We can place security checks on every street corner, like they are beginning to do in London due to their newfound stabby nature there.
We still will never be safe from those who are not safe from themselves.
On another, more transportation-y note, the Greyhound is the lowest common denominator of public transit. At least in the U.S. and Canada west of Barrie.
In the American-side of my family alone, people have been robbed, assaulted and even murdered on the bus or around their so-called "stations".
At least up until 2003, which is the last time I ever rode a Greyhound in America, recently released prisoners were given a bus ticket to go where they would like. As Greyhound provides the biggest network, guess which company most of them chose.
In 2003, I rode from Sacramento to San Francisco; equivalent to London to Toronto. I had to contend with :
- A bus terminal in Sacramento, rank with urine, feces overflowing from the toilets, numerous vagrants in and around the station
- A bus terminal in Oakland where gun fire could be heard and drug deals being conducted in the open
- A practically abandoned terminal in San Fran.
- The driver stopping on 2 seperate occasions because the bus was filled with marijuana smoke due to 2 different passengers
- drunk and unruly passengers
and that was one of the more pleasurable rides.
p.s. there were metal detectors at all terminals that were catching people carrying everything including knives.
The last Canadian bus : Vancouver to Calgary. That was going well until someone vomitted in the bus because they were juiced. Oh and the fight at the Calgary terminal was a highlight as well. Someone was spit on.
I wrote a letter to Greyhound after my Van-Cal trip, outlining my position. They sent me coupons to use for my next trip (valid outside of peak travel times, of course).
With Air Canada and Westjet, there is absolutely no reason to cram yourself into an uncomfortable, stink-tastic bus for the helluva 3-4 day journey it is from here to Vancouver. If you want to see the country-rent a car. Or at least do it in short intervals of no more than 2 hours.
I feel sorry for those out west, where bus travel seems to be the only other option. At least we've got the train (with a serious schedule and serving serious destinations).
In my opinion, land masses like North America were not meant to be crossed in vehicles regardless.
Despite Toronto's current crime problems, which are mostly concerning those in gangs, Toronto and points east have a certain refinement to them due to the country being older and more established in these parts.
Parts of the west still think they are living in the days of the Klondike.
That's not to say what happened in Manitoba could not happen out here. Mentally-ill people exist everywhere. This is to point out the other flaws in bus travel.
On the other hand, I have no problems travelling from T.O. to NYC on the bus - The $1 bus goes from the Royal York to the new Times Square (brought to you by Disney), avoiding the scum of the bus station. Also, you have to cross a border, where everyone must disembark and have their bags searched.
I guess this strikes a nerve with me because I have always had this fear of being stabbed in the back through the seat while on the bus. Or having my throat slit. That's the kind of atmosphere and images Greyhound terminals conjure.
My question is:
What can be done so that people have a nicer experience with bus travel in Canada?
