With the New Year approaching, you're probably being bombarded with lists and resolutions and well this is no different. We lack a crystal ball, but with a notepad and casual conversation, we've come up with our Top 12 Wishes of 2012.
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| Top story doesn't involve Gov. Scott |
Our list begins (in no particular order) with arguably the top local transit story of 2011 and here is a hint, it doesn't involve Governor Rick Scott.
1. No more Robin Hoods
Quick summary: Back in April, a local man allegedly robs a Wachovia bank and uses a HART bus as his getaway vehicle. The story gets more interesting, when the man begins handing out the stolen cash (Robin Hood-style) to patrons on the bus. A HART supervisor calls the operator to report the criminal on the bus. The operator announces a "mechanical failure" on the bus and pulls over, where deputies are waiting for the robber.
Moral of the story? Next time pay off the driver. We kid, we kid.
In case you're interested in the
full story.
Let's leave the crazy with Cee-Lo in 2012.
2. No more Platt St. Bridge closure
Who knew we'd miss the bridge so much - we get dirty looks on Kennedy. January can't come soon enough!
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| Photo credit: Michael Esser, Boss Magazine |
3. Va-va Voom! More photo shoots like this one...
Boss Magazine recently held a photo shoot with a pair of lovely ladies on the ol' Birney streetcar and he can't stop talking about them. Fulfill his wish - more (camera) action.
4. Economy turns around
Who doesn't want this one? We need money! When home values drop, our funding goes down... big time.
And on that note...
5. Win the lottery
Goes hand-in-hand with #4. Service enhancements cost money, which we're currently lacking. In the past, we've mentioned researching possible alternative funding sources. Want to know what we've come up with? Powerball! Have you seen those payouts? That's demonstration line money.
Don't worry though, even if we don't hit the lotto, we're still here to serve you!
6. HARTline finally dies
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| R.I.P. HARTline and "motion sickness" color scheme |
We started phasing out the HARTline name in 2005, and re branded to HART to reflect our multi-modal system. We embrace our past but the purple, red, and green is gone. Those days are over... We hope 2012 is the year we finally become just HART.
Sidenote: You can't do much with that color combination. We believe the combo was called "motion sickness".
7. Drivers yielding to buses
Remember to yield to buses, it's the LAW - as in a fine and possible jail time. If a bus is attempting to pull out of a bus bay, you MUST allow them back into traffic. Either that, or you're probably rear-ending the bus. We've seen it happen - not pretty.
8. Stay off the tracks!
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| Driver of car didn't see stop sign. Photo credit: Don Lamison |
We're not sure how some individuals can maneuver their vehicles onto parts of the TECO Line Streetcar tracks, and into the way of the streetcar, but they do. We know some people aren't use to the yielding to trains or train tracks (it is Florida, after all). However, after almost 10 years of service and signs at all crossings, it's kind of hard to excuse.
The only driver on the tracks should be the motorman. Give up the keys and take a seat, we can always use the entertainment.
9. Entering and exiting
We hope more people enter the front and exit the rear... on the bus we mean. You know, the rear - on the bus - blocks the doorways when riders are headed in both directions.
10. FTA Weight Regulations
We hope the FTA doesn't have to
raise the assumed passenger weight for passenger capacity regulations again. It means less passengers allowed on the bus at one time.
Not sure what they're looking at though, considering
studies have shown that transit riders are 3 times more likely to get the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity.
11. More people "occupying" the Streetcar
If you want to occupy something, occupy the streetcar. We could always use more ridership.
And finally...
12. More eyes reading this blog
For those that read the blog regularly, we thank you! If you like the content, please don't hesitate to share it with your friends, families, co-workers, pets, etc. Sometimes it feels like we're a comedian playing a Bar Mitzvah. Is this thing on?
Have a happy and safe New Year from all of us at HART!
