Tulsa Transit System Dependable?

[XEALS for THRILLS]

I work in downtown Tulsa and am consistently late catching the 105 bus. I spoke with custermer service and their only excuse is the 10 min window rule... What's up with that?

[TheArtist]

So why are you late?

[BKDotCom]

Are you late, or are you saying that the bus can leave up to 5 minutes early?

[sgrizzle]

I am guessing he is talking about a transfer. I have tried to schedule a route to work before and found it would be near impossible to get to work in a timely manner as the bus downtown is often scheduled to depart at the same time or even shortly before the incoming bus arrives.

[TeeDub]

A couple of years ago when I worked downtown I rode the bus on a regular basis.   

I could catch the express in the morning.    Lucky for me I could get a ride home in the evening (because I could never find an efficient way to get home if I missed the Express in the evening, and being in IT, there are days you can't leave at 4:50.)

[Conan71]

And right there is one reason we are still heavily dependent on cars in Tulsa and probably always will be.  Mass transit simply can't seem to satisfy everyone's independent schedule.

[custosnox]

And right there is one reason we are still heavily dependent on cars in Tulsa and probably always will be.  Mass transit simply can't seem to satisfy everyone's independent schedule.

We can, Tulsa just chooses not to.  I was stuck taking the bus last year for a bit, and to get across town it would take two hours.  With the size of Tulsa, it should never take that long.

[TeeDub]

And right there is one reason we are still heavily dependent on cars in Tulsa and probably always will be.  Mass transit simply can't seem to satisfy everyone's independent schedule.

That was my final decision as well.

[hello]

And right there is one reason we are still heavily dependent on cars in Tulsa and probably always will be.  Mass transit simply can't seem to satisfy everyone's independent schedule.

Mass transit like they have in NYC or other major cities with millions of people with different schedules?

[Conan71]

Mass transit like they have in NYC or other major cities with millions of people with different schedules?

Not in this town it cant.  

In NYC you've got the subway and buses with trains coming and going at all hours and it works quite well if you know the schedules. Same with the els in Chicago.  In NYC, rail transit pre-dates the car by 30 some years.  It's not unusual at all to find people in dense cities like that who have never owned a car.  

Less density = more cars, less accustomed to mass transit, and not as well-served by mass transit.

[XEALS for THRILLS]

I did a horrible job explaining my dilema.    The 105 north bound has been using the excuse that they are running late due to the road construction located at 51st and peoria, 11th and peoria, and 1st and peoria.

One thing that I have continued to remind them is if you leave late you are more likely to arrive late. They have a stop (rest) location at the Walmart at 81st and Lewis.  Which is where I normally get on at. 

It should arrive at walmart at 7:17 a.m. and should be at 73 and wheeling at 7:20 a.m. The bus normaly arrives at 7:15 a.m. depending on the driver is the time that it leaves.  For some reason some drivers will use the "10 min window" and stay there (Walmart) until 7:27 causing those that are on a schedule to run late.

I realize the best method is to drive a vehicle or take an earlier route but shouldn't I expect a company to be professional and arrive when they say they will?

I asked the Customer Service Rep. If I worked for the transit and caught the bus to work downtown how many times would you give me a pass for arriving late when your system caused me to arrive late?  I was told 3.  Then I would have to "discover new job opportunities". My responce was if it's your system's timing is not good enough for your company why should you not be concerned that it would not be good enough for those dependent?  I am sorry sir we have delays due to construction..... 

When the transit is on time I have 15 min to sit at my desk before clocking in.  Will the transit ever have a real competitor?

[sgrizzle]

Will the transit ever have a real competitor?

[XEALS for THRILLS]

lol I take that as a NO!!

It seams the only time there is true long term change is when there is competition.

[Hoss]

lol I take that as a NO!!

It seams the only time there is true long term change is when there is competition.

Keep in mind that Tulsa is no San Francisco, DC/Northern VA/Maryland or New York.  As someone else posted, we are spread out a lot more than SF and NY for sure.  With the Metro in DC, you are likely still tied to a vehicle, as most people park and ride.  But it's much more preferable and less hassle than driving into the District.

[TulsaGuy]

Hopefully this website will begin tracking Tulsa's bus system. It will help many people.

www.nextbus.com