Semi shouting] Just hold it still
[Passenger gingerly places card on reader]
Snapper Machine: Don’t forget to tag off.
Passenger: [To the driver] Now I know why they named it snapper.  This was first time and I was nervous enough and now you’ve only made it worse.
Bus Driver: You just have to hold it still
Passenger: [To the driver] Snapper

The last hold outs are finally moving to snapper and of course a lot of them are reluctant or nervous or don’t like change.  This is the very time the bus drivers need to be patient. The main card which people use in their daily lives is their cash card or credit card and if they aren’t poking it into a machine they’re swiping it. It is a natural thing to want to swipe the snapper card. If you want the card held still design a better reader, make it one you put the card on top of. The current reader makes it hard to hold the card and place it on the reader – there’s no room for your fingers.

Some drivers could do with being a little more patient right now.  I know some of them hate snapper – one driver last week treated her entire busload of passengers to along rant on all that she hated about the system – I was pleased to get off the bus. She’s not helping her employer that’s for sure.  I did start to wonder if snapper is adding to the drivers’ impatience. They don’t have so much to do now without the clipping of cards so have to sit and wait for everyone to tag on.

stop reminding me to tag off already

Grrrr, as more and more passengers move to snapper it is really starting to grate.  Between the bubble noise and the reminders to tag off, I want to kick the snapper reader on my way off the bus.  Surely they can turn this off or down?

And yet again the number 14 timetable is on some other planet. Tonight the 6.20 arrived packed to capacity at 6.30 and didn’t stop.  Well, there was no room for anyone else so I’m sort of pleased it didn’t stop but it was raining and freezing cold so it added to my grumpiness. The 6.36 finally arrived at 6.45 but thankfully just had enough room for the frozen passengers who’d arrived just after the 6.03 left early. We need another bus during this time – it is ridiculous. The time it takes for the bus to shuffle and regurgitate its load before finally spitting out passengers at the bus stops as it travels through the suburbs is only adding to the delays.

And what makes me maddest of all?  Seeing all the 43 and 44 buses drive past practically empty during this time. Can’t we steal one of those for the 14 route instead?

little fish with a big mouth

Have you lost your snapper?  If you register it as soon as you buy it then if you lose it you can go online and put a stop on it. You’ll only lose as much money as someone can spend between you losing the card and realising this. Of course, given that you can spend your snapper funds other than on busfares someone could buy lunch for the office at Wishbone and clean you out.  If they don’t then you’ll still have to pay $10 for another card but your balance is transferred.

Fortuately I did not lose my card but I did find one on the footpath at my bus stop.  I phoned the number on the snapper card and they were very helpful, too helpful.  They told me the name of the person whose card it is. I didn’t ask for this information.  I offered a cellphone number the “loser of the card” could call or text to arrange the return of the card.  If I hadn’t stopped her would Ms Snapper have given me the address and phone number too? She didn’t but I still felt the other person’s privacy hadn’t been treated seriously.  Ms Snapped assure me she place my cellphone number on the person’s account so the next time they log in they’ll see the message.

a go wellington bus ate my arm

I got a bus from Lambton Quay just after 6.30. As usual on my run the bus was late and crammed full of passengers.  The driver didn’t seem to care how full the bus was and lurched from bus stop to bus stop. Maybe it is just a hard bus to control but there was no need to accelerate with such vigour with the bus so full. I spent the whole trip standing up as I usually do and finally got to my stop shortly before seven. I tagged my snapper and it didn’t work so I had to do it again. The driver decided not to bother waiting and started to shut the door and drive off.  Only problem was my arm was in the door. I can still see the abrasion and it is a little sore. I phoned go wellington when I got home – “Paula” was on the phone and asked that I leave a message so I did.  Do you think I’ve heard back yet? No of course not.

the wheels on the bus are skidding on fish

Snapper

Have you got a snapper card yet? Honestly have you tried to buy one? Whatever you do, don’t ask if there isn’t a sign in the window.  I made the mistake of asking at a couple of places where I’ve bought my trusty 10-trips in the past.  I wont be making that mistake again.  I’ve read the news reports that some of the retailers aren’t happy at what it will cost them. Now I’ve heard it from the retailers directly. $2000 to buy the machine to load the cards and those who weren’t part of the early trial are bitter at missing out on getting one free.  I don’t know what they used to make from the 10 trip cards but they tell me they get 20 cents out of the 25 cents the user pays to top up the card – that’s if they don’t top-up online for themselves or set up an automatic payment.  Plus you can top up at $300 a go – that’s a lot of 10-trip tickets so they must be losing out there as well.  The list of grievances doesn’t end there either – I won’t bore you with them all but have you seen how much space the snapper machines take up on the counter?

So I don’t hate the concept but I think the roll out could have been smoother.  I’m used to using an Oyster card and this will be no different.  It is annoying having to keep your card out till the end of the journey though.  Given the lack of bus shelters in the suburbs I’d rather have my umbrella in my hand in winter.  The first time I heard snapper in operation on the buses I found the bubble sound the machines make kind of quirky but a week later it is as annoying as key beeps on a cell phone.  I hope they can turn those off or the drivers will go mental.