She had no rack but wouldn't let me on... I stalled searching for the official leaflet but when I stepped out of the doorway to let someone else on (latecomer) at her request she pulled away probably costing me a half hour due to missed connections at the T. I want to get home to my kids 
Well at least i saved the latecomers my extra 15 minute wait.
Can't think of anything nice to say so won't say anything (except the facts on voicemail. Do they check it?)
When I encountered a T operator who wouldn't let my bike on (even though it was outside rush hours), I complained here:
http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/CompanyInfo/ContactInformation/Complaints/tabid/168/Default.aspx
I got a response a week or two later that the operator's supervisor had had a talk with him.
I just realized that I didn't close my rear bag after The Unpleasantness and a partial sweater that I've been knitting for 3 months is now gone (having fallen out either on that bus or still at East Liberty station along with other bag contents.) Gahhhhhhh.
oh sprite, what a bad day. I'm really sorry
@Steven thanks for the link, I'll try that too. Glad to hear they were responsive.
*HUGS* sorry to hear, that sounds like a really lousy evening.
She wouldn't let you on with your folding bike? Was the bus busy?
Nope... pretty empty. Seems like the inbound busway is generally pretty empty at that time (though I've only got a couple weeks of data.) I try to avoid taking the folder on bus routes/times that are more populated.
I spoke with someone on the phone this morning so I've covered all the bases. First I had to explain I wasn't complaining about lack of a rack. Heh.
The whole experience is just really disappointing. An empty bus, a folding bike and a jerk of a driver who pulls away without so much as saying sorry, there will be another bus behind me shortly.
"we need money... oh not your money" - port authority
Since i moved off of mt Washington i haven't used PAT one time. Its been so nice not having to worry if i am gonna get a bus with a rack or get a asshole driver that has a problem with every single person on earth. I cant understand how a company that is always crying about losing money will turn people away at the drop of a hat. Perfect example is the incline. I was told many times I could only take one bike on at a time and I've even seen the operator turn away a group of 4 bikers all together. Oh and there is also a crude hand written sign that says exact change only. Thats not the worst thing when the change machines are working but the problem is they run out of change on a Friday night and PAT dose not fill them again till the weekend is over. You would figure that a company that is in the hole would make it more welcoming to people that want to use their service.
sprite, you have a legitimate gripe, and I see Steven has already provided you the link. You know the route, the direction, the number of the bus, the stop, and the time of day, so it should be a straightforward matter to get this reported. Hopefully the Director of Service Delivery at the East Liberty Garage will call this driver on the carpet and read the rule book to her.
I'm more concerned about your knitting. Losing three months work, to me, is worse than being dissed by a driver. I'd be checking trash cans, retracing steps, and putting another call in to PAT Customer Service describing the lost knitting. Hopefully somebody found it, recognized it for what it is, and did not simply pitch it. Of course, not everyone has brains, so it isn't a sure thing, but I wouldn't give up hope just yet.
I emailed my contacts at the Port Authority and they are looking into this incident.
Today's amusing sequel: a different EBA driver, uncomfortable with the size of my wheels, says (as I exit and unrack) that I can't put that bike on a rack. (OMG PAT make up your minds! I refuse to poll individual drivers on their rack vs carry-on comfort level. If it hasn't fallen off yet it's not going to.)
Does the hook cover the front wheel?
I have full fenders, and had trouble on the old bike getting the hook to stay on the fenderless part of the wheel if the spring action was weak. One bus was golden, the next had completely fallen off by the time I got off (the driver said "lady, your bike's about to fall off, put the hook higher next time" as I got off, rather than when the hook fell).
But PAT drivers are like snowflakes - no two seem to have the same idea of the rules / enforcement / bending them or not.
I think it's OK if it's not really touching the wheel, so long as it covers the wheel and doesn't allow the bike to bounce off.
i think they need to post the rules about bikes right next to the drivers seat on buses and ts. next to the ticket counter for high level t stops and on the incline. then everyone can be clear on the rules at all times.
sprite i need the 4-digit bus number, the route and the time for today's incident.
sorry, we already know it's the EBA. Just need the time and 4-digit number then.
Don't have number for this one (too startled)... I'll be ready if it happens again.
I should take a picture of how the bike looks on a rack. The hook stays on the wheel but is of course lower (in relation to top of handlebars) than on a normal bike. I think this may cause more visible sway.
The driver was concerned about the wheel not filling up the length of the trench the wheel sits in, pointing at the rear wheel and saying it doesn't go all the way to the end. This made no particular sense to me.
Find a friendly driver driving a bus with a rack, and ask when & where he/she plans to lay over next. That's how I got my avatar photo taken. The driver was just killing 20 minutes at the end of the trip, and so had no problem with my son and I having a photo shoot with my bike on the bus rack.
Take a bunch of photos. Bring more than one bike if you can.
