Tuesday I mentioned that companies are working with manufacturers of navigation devices to advertise products and locations and it looks like E-ZPass is getting into the game — at least in New York and New Jersey where the system is based. E-ZPass has started to include fliers for insurance companies, banks and consumer products with its billing statements and this is going over too well. Some legislators think that this amounts to official endorsement for these products and they want it stopped. Frankly, I don’t see how this is any different from all the junk that comes with gasoline or cable statements each month. E-ZPass is not a government entity although it has an obvious relationship with the state and local highway department. Anything that can keep them from charging me more for the service would be a good thing. By the way, there is no word whether this is being considered by the folks that run the service in Maryland or Virginia.
Rider takes note of Metro stickers, posters
A reader writes in with a question/comment: “Have you noticed the new stickers Metro is putting on the doors of trains? One is a red and white Exit sign, in case you forgot how you entered the train. The other is a sticker saying Center Door‚ and has a no bicycles symbol. The decal faces the interior of the train. I guess this means that you cannot exit the train through the center door that you brought the bike in through. Why is it that Metro is constantly spending money that does nothing to improve customer service? Its continual need for added funding seems totally groundless.”
Speaking of stickers and such, Dave took note of the posters that Metro has installed. You know the ones: “Doorker,” a person who stands near the Metro doors; “Escalump,” a patron who is a “human speed bump” on Metro escalators. Dave says: “Wow.”
“With all the inconveniences and expenses we have to put up with, now we’re being openly ridiculed as the source of Metro’s problems! In the spirit of Metro’s campaign, I have some of my own words I would like to add to the Metro rider’s dictionary: Triplash: Injuries and discomfort suffered by riders on jerky, start-and-stop Metro trains. Permastairs: Escalator out of service for more than a week in any calendar month. Trainstandentalism: Philosophy advocating marginalization of disabled riders through design reduction in Metro train seats. Hellocution: Elaborately formal speech patterns used by Metro operators to explain unscheduled stops and delays. Trainsparent: Adjective describing late-night trains which mysteriously appear and vanish on Metro electronic signboards. Vaguerants: Legion of yellowvests assigned to patrol train platforms to remind veteran commuters to use all doors, that doors are closing or other patently obvious observations.
“Maybe the folks at WMATA would like to add some of these terms to their next humorous ad campaign,” Dave wrote.
Questions, comments, random musings? Write to [email protected].
