New CTA Announcement: "Do not attempt to board the train." (closing, buses)

[binarybelle]

Has anyone else noticed that for the past few weeks (on the Red line, at least), the conductor will make an announcement at every stop stating "Please do not attempt to board the train, the doors are now closing." This is in addition to the regular, automated "[Ding dong], Doors closing."

What gives?

[emathias]

Originally Posted by binarybelle

Has anyone else noticed that for the past few weeks (on the Red line, at least), the conductor will make an announcement at every stop stating "Please do not attempt to board the train, the doors are now closing." This is in addition to the regular, automated "[Ding dong], Doors closing."

What gives?

Did you completely miss the news a couple months ago about a baby stroller getting caught in closing doors and the baby dragged off the platform?

[binarybelle]

I didn't miss the news, but I didn't automatically assume the two were related. Has the CTA announced that this was a prevention effort?

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by binarybelle

I didn't miss the news, but I didn't automatically assume the two were related. Has the CTA announced that this was a prevention effort?

I think it is a fair assumption that it is. Just because they may have not officially announced something (or something was not reported on well or at all)-does not mean that it does not exist.

[randomguymike]

I think it is necessary anyway. That is one of my biggest complaints about the CTA. Too much waiting for stragglers. Buses will sit at a stop for five minutes as people a block away wave them down, then another person a block away begins to wave as the last finally gets to the bus. Bus should come to stop, pick up whoever is there and leave once all at the stop have boarded. This would probably solve a lot of the stacking issues too.

Same thing on trains. Why should 400 people be delayed just so one ****** who just ran up the stairs doesn't have to wait 5 minutes for the next red line.

[BigLake]

Originally Posted by randomguymike

I think it is necessary anyway. That is one of my biggest complaints about the CTA. Too much waiting for stragglers. Buses will sit at a stop for five minutes as people a block away wave them down, then another person a block away begins to wave as the last finally gets to the bus. Bus should come to stop, pick up whoever is there and leave once all at the stop have boarded. This would probably solve a lot of the stacking issues too.

Same thing on trains. Why should 400 people be delayed just so one ****** who just ran up the stairs doesn't have to wait 5 minutes for the next red line.

I don't mind the train announcements, it's the volume levels they're set at. Ear-splitting. Especially the "Doors are closing ... "DING," 140 decibal exploding my inner ear, "DONG." fire engine alarm sound loud head asplode.

The CTA does so many things wrong, and they do this especially wrong. I'm not asking for braille, I'm asking for common sense and a semblance of a comfortable ride.

As for the conductor announcement re: "Don't board the train", I'd assume it's related to the Howard incident and CTA's error. This is a way for them to pass liability to passengers and mitigate culpability on CTA's part. I'm sure their corporate counsel was instructed by the NTSB to do something, so this is their way of fixing the problem, even though my understanding is that it was CTA's error in the Red Line incident. Either way, hope it helps. I would guess this conductor announcement will result in an increase in fares by $.02 per syllable, per each announcement.

[binarybelle]

Originally Posted by BigLake

I would guess this conductor announcement will result in an increase in fares by $.02 per syllable, per each announcement.

Well, I would hope that if this becomes SOP, they'll automatize it.

[Swandaddy]

Conductor announcement = stupid. Even though it probably makes sense that it's a cover your a-- move from the Howard incident. It makes part of me want to stand by the door and keep it open.

If they want to keep it--it needs to be automated---otherwise when the conductor actually needs to say something nobody will listen (not that anybody listens anyway but at least some people would be like "Whoa why the F is the conductor talking?")

[Chicago60614]

I noticed this a few weeks ago.

I mainly noticed because it was 8pm on a weeknight, and I was taking a virtually empty Brown Line up from downtown. We get to Sedgwick and Armitage and the conductor is screaming - almost pleading - for people to PLEASE NOT BOARD THIS TRAIN! THE DOORS ARE CLOSING!!!!! PLEASE STEP BACK!!!!

I was like - wtf? There was no one on the train or trying to board at all as far as I could see. I didn't know it was something they had to do now. I thought this conductor was just a freak seeing all these invisible crowds trying to franticly rush the train.

[Lookout Kid]

I think I want the job of the "voice of the CTA". They are always tinkering with that stuff. That guy from Wisconsin has some great job security.