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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Hey bus friends, you worried? GO Transit union staff could be off the job as early as Monday

So here's what I was thinking ... say I rent a stretch limousine and I drive the 90 GO route come Monday morning and the first person to wave a $20 bill gets a ride. Think I could make any money?

Do you think Metrolinx is contingency-plan smart enough to charter Trentway-Wager or Greyhound or Can-ar fleets for us? Okay, stop, I can hear you laughing.

If a strike happens on Monday, I was considering biking the 11.5 km to the Oshawa GO station (a 30-35 minute bike ride) but I'm too vain (my hair! my makeup!) and also I'd have to haul a helmet and change of clothes which means getting a backpack - yuck... but I'm willing to do it. As luck would have it, I have a co-worker who lives three minutes away from me who commutes by car to the station. She's willing to help me out.

What about you, my bus friends? You got a contingency plan? I gave up a long time ago trying to decipher Durham Region Transit's route maps and schedules. You need a master's degree in cartology to figure them out.

10 comments:

Peter said...

Just the first one to wave a $20 bill gets a ride? How much is the limo rental?

What if I guarantee you two fares @ $20 a head right now? Are you taking reservations? We need to go to St. Catharines. Deal?

KM said...

Looks like my plan Monday would be train it to union and subway up to yonge and Sheppard..... I'll be late for work but they know. Then stay with a friend in Toronto as long as I can I guess! I really hope they resolve things....

Anonymous said...

Don't you have a car?

C.J. Smith said...

Nope. My husband does but he also starts work at 5:30 am. Too early for Durham Transit, GO and the sitter I'm afraid. I'm not getting up at 4 am as I don't finish work at 2. I wish!

C.J. Smith said...

@ Peter Yeah, that made a lot of sense - didn't it?

Outburst said...

I'll have to drive or take a very long municipal transit ride. Either way my commute will likely be twice the time it is now, meaning less time at work and less time with my family.
I won't hold it against the drivers though, most of them are really good people who deserve a fair deal.

Peter said...

I'm sure the numbers make perfect sense to Metrolinx. Remember this: http://bit.ly/1cJ26Hh

Squiggles said...

Call DRT. Whenever I have had a problem figuring out the maps (which is everytime I looked at them) I gave them a call and someone gave me all my different options and bus times.

This does not affect me. Firstly: Vacation! Secondly: I only relied on the GO Bus a couple of months before the Pulse bus came into service.

I feel for everyone who takes the bus though. And, for all those that will be impacted as well, because it may filter through to other services.

I am planning on adding some moola to the Presto card this afternoon as a just in case this goes longer than the week I am off.

Anonymous said...

"Do you think Metrolinx is contingency-plan smart enough to charter Trentway-Wager or Greyhound or Can-ar fleets for us? Okay, stop, I can hear you laughing."

Joking aside, you know that's the actual reason for the current dispute right?

It's actually in the bargaining agreement that they can't contract out someone's job.

It's not really about money or benefits, the union is actually fighting to not have their jobs be outsourced.

C.J. Smith said...

When I wrote that I was in the dark. I had no idea. I am not a transit logistic expert. What makes sense to me seems great until I learn how it negatively affects a situation.