Mountain Metropolitan Transit — Local services in Colorado Springs

02.01.2019 Southbound 10 around 1:30-2:00. I've had problems with this driver before but also with at least half a dozen others. Despite my call to Bob a week or two ago, they still aren't properly trained on the wheelchair securements. This seems like an easy thing to communicate to all drivers instantly using a simple cell phone video. I'd be happy to make it for you, if you'd like. I boarded at the terminal downtown about 1.30 or so. When I got on, I know he recognized me because of how difficult it was to get him to secure my chair properly on our last trip together. He didn't speak, just started to unbuckle. Today I didn't have to tell him I'd need securements but he still ignored me when I simply said that the back two should do it as long as they are all ratcheting, attached with the outermost strap on the back right frame and the innermost strap on the back left frame, along with the outermost front, which I could do myself, attached to the right front frame. I was pointing everything out, but instead of following my reasonable request, he attached the outermost strap to the left rear wheel and left the innermost strap unattached. I didn't realize he'd done the exact opposite of what I requested until I started sliding forward and sideways into the wheel well. I had to redo them myself while in motion, stopping once during my free, physically dangerous for me to do because I can go into serious spasms, just like I did last time. This says he had every opportunity to see me doing this, that is if he has a consistent habit of checking the isle and ensuring that the passengers, such as an older gentleman on who just boarded, were safe.

This has happened more times than I can count, on multiple buses and with multiple drivers, I'd say roughly 50% of the time. I see this as more than just insubordination to MMT employee policy or careless operation of a 10,000-pound projectile. It isn't simply an occasionally sour attitude. It's more than a lack of appropriate people skills or effective empathy training (you have that, right?) for disabled municipal customers. Its passive aggression toward an ADA protected United States Citizen as far as I'm concerned.

He repeated his process but this time, wrong placement and despite explaining that the ratchet mechanisms must be operating, he left them open. He also couldn't understand what part of my wheelchair the frame was. I really have a hard time imagining that he cannot understand what a frame is or how a ratchet strap works.

His driving also leaves a little to be desired. He hits the brakes harder and takes corners faster than other drivers. At 3:07 he is southbound on Southgate Road, just across the intersection of Lake Avenue and repeatedly moves forward then pumps the brake. He came pretty close to a beige SUV as I looked with raised eyebrows at the wheelchair passenger next to me while he returned the look. He seemed to be looking at the vehicle in front of him instead of the road, I don't think there was anyone in front of that vehicle.

3:32 slams on the brakes, again, passengers looking at each other with raised eyebrows. I know about air brakes, but I also know that you have many drivers who have no problem applying pressure evenly and avoiding that jerking motion.

I think MMT needs to get rid of the contracting company who provides the drivers. There is a consistent apathy, low competence, and...

Buses are perpetually late (20+ minutes on many routes. And that doesn't even include the 30+ minutes they are late during peak operating hours). Transit does not give a full 24 hours of cross bus posting of it's to updates and delays--including the Mardi Gras Parade in Manitou Springs for 2015 that was scheduled with the city and they had to have PLENTY of warning for. Riders of the Route 3 bus on 2/14/2014 were left stranded at the down town terminal for 2+ hours. I should know, I was among the 20 - 30 people waiting 2 hours for a bus. The pass and transfer readers continually break down on the buses and the down town terminal ticket machine has been out of service the last 5 times I have tried to obtain a pass in the evening. The marquee signs on the buses continually break as well. As do the interior stop pulls and the interior stop marquee signs.

Tickets and transfers are a thin, cheap, flimsy paper with an even cheaper magnetic coating. After riding for the last 9 months, I've had my first 20 Ride Pass failure with a pass purchased just a week prior. The rude woman acting as manager on duty was "polite" enough to inform me that she was not "on the clock" after I was told by a driver and terminal worker to find her about getting a reissue or refund of my rides from my 20 Ride Pass that is kept in my waterproof wallet when not being used. I was told that I had to go to the "intersection of Fountain and Hancock" to try and get my remaining rides. After looking at Google Maps, this intersection has a bus stop and two buildings that sell headstones. The only other place--aside from supermarkets--that deals with transit is the Transit Authority on Transit Dr. Which, due to their short hours and my 8AM - 6PM work schedule at my office makes it so that I can't see them due to being a productive member of society.

Some of the bus drivers are "nice." Many of them seem to have their favorite riders and show a bias towards young adult riders. As a young adult who is working full time and putting myself through school; I don't believe it's fair to lump all young adults together just because of bad experience or personal bias.

I ride the buses a minimum of 5 days a week for a total of 3.5 - 5 hours a day. I've seen drivers whiz by stops with people at them. I've pulled for my stops with enough time in advance for the driver to make a safe stop and --still-- had to get up and ask to be let off.

Limited weekend service is overcrowded on many routes as well. Average time to reach many shopping areas as well as other popular weekend places such as grocery stores, clinics, and public services are approximately 1hr 15 minutes. With only a few routes running, week day 9 - 5 workers; such as myself, have a hard time getting everything done in just two days.

Meetings to suggest changes are almost exclusively held on weekdays during working hours. As such, many of the citizens represented are typically seniors and non working adults. Not only does this represent an inaccurate sample size of the approx. 9,000 daily riders (as per MMT own's statistics), it creates a barrier between MMT and --true-- ride feedback.

TL;DR: Buy a beater car if you can...

We are to wear these masks on the bus, but the buses are not sanitized or cleaned. I got on the 5 today (2-22-2021) and one of the seats had something liquid on it. No bag over the seat. Today is February 20th, 2023. I asked the driver on the 22 to see if the 27th will wait at the citadel. He wouldn't ask. The bus leaves at 45 after the hour we got there at 46 after the hour. This bus driver could have asked. These new bus drivers are rude. They park so far from the curb. They have an attitude when you ask them to put the ramp down. Even roll their eyes. Since when do they not let you on the bus if they move forward at the terminal. If they moved all the way up and getting ready to turn on Kiowa I can understand. There was a bus in front of her so she was at a standstill. When did this policy change. I been riding transit for over 35 years. They said it was a safety issue. Really!!! Some of the way these bus drivers drive is a safety issue!!!! To Cyndi Rivett, (you stated that Colorado Springs has by far, one of the best rapid transit systems in the United States. What planet did you come from? Colorado Springs is the worst. Denver has a good transit system. On July 27th, 2023 I caught the 22 going towards the citadel. I got on at Chelton and Astrozon. He parked so far away from the curb. Asked him if he could put the ramp down. He said it was broke. I said ok can you pull closer to the curb. He told me no and if I didn't get on the bus he was going to leave me. I have had two knee surgeries and surgery on my left ankle twice. It is very hard to get on the bus when they pull up so far away from the curb. I quess I will bring my cane for now on. Something needs to be done about these rude bus drivers. Why is the first bus in the morning late? There is no excuse for that. Again a bus driver rolled his eyes when I asked him to put the ramp out. AGAIN THE 22 BROKE DOWN. THIS IS GETTING OLD. MECHANICAL ISSUE. SINCE THE RIDES ARE FREE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALOT. The bus driver who drove the first 22 this morning, September 3rd, 2023 is very very rude. The same driver today September 4th, 2023 wouldn't wait until I finished paying or sit down to take off. I asked her to wait and she kept going. They should wait until people sit down. So I got the tap to go card. Money on the card but the scanner machine doesn't work. The bus driver told me I had to pay another way. I had no money, so she told me to walk back to Loaf-n-Jug to get change. GET THE SCANNERS FIXED!!! I am so tired of the 22 not showing...