the new MARTA buses suck (maintenance, stores, safety)

[bryantm3]

there was a big press show when the new MARTA buses came in, but has anyone involved in the press actually ridden on one?

it's like prison transport. when you get on the bus, there are four video security screens showing you on the bus. and a recording kindly greets you when you get on the bus, that "assaulting a MARTA employee is a violation of federal law". the lighting inside is bright bluish white, and sterile. the seats are absolutely tiny, cheaply made, and designed to be uncomfortable, and the bus is laid out in a way where there are as few seats as possible, leaving most of the riders to stand.

it is an entirely different experience than riding on the train. it's like the riders are being treated as something MARTA has to put up with rather than customers. why do we even wonder why no one wants to ride the bus?

and we get a big press release saying that MARTA paid nearly half a million dollars for these buses? what the hell did they pay for? i get that security is a big concern, but we shouldn't be treating our transit riders like convicts.

[tikigod311]

That sounds terrible, but I'm not surprised. I get the feeling that security consultants don't consider comfort or aesthetics when designing such things. I've been to game stores and even dollar stores that have a security message play whenever you open the door. It is by no means creates a welcoming environment. I don't return to those stores...

At least the buses look nice from the outside.

[UrbanConquistador]

That recording is on all of the busses and has been for years. I completely disagree about the new busses. IMO they provide a much better experience than the old ones.

[Iconographer]

I was riding on one for a couple of weeks after I sent my car out to Seattle. I found it quite clean and comfortable.

[shivtim]

I also completely disagree. I think you're alone on this one. I love the new buses. They're bright, clean, comfortable, and energy efficient. Security cameras provide extra safety. I also really like the design on the outside.

The "assaulting a MARTA employee" recording is not a new thing. It played on the old buses too. It also doesn't "greet you when you get on the bus," it's a random recording that plays every once in a while.

[cqholt]

I love the new XD40 and XD35 buses.
Cameras are coming to trains as well. It helps make the suburbanites, airport-only riders, visitors, and other non-daily MARTA riders safe.

[arjay57]

Humans are a commodity which needs to be transported between work and maintenance locations. These devices are perfectly adequate for that.

[0nyxStation]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Humans are a commodity which needs to be transported between work and maintenance locations. These devices are perfectly adequate for that.

makes sense.

[Pemgin]

I disagree. I think the new buses are comfortable and I don't really care that they have cameras/video screens. And I also don't see the problem with the recording about assaulting a MARTA employee. These things seem to be done with a mind for the security of the drivers and passengers. Seating also doesn't really seem to be a problem to me. I don't know, man, it all seems okay to me.

[Tryska]

if there more and comfier seats, people would be sleeping and pooping on them.