Chicago Transit Authority CTA Part 2

567 W Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 664-7200

O.M.G. I d@mn near lost my mind and had a psychotic episode at CTA headquarters!! Today's episode of "Raising The Bar of Incompetence/Lowering The Depths Of Helpfulness" played out as follows:

My CTA card was stolen. I called customer 'service' to find out what to do. I found out that I should go online and "replace" the card and opt to pick a new one up the next day. *I* should do this. Fine. I went online. Placed a 'replace' order, noted the $5 fee for doing so, scowled & went to bed. I woke up this morning, got ready for work, caught the bus, paid $2.25, got off the bus, caught a train, paid $2.25, transferred train and entered the gleaming city that is CTA headquarters. Seriously, it's Ozian in its municipal opulence. By all the gltiz of the place, I could tell the CTA is hurting for funds.

I went up the stairs, waited in line and, finally, approached the window for my new card. "Hold." Wait. What? "You need to see the customer service gentleman around the corner. I can't help you." Wait. What? Disgruntled, but hopeful, I complied and made my way to the reception area. I told the man behind the desk of my plight. "Uhma, I cain't help you." Wait. What? "You went online and did yo' own card. I cain't override that." Wait. What? "You will get your new card in three or four days. You shulda never done that. You shulda came in here and did it for free. Why didn't you do that? Now you have to pay your way with cash or get a new cwhard." WAIT. WHAAATTT????!!!!

For purposes of any law enforcement reading this, words may or may not have been said. Threats may or may not have been made. A phone may or may not have been whupped upside someone's head. It's all unclear. And, isn't that all in the past (if something happened, that is)? Rather than explain to me why following customer service instructions lead me to this dark fate in the first place and it should be someone's job to fix the f up...Rather than rationalize to me why it takes 3 or 4 days for me to pick something up I could have already had in my hands 30 minutes ago and that is processed four blocks from where we stand...Rather than figuring out that giving the customer the ability to place a *hold* on his card in order to freeze the card until the customer can speak to a competent service agent & rectify the situation...Rather than all of this (and more), I was out $30, an hour of my time and a broken nail (from the phone upside the head whuppin'). All I had was a further reason to loathe the CTA.

I...I...despise the CTA so...so...much....I have..."Mrs. White" levels of hate flame on...both..sides of my...my..face. Everyday is a struggle of late buses, interrupted train service & terrible customer 'service.' The CTA, from its head management to the legion of rail 'workers' who lounge about 5 at a time ogling women and doing little other than reaping the benefits of collective bargaining, is an exercise in failure. And we get to pay MORE for it. More?! Aaa. Aaaaa! AAAAA!!!!!1111!!:(!!!!1 I say thee, nay! Nay!!

Chicago Transit Authority CTA Part 1

567 W Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 664-7200

I suppose I knew it would come to this: the CTA. Throughout history, epic tales have been written about great antagonists. Superman v. Lex Luthor. Batman v. The Joker. John William. v. the CTA. Yes, the CTA is my arch enemy and one day I will destroy it.

In the years I have been riding the CTA, I have come to terms with an 11 minute drive taking 40. I have found some peace with the fact that running for a bus means the driver WILL pull off that much quicker in an attempt to leave you behind. I try to remain calm as I walked the #22 route from Andersonville to Lincoln Park and NEVER.SAW.ONE.SOUTHBOUND.BUS! The same thing happened as I walked from Lincoln Park to the Loop. I almost crapped my pants when I saw two thugs beat up a Chad whose only fault was having a mouthy Trixie as a girlfriend (said gf was the reason Chad got popped). I felt for the young woman who was pick pocketed IN FRONT OF THE CPD and nothing was done (Roosevelt stop, Red Line). I channel my inner chi as I stand in sub-zero temperatures, without cover, as 30 mph winds attempt to cut me to my very soul waiting for a bus that is 35 minutes late. I put a smile in my voice when dealing with CTA customer service reps who would care less about giving you the right information or answering the phone in a timely manner. I very nearly lose my isht when I see Richard Rodriguez (and Ron Huberman before him) on the news talking about an organization he is so woefully ill-equipped to run (gotta love Chicago patronage; Rodriguez has had a different job every year for the past ten years and Huberman was a BEAT COP! He didn't even have so much as a CTA card before King Daley gave him the CTA gig!). But I stay calm because I look at this as my training. Just as the Bride suffered under the cruel tutelage of of Pai Mei, so must I suffer and train under the evil of Richard Rodriguez and the CTA. Only then will I have the skills necessary to vanquish my enemy. You see, this is about more than me and the CTA. Bring on the House of Blue Leaves and the Crazy 88. No problem. I'll handle it. This is an eternal struggle of good v. evil.

Richard Rodriguez - I call you out. The hanky, it is dropped. Cage Match. Winner takes the reins of the the tattooed beast that is the CTA. I call you out too, Huberman. At least the Trib gave CPS (your new cush job) an F!