The other night as I was exiting the train at Vienna Metro station. I was stopped by a gentlemen. It was a gentle "Excuse me, is this the exit." It was a rhetorical request, as we were both standing at the bottom of the escalator, and I responded, "Yes it is." At this point I noticed his cane and that he was obviously blind. I guided him on to the moving stairs and I started to explain where we where and which way he had to go. At this point I suggested that I just will show him the way. He was looking for taxi and wanted to know where the taxi stand was. He was familiar with metro but not with the Vienna station. He was a pleasant gentleman and it was a privilege to assist him. He was from Brazil and was able to see the world before he lost his sight. It was a moving experience that has left me with indelible curiosity to see the world. It was rush hour and people walked past in a hurry to go home. Which what I would be doing if he didn't stop me. Would a Metro employee or another stranger stopped and helped him? I hope so, but today was my turn. We made it to the taxi and the first taxi didn't take credit cards and promptly drove away, the next one pulled up and he negotiated his ride. He turned and said, "I got it from here, thanks." All I was left with, was a story.

Where have you been?

My apologies. No excuse not to write on SAVEMETRO blog. Considering everything that has gone on lately. The biggest thing that got me going was the dead batteries on the defibrillators. That is a crime in itself. But the good news it, Metro had them in the first place. They are half-way there.

Metro Survey

I am sure everyone is aware of the attempted suicide on the Orange Line, on Tuesday Oct 11th. It's a tragic events for all involved, but Metro failed on several fronts on this situation. I was one of the lucky ones and found out about this before getting on Metro, but I was a lucky one because it was rush hour and I could've been on that train or on even worse on the platform at Roslyn.

My major beef about the situation was the conflict of information, twitter feeds, PIDs and train announcements all differed. Crazy. They kept announcing the Orange line to Arlington Cemetery, that was doomed from the start. Not sure what I would've done there. I stayed and was one of the first crowded trains thru Roslyn.

To top things off, I was one of the lucky ones selected for a post event questionnaire. Ridiculous is the only word that comes to mind. I know they want to learn from this situation, and getting a feel from people involved is best, but the useless questions they asked makes the whole endeavor meaningless. We'll see what happens. No mention of the chaos of Roslyn or steps they will take in the future.

Oh well, I will keep taking Metro to work, because its . . . . well, is gets me to work, mostly on time.

iRene

Funny how a hyped up storm can never live up to its billing. Nor should it, is the loss of life and property worth living up to the HYPE!?! I don't think so.

But I do have to admit, Metro did a commendable job staying open. Now, if they can do that during a blizzard, I would have completed my mission and completely Saved Metro!

Until then, I will be ever diligent.

Who's more entitled?

A recent blog post got me thinking. Actually the responses got me thinking, and not it a good way, either. An able body man going thru the rigors of Metro and broken escalators and hot cars, could be quite a task. I can just imagine what a mother with a child in a stroller would go thru.

I unhesitatingly give my seat for a pregnant woman, mother/child, elder man/woman and any handicapped person. That's the way I was raised and that's the way I hope others would treat my mother, pregnant wife and handicapped brother.

But I have a feeling that is not a popular feeling amongst DC Metro travelers. I have run into more courteous tourists, than daily grinders like me. Which makes me realize that to Save Metro, may be harder than I thought. If some self-entitled riders would rather take an elevator before a mother and child, because it was her choice to have children, is just bizarre. Makes me question why, why even bother trying to Save Metro, when society is in such disarray.

lost my iPod

Few weeks back I lost my iPod, morning rush hour on a crowded train. I have given up all hopes of retrieving it, which depresses me. Especially when I saw an officer walk on the train just as it was falling out of my pack. I fault myself, but my feelings for the degradation of society has grown bitter.

It was a 5 year old iPod and probably not worth much, but the feeling that no one returned it and if they did, is the system that corrupt that I couldn't retrieve it from lost and found? Which I traveled to, and have contacted twice. That experience was not a bad as I thought it would be, but it was the end of the line, where all hope is lost.

My faith in my fellow Metro riders has been shaken tremendously along with my faith in today's society. But I must strive to Save Metro and will do my part to make it a better and saver.

Metro is like . . .

I read a blog post, Metro is like that friend, shows up late and always costs you money. Ha! its more like a family member you can't get rid of. Their family, you can't throw them out, but you still have to rely on them, and they keep asking for money. They show up uninvited or not at all when needed. Someone you love to hate.