By Todd Work Santa Monica
Hold on Editor: I thought when I read the header for Bob Yates’ article “Elder abuse on wheels” (SMDP, Sept. 19, page 5) that this might be an article that has something to do with the elderly but instead it was just the incongruent rants of a curmudgeon who wants to attack our city’s bus system for all of his problems.
The Santa Monica Big Blue Bus is a recognized proven accomplishment that Santa Monica can be proud of. Our public transit bus system is clean, streamlined and one that other cities wish to emulate. Hundreds of people ride our city’s buses everyday without incident but apparently every day Bob gets on, he falls down. I have two words for you Bob — hand rails.
This article made no sense whatsoever. It had nothing to do about elder abuse but was just the incessant whining of one man's bad day. I am pretty sure the Big Blue Bus is not the problems to Bob Yates’ life. I have no doubt his coffee was too hot at Starbucks and the lady at the counter at Barnes and Noble accidentally let someone cut in front of him in line and on and on.
I highly doubt as Mr. Yates suggests the bus drivers are racists who intentionally drive recklessly only to smile at you after you fall.
Mr. Yates goes on to spend an entire paragraph complaining about the labyrinth of different departments he had to speak with on the phone while attempting to complain about one of his numerous injuries he sustained while either falling on or stepping off a bus which has nothing to do at all with the thesis of his argument. Reading this mess of an article was abuse. The reality is that while not perfect, our cities Big Blue Bus system runs efficiently and while people may sustain some form of slight injury in the course of their daily lives using the system, nothing is ever done maliciously. If the Santa Monica bus system is too difficult and arduous of a journey for Bob Yates to find his way from his Brentwood residence then perhaps he should stay in Brentwood, or better yet just walk.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 25, 2006. Read the original PDF.