Up and Running?

Contrary to the prior post, CARTA has just recently gotten their new website with  google transit option up and running. Now you can plug in the address you're leaving from and going to in order to get the bus route info you need. However,  accuracy again is an issue. While I understand as William J. Hamilton of East Cooper CARTA Riders states that it's a huge project and there are bound to be some glitches, you would think they would update their list of bus stops rather than sending incorrect info to google transit. In fact, in response to one of my comments about them taking longer than announced to get google transit up and running Mr William answered, ‎"Nobody really understands CARTA. Many of our stops are matters of opinion." Bingo! And therein lies one of the biggest obstacles to being a regular commuter via CARTA. While I am encouraged that after more than two years of riding CARTA, they seem to be making some improvements, they still have a long way to go. Check out  the new website.

 

Finally!

It finally sounds like CARTA is taking their website issues, and the needs of it's customer's seriously according to  the Post & Courier's recent article on CARTA teaming up with Google Transit. After 2 years of dealing with what is currently a pitiful, bare bones website that is often unavailable or inaccurate, I'm cautiously optimistic. Never again will I have to deal with a bus driver going ballistic when I ask for info on a bus schedule, as I did a week or so ago! Kudos to CARTA for finally taking advantage of modern technology.  

Ashley Phosphate Closing and Bus 12

According to Live 5 News Ashley Phosphate is closed between Patriot's Blvd and Dorchester Manor Blvd due to lines pulled down by mobile home movers. No estimated time of resolution. This is the response from CARTA via Facebook  regarding changes to Bus 12's schedule as a result :  "Rt. 12 Northbound will detour starting at Patriot Blvd. and will get back on route at Cross County(Southbound will detour at Cross County and get back on route at Patriot Blvd). Please expect some delays due to detour and heavy traffic volume." Contact CARTA by calling 843-724-7420 or click on the link for their website.

Storm Updates

Per CARTA via Facebook:

Go to Carta's Website

All CARTA routes are currently running as regularly scheduled. Inclement weather & road conditions may cause delays or detours.


CARTA will continue to run routes as regularly scheduled unless roads and bridges are closed or conditions become unsafe to operate in. Check back periodically for any updates or changes to schedules.

Great Quote!

"Let's have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle."

-- U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)

Bike! Bike! Southeast...

Bike!Bike! Southeast takes place March 25th-27th, check out Charleston Moves' Blog for details on this regional conference. Workshops, seminars and more, all to do with bicycling.

A Tale of Two Bus Stops...

For almost two years I've been riding CARTA all over the  Charleson area. Frequently the stops I wait at are unmarked, or marked incorrectly. After a reminder posted on Facebook by CARTA stating that all stops are supposedly marked, I decided to do some research. I've found the best way to get down to the nitty-gritty details means talking to other passengers and some of my favorite drivers.  I rode several buses over a four-hour period and discovered that there are in fact, two different types of bus stops here in Charleston. There are  CARTA's "official" stops and their "courtesy" stops.

The "official" stops are all the stops that have a CARTA or a No Parking Bus Stop sign. These are usually pretty easy to spot and the buses will stop exactly where the sign has been posted. Which means if you're at one of the benches, expect  to actually get on the bus wherever someone stuck the sign in the ground. The same with shelters and their walkways. Unless the bus sign is right in front of the shelter or next to the walkway, don't expect the bus to come to you. It will stop in front of the nearest sign, either somewhat before or just past where you're standing. I'll explain why after discussing the courtesy stops.

"Courtesy" stops are a somewhat confusing phenomenon. First there are the old SCE&G stops, marked by a yellow painted stripe found on wooden poles all over Charleston. Some actually say "bus" others sport just the stripe. According to passengers who have utilized public transportation in Charleston long enough to remember when SCE&G ran the buses, those were the good old days when buses were always on time and the service was both convenient and efficient.

Then there are the unmarked courtesy stops. These are old stops that are no longer supposed to exist, but have been around so long people still expect to use them. Also, if there's a marked stop on one side of the street and you stand directly across from it to catch a return ride, the drivers are supposed to honor that as a stop. In places where the stops are incoveniently placed, or there is an exceptionally long distance between official stops, there are often well-known courtesy stops. Which means the unmarked stops I'm familiar with at the Hess station and the Waffle House that  fall between the Wannamaker Park stop and the one all the way down at CSU are actually courtesy stops.

For passengers who are not mind-readers and those who are new to CARTA, this can be quite confusing. It makes catching the bus and knowing where to get off something of a crap-shoot. Some drivers will honor courtesy stops, and others don't. I used to think this was due to certain drivers just being sticklers for going by the book or being on a power trip, while the majority of drivers actually look out for their passengers. In fact, the reason some drivers will only stop directly in front of an official sign is due to a really stupid law. According to one of the drivers I spoke with, if a bus stops to pick up or discharge passengers anywhere other than at an official bus stop sign, and that bus is rear-ended or hit by another vehicle, the bus driver is at fault! So the drivers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either they can provide good customer service for their passengers, or risk a ticket. Pretty much a no-win situation in my book.

The bottom line is that CARTA needs to not only update the online index of stops which is filled with incorrect information, but needs to send someone out on the roads to get the signs corrected. And why not put official signs at the courtesy stops to make life easier for both the passengers and the drivers? Let's put some common sense in play, along with making sure CARTA is designed to provide convenient, efficient, user-friendly service that is passenger focused!