"If you don't like it, get a car," the officer said to me. "That's how life is."
Life is waiting for a bus that never comes.
Phoenix was recently named one of the nation's 10 most-improved public transit cities by "Metro Magazine". But if recent months are any indication, mass transit has worsened.
Valley Metro says the Valley has 50 million boardings every year and a fleet of new buses, so the residents of Phoenix and Tempe should receive punctual service. But we don't receive the service we pay for with sales taxes, lottery revenue and, of course, bus fares.
On my way to Phoenix from Tempe, a friend and I waited for the bus at Arizona Mills. We waited for a bus that didn't show. We boarded the next bus at 5:30 p.m., surprisingly on time, and received a transfer slip. Transfers are usually for one hour, depending on the mood of the driver behind the wheel.
Thirty minutes later, we were at Baseline and Central waiting for the bus scheduled to arrive at 6:15 p.m. At 6:20 p.m. we called the Valley Metro schedule information service and the operator on the line said that our bus was on time. We replied that it was not, so he said never mind, the bus was running late.
Life is calling customer service and being put on hold for 45 minutes for the next available operator.
We waited for a bus that didn't show. Another 30 minutes later, when the next bus arrived, my transfer had expired, and I was told to pay again. We refused to get off the bus, and the driver threatened to call the police and began insulting us.
We called 911, and two Phoenix officers and two transit police arrived for a little chat. After 30 more minutes of arguing with the Phoenix police, the transit police spoke with the next scheduled bus, and our transfer was honored after the fact.
Life is being fired from your job because the bus never comes. Call the helpline; maybe after 45 minutes your $1.25 will be refunded.
Though we delayed the bus 20 minutes, not one of the passengers complained. The next day, another bus didn't show and the following bus arrived late.
Valley Metro isn't responsible for the service (or lack of service) that the company provides. Should you have to pay for the inability of Valley Metro to provide the service for which you paid?
In this capitalist nation, competition is present to ensure the quality of the products or services rendered. This process gives rise to better, more efficient and more desired goods and services.
Many people ride the bus occasionally, when there is no other means of transport, but for many it is the only way to get from point A to point B, from home to work or college. There is no alternative transit system in the Phoenix area, and the only drive to improve service at the company level is to garner federal funding.
Valley Metro provides bus service in most areas until after midnight, but customer service and schedule information lines are not staffed after 9 p.m. Buses after this time have even less responsibility to arrive on time to scheduled stops.
Phoenix residents voted for a bus system to provide efficient public transit service. They chose to pay Valley Metro to provide those services. Valley Metro chose to cut costs and failed to hire enough staff for its hours, and the residents of Arizona are supposed to pick up the tab for the inadequacies of the company.
Life is dealing with companies that are not being held accountable.
But we don't have to sit down for it.
Audra Baker is a journalism and biology junior. Reach her at audra.baker@asu.edu.
