First trip on Chicago commuter train
I find a lot of therapy in venting through rant. So, for my first day in a lot of things, here it comes.
Today is my first ride on a commuter train in the Chicago area. I was an avid rider of the commuter train in Metro DC and have some preconceptions as to how the systems should work. I believe that if you want to get people out of their cars and promote ecological and economical change, you need to make it as easy as possible for the riders, and provide as many advantages as you can.
In Washington DC, the commuter train (although often untimely) had a web site that you could punch in a location such as Lorton and end at Union Station, and you could buy your ticket online and have it mailed to you. You could even have it come out on a recurring monthly basis. The stations were unmanned and thus, they accepted credit card. I figured that was not a big deal. I pay for everything via check card. Those people who do carry cash, can purchase their one way ticket upon boarding or can purchase their monthly pass at their destination station. I don’t like carrying cash. I think it is a huge risk.
Personally, I think EVERYONE should accept cash. I once went to FedEx to send something off and I had cash. I walked in and there was this sign posted stating they do not accept cash (due to being a security risk or some crap like that). So when I walked up and handed him cash he obviously and rudely point the sign out to me with exaggeration. Those are the people that sometimes you just want to whip out your duct tape, slam it up against there head and tape them to the ceiling. Well, in a nutshell and by scaring the crap out of him by making him think I was the lawyer type, I paid cash for my parcel. Why did he give in? Well, pull out a dollar bill. The federal government prints a legal contract on every bill. “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” This means that EVERYONE in the U.S. has to accept paper money. When threatened with federal investigations, it is amazing how fast a guy making 10 bucks an hour quickly surrendered. They took down the sign the next time I went. Wow, this is way off topic.
I have decided to take the commuter train the month. The station I travel from has all kinds of trains so which one I am currently on while blogging this is unknown. Where I end up is also unknown. I just figure there are only so many places I will end up in Chicago and all of them are not that far from my office.
Now the vent and my point (because I always have one)…The $132 monthly pass I had to pay for in cash. What, you say? Yep, cash. The commuter train here does not accept credit nor debit cards. They accept cash and check only. First of all, I am a guy. I do not even know where a checkbook is located. My wife (QueenSuchAndSuch) carries one in her purse along with every possible first aid and emergency child care need. But for me, no cash and no checks. So I walk across the busy street to the first bank which to my surprise does not have an ATM. I have never seen a bank without one so I had to stand there in amazement. After hitting the ATM at the second bank and in typical Frogger style dodging cars, trucks and alligators racing down the road, I made it back to hear from the smug salesperson, “welcome back!” Ohhhhh….Where’s my duct tape?
Ok, so now I am look for the schedule…and look…and look. Nope, can’t find it anywhere. No paper, poster, electronic or rock carving schedule can be found. Well, I don’t want to be late, so I get on the train. After looking it up online, I THINK I am on the train to LaSalle Station. Good. I think that there is a shuttle to my office from there. I hope they accept cash.
I made it to my office. Again, there were no obvious signs saying “Shuttle bus this way” or this exit for shuttle bus. So after walking the mile and a half to my office dodging pigeon poo falling like the bombing of Iraq, and truly getting the work-out I always hated, I made it. Well, maybe it will be better tomorrow.
Where has the customer service industry gone? If you call customer service, they are often rough and tough with answers and truly helping people. Give people what they want! It might even make the company money.
Today is my first ride on a commuter train in the Chicago area. I was an avid rider of the commuter train in Metro DC and have some preconceptions as to how the systems should work. I believe that if you want to get people out of their cars and promote ecological and economical change, you need to make it as easy as possible for the riders, and provide as many advantages as you can.
In Washington DC, the commuter train (although often untimely) had a web site that you could punch in a location such as Lorton and end at Union Station, and you could buy your ticket online and have it mailed to you. You could even have it come out on a recurring monthly basis. The stations were unmanned and thus, they accepted credit card. I figured that was not a big deal. I pay for everything via check card. Those people who do carry cash, can purchase their one way ticket upon boarding or can purchase their monthly pass at their destination station. I don’t like carrying cash. I think it is a huge risk.
Personally, I think EVERYONE should accept cash. I once went to FedEx to send something off and I had cash. I walked in and there was this sign posted stating they do not accept cash (due to being a security risk or some crap like that). So when I walked up and handed him cash he obviously and rudely point the sign out to me with exaggeration. Those are the people that sometimes you just want to whip out your duct tape, slam it up against there head and tape them to the ceiling. Well, in a nutshell and by scaring the crap out of him by making him think I was the lawyer type, I paid cash for my parcel. Why did he give in? Well, pull out a dollar bill. The federal government prints a legal contract on every bill. “This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.” This means that EVERYONE in the U.S. has to accept paper money. When threatened with federal investigations, it is amazing how fast a guy making 10 bucks an hour quickly surrendered. They took down the sign the next time I went. Wow, this is way off topic.
I have decided to take the commuter train the month. The station I travel from has all kinds of trains so which one I am currently on while blogging this is unknown. Where I end up is also unknown. I just figure there are only so many places I will end up in Chicago and all of them are not that far from my office.
Now the vent and my point (because I always have one)…The $132 monthly pass I had to pay for in cash. What, you say? Yep, cash. The commuter train here does not accept credit nor debit cards. They accept cash and check only. First of all, I am a guy. I do not even know where a checkbook is located. My wife (QueenSuchAndSuch) carries one in her purse along with every possible first aid and emergency child care need. But for me, no cash and no checks. So I walk across the busy street to the first bank which to my surprise does not have an ATM. I have never seen a bank without one so I had to stand there in amazement. After hitting the ATM at the second bank and in typical Frogger style dodging cars, trucks and alligators racing down the road, I made it back to hear from the smug salesperson, “welcome back!” Ohhhhh….Where’s my duct tape?
Ok, so now I am look for the schedule…and look…and look. Nope, can’t find it anywhere. No paper, poster, electronic or rock carving schedule can be found. Well, I don’t want to be late, so I get on the train. After looking it up online, I THINK I am on the train to LaSalle Station. Good. I think that there is a shuttle to my office from there. I hope they accept cash.
I made it to my office. Again, there were no obvious signs saying “Shuttle bus this way” or this exit for shuttle bus. So after walking the mile and a half to my office dodging pigeon poo falling like the bombing of Iraq, and truly getting the work-out I always hated, I made it. Well, maybe it will be better tomorrow.
Where has the customer service industry gone? If you call customer service, they are often rough and tough with answers and truly helping people. Give people what they want! It might even make the company money.
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