» Metro Riders

In the last couple of weeks, we have highlighted John and the Falks: Riders who have shared their stories with us so that we can tell people what transit means to them and St. Louis.  Now meet Alison, a physics librarian at Washington University.  Alison commutes from her home in Chesterfield to the University’s Danforth Campus every day to work.  She owns a car, but started riding transit to save money, help the environment, and spend some quiet time reading.  What she did not anticipate was the strong sense of community among her fellow passengers.

Alison’s story is not unique – there is a sense of familiarity and togetherness among transit riders.  While walking in my neighborhood last weekend, one of the regular riders on the #73 Cardondelet yelled from across the street, “HEY METRO LADY!” with an enthusiastic wave hello. I know her from community meetings and riding the #73 together. It’s one of the things I personally love about riding transit.  Watch Alison’s story:

Metro Means Community – Wash U Employee Alison from St. Louis Metro Transit on Vimeo.

For many, public transit really does mean freedom. What kind of freedom? The freedom to work, the freedom to be social, the freedom to educate yourself, the freedom to live your life. For Stuart and Dianne Falk, who both have multiple sclerosis, Metro Call-A-Ride allows them to attend theater rehearsals with the DisAbility Project, go to the gym, attend religious services, and other activities throughout town. When their Call-A-Ride service was lost last March during service cuts, the Falks appeared on CNN and St. Louis Post-Dispatch to tell how the cuts would affect their lives. The Falks admitted to feeling “trapped” in their nursing facility in Ballwin without Call-A-Ride access.

It’s always important to remember that public transit is more than buses and trains. Watch:

Metro Means Freedom – Stuart & Dianne Falk from St. Louis Metro Transit on Vimeo.

The Uppity Theater Company is the sponsor of the DisAbility Project Theater Group. You can schedule for them to come out and speak to your organization, business or school on a variety of topics from asthma to ADA accessibility to finding love. The group seeks to raise public awareness about disability and empower and honor the disabled through the stage. Schedule a performance for your organization!

What time do you get up in the morning? 6 a.m.? 7 a.m.? How about 3:15 a.m.??

Transit rider John gets up every workday morning at 3:15 a.m. to catch several buses to get to his job at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield from his home in North St. Louis County. He is one of the hundreds of people who take transit to the healthcare businesses in Chesterfield, and one of the thousands of people who take transit to work every day. People may not realize it, but transit riders are all around us, keeping the St. Louis economy going and making this a better community. What if people like John couldn’t get to their jobs?

Watch:

Metro Means Business – Healthcare Employee John from St. Louis Metro Transit on Vimeo.

For more transit rider stories, visit here.

On Monday, January 18, members of the St. Louis community plan to march from Old Courthouse on Market Street to the Powell Symphony Center on Grand Avenue.  Several MetroBuses will be rerouted during this time to accommodate the traffic.  Crowds are expected to gather at the Old Courthouse at 9 a.m., and start marching at 10 a.m., so during this time, MetroBus riders (as well as downtown traffic) should expect delays.  Luckily, since Monday is a national holiday and many people will be off from work or school, we expect less impact on the flow of downtown than on a typical weekday.

Give yourself a little extra time on these bus routes:

#4 Natural Bridge

North and southbound buses will wait out marchers at Jefferson and MLK

#30 Soulard, #32 Wellston, #41 Lee, & #74 Florissant

East and westbound buses will wait out marchers at 14th and MLK

#40 Broadway

Northbound – bus will reroute to Washington Ave at 14th & Spruce
Southbound – bus will wait out marchers crossing Washington at Tucker

#70 Grand

Northbound – (When marchers are on Grand) Regular route to Grand and Lindell, left on Lindell, right on Spring, right on Cass, left on Grand regular route.
Southbound – (When marchers are on Grand) Regular route to Grand and Cass, right on Cass, left on Spring, left on Lindell, right on Grand regular route.

#94 Page

Eastbound – When the route is blocked at any point between Grand and 14th, left on Grand, right on Cass, right on 14th to Civic Center. Wait out marchers crossing 14th at M L King.
Westbound – When the route is blocked at any point between Grand and 14th, use regular route to 14th and Washington, continue north on 14th (wait out marchers crossing 14th at M L King), left on Cass, left on Grand, right on Page regular route.

All MetroBuses and MetroLink run on their regular weekday schedule on Monday.

To all, a happy Martin Luther King Day holiday!

I’m sorry sir, but would you mind turning your music down?  I’m trying to ride transit here.

By definition, public transit is a common space, a place where people of all backgrounds come together to travel.  It’s such a cross-section of ages and backgrounds brought together, sharing a space without directly interacting, that psychology researchers routinely use public transit to observe human behavior patterns. Transit riders travel together, but they usually aren’t directly interacting with other. Of course, that changes when people are rude, disruptive or lack courtesy. We share a common rider experience, and a few bad apples can seriously ruin someone’s trip.

Following in the example of New Jersey Transit and NYC’s MTA, Metro has launched an ad campaign, “Respect Your Ride”, on our MetroBuses and MetroLink station platforms and elevators to help remind people to be mindful of other riders and to curb undesirable behavior. The posters also include the phone number for Passenger Assistance in case riders want to report a problem.

It’s difficult to govern other people’s behavior, especially if they don’t realize that they are being bad fellow riders.  But we can bring it to their attention.

“Loud Music is Loud”

Sometimes its difficult to gauge this, but the rule of thumb for me is if other people can clearly hear what you are listening to, it is too loud. Even if you are listening with headphones. Not everyone is going to share your taste in music, and some people like to read and relax while riding. Or sleep. Or just not listen to your music.  The same goes for loud and obnoxious speaking aloud and on a cell phone.

“Foul Language is Offensive”

We all know foul language can be offensive. But curses words or choice phrases can seem aggressive and confrontational as well. No one wants to experience that from fellow riders. If it would make Grandma blush, its not appropriate to share on public transit. And if you are saying it aloud on transit, you are sharing it with everyone.

“Undercover Officers on Board”

This sign is to remind riders that Metro partners with St. Louis City and County to have undercover police presence on the system to deter illegal or disruptive activity.

“Public Urination is Illegal”

Saved the best for last. These signs will only hang in MetroLink elevators, where public urination has been a particular problem. The elevator not a private place to relieve onself; they are actually heavily monitored. In addition to the signs, every elevator has a camera linking back to our communications dispatch center, and have a speaker that security can engage to talk to the perpetrator. Public urination in elevators is a significant issue since individuals who cannot take the stairs must use the elevators to reach street level.

Another reason to focus on quality-of-life issues for riders is that it help make public transit more efficient. Problems like these direct resources for customer service, security, and maintenance away from other issues. Courteous behavior encourages more discretionary riders to take transit. It’s a win-win for Metro and our riders.

As a transit user, I find my trips in St. Louis are mostly calm. During the peak times of the day, both MetroLink and MetroBus are fairly quiet. But we all have stories too. Jennifer mentioned that feet on her seat was a real pet peeve. @u2acro on Twitter said she hates it when people take up two seats with their bag/person when people are looking to sit down. Whatever your pet peeve, the ads will hopefully remind people that when you keep other riders in mind and act with respect and courtesy, you are a better public transit rider.  Will everyone listen?  No.  But we hope that many will.