A Gold Star for this considerate Blue Line motorman
[Andrew shares this heartwarming Tattler tale. Thanks for sharing, Andrew.]
My wife and I live in Logan Square and ride the Blue Line daily to and from work in the Loop.
We enter the station from the Spaulding side -- and as anyone familiar with the Logan Square station knows, the station is very long, and trains stop at the Kedzie end, meaning that riders entering from Spaulding have to walk essentially the equivalent of a block before reaching the spot on the platform where it is possible to board the train. (To illustrate, if a train is pulling into the station as you reach the station platform from the Spaulding side, it is still necessary to run in order to make it onto the train.)
The other day, my wife, who is currently 8 months pregnant, had just reached the platform, and was making the long walk toward the loading area when the train started arriving. Seeing the train, she picked up her pace, but due to her present condition, she did not run (despite the fact that it was not rush hour at the time -- meaning that she might have to wait 15 minutes for the next one if she misses this train).
As the train approached her from behind, the motorman (who saw her walking briskly) leaned out of the window and told her not to worry because he would go slow the rest of the way into the station and would make sure to wait until she boarded before closing the doors.
I was so pleasantly surprised later that day when my wife relayed the story to me. Some CTA operators fit the stereotype of them that we all know, but this particular motorman deserves a gold star.
There is a red line motorman that sounds a lot like this guy, I always had such a pleasent ride when he was driving that one day I e-mailed CTA with my run # and info to tell them that he was a good employee. It probably didn't even make it's way to him, but it made me feel good about myself.
Posted by: Rob | March 11, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Its always good to see people who actually enjoy their job enough to do it right.
Posted by: Ed | March 11, 2008 at 09:42 AM
I think there are more postive stories out there than we hear about. Kudos to Ed for contacting the CTA with his good experience. I encourage Rob to do the same. It must be terribly demoralizing for CTA employees to constantly hear how much they suck when, in fact, there are many dedicated employees who try to do their best every day. I rarely have the same operator on the bus I take to and from work. With only 7 months of anecdotal date I can say that about 95% of them have been pleasant and professional. Several of them have made my day with some small gesture. For those who are interested, the CTA has finally launched the Mystery Shopper program. www.transitchicago.com has the details. I think it will be a great opportunity to make a contribution to positive progress at the CTA.
Posted by: Martha | March 11, 2008 at 09:53 AM
There are lots of really polite motormen (and motorwomen) on the Green line. Riders actually thank them (and thanks acknowledged) at Ridgeland where I get off. I lost a bicycling glove once on the train, and the motorman and staff at the Harlem train yard moved heaven and earth to get my glove to me. I sent a commendation letter for one person who gave me his service number. There are a lot of really nice hardworking people at the CTA.
Posted by: chgotrace | March 11, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Just realized the gaffe in my post: should have been anecdotal data, not "date," although it's amusing to ponder what an anecdotal date might be like.
Posted by: Martha | March 11, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Despite an ongoing campaign to smear transit employees (including by some posters here), my experience is strongly positive. Some certainly need more training in dealing with the public, but generally they seem pretty pro-customer.
That said, it's interesting to me to observe the friendlier culture on Pace buses than CTA ones. On the CTA, drivers tend to just see their jobs as driving the thing, which Pace drivers tend to go out of their way to be cordial. Of course their loads of suburban old ladies don't give them the kind of grief CTA drivers get in Our Town.
Posted by: Davey | March 11, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Yeah, I just saw that "Mystery Shopper" placard thing on the bus this morning. What is that? (Though I suppose I could just go to the CTA site to find out, right?)
And yes, I've had a bunch of nice drivers on the bus and train over my 30-plus years of riding the system. But, as we all know, the ones that stick in your mind are the one or two a-holes.
BTW, whatever happened to "The Rapper" on the Red Line? That guy should be in the front office of CTA somewhere. Or at least in the CTA Operator Hall of Fame.
Posted by: Dude | March 11, 2008 at 01:20 PM
I partially agree with Davey.
There's just a different attitude with Pace drivers.
If I'm running for a Pace bus, the driver will always wait, even for a 290 during the rush hour when it runs every 10 minutes.
Most CTA drivers go out of their way to ignore you & make you wait for the next bus.
Pace gives its drivers a patch when they have driven a million miles, they seem to take pride in their drivers.
Far too many CTA drivers are rude & plain nasty.
Posted by: Unindicted Co-conspirator | March 11, 2008 at 07:43 PM
I've written the CTA before to compliment one of the morning rush Red Line operators (the guy who is funny and makes comments like "don't crush 'em folks...let 'em off the train"). Had his run #, the time, etc... I never heard anything back - even like an automated reply. I hope somehow it made his way to him or his file.
Posted by: mcgirl | March 11, 2008 at 09:31 PM
I've always wondered why my train has to stop and sit on the tracks for no apparent reason. Now I know it's because some "kind" motorman is delaying all the trains behind his (including mine) to wait for someone too impatient to wait for the next train.
Posted by: expectant mother | March 14, 2008 at 02:23 PM