A couple of days ago I posted a story about a bad experience a friend of mine had with a trolley driver. Yesterday another blog reader e-mailed me these comments:
“Paul,
In response to your post about the trolley drivers, I have had 3 confrontations with 3 different trolley drivers, which doesn’t count the couple that have passed me while standing at a stop. The first was on a very hot summer day or I wouldn’t have wanted to ride the short (2-3 blocks) distance I was going. The male driver asked me where I was going before I got on, as if that determined whether he would let me on. He told me it was only a few blocks away, and when I said “So?” he proceeded to yell at me. Ironically, he was huge, and I can’t imagine him walking half a block in that heat.
The second was with another male driver, who is just generally rude and bitter all the time. I recently saw him at Calhoun’s and asked him why he’s so mean on the trolley. He told me the women in his life are bringing him down.
The third was with a woman whom I bet is the same one your friend had a run-in with. She tried to pass me at a stop that I had been waiting at for a while. I had to yell for her to stop, and I asked her why she tried to pass me when I got on. She said it was because I had a drink, to which I replied that there was a trash can at the stop. The next time I got on her trolley within a few days, she shut the doors on me. I’m not kidding.
The SMA had a meeting a few years ago, at which we addressed some issues, mostly timeliness and the fact that the drivers are ambassadors to the city, with a MATA spokesperson. She agreed to the need for improvement, while also stating that it’s difficult to fill the positions with the right people. Since then I have seen some gradual improvement. More of the drivers now shout out the stops and points of interest, but some of them are very rude. Personally, I called MATA and reported the behavior on every occasion, and one of those drivers is gone while the woman seems a little more polite. I recommend that everyone report such incidents, but it is important to note the time, have the trolley # and know if it was Main St., River Loop, etc., and at least a good description of the driver.”
This is an issue I’ve wanted to bring up for a while – I too have witnessed some trolley drivers being VERY rude (although there are plenty of very nice ones too). My friend is right – the trolleys are a symbol of Downtown and of Memphis as a whole, and the drivers need to realize they are ambassadors for the city. If they can’t behave in a courteous manner, MATA should reassign them to a bus route.
Back later today with recap of last night, beer report, and whatever else I can find to write about.