German
Spanish
French
Italian
Portuguese
Japanese
Korean
Russian
ChineseMetro is the Bestest
Contributed by Fred Camino on November 16th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
It’s really too bad that the American Public Transit Association’s logo for their “America’s Best” Award doesn’t look more like a Metro train schedule because then we’d have them posted all over our trains and stations.
Congrats on the award and all MTA, but this is getting a little ridiculous. Please save the ink and sticky paper for more useful signage, god knows we need it.
Discussion
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Please keep discussions civil: exercise Troll Controll.
I’m sure the APTA told them about this “award” in advance.
The same day it was announced I saw stickers up on some of the buses.
They actually won the award in June, I think they just waited until October when the actual awards ceremony took place to announce the award and unleash the marketing blitz. I really didn’t have a problem with the posters or the pamphlets celebrating the award, but when every bus and train, hell, every single thing Metro puts out has the “America’s Best” logo on it, it crosses the line and frankly becomes a little embarassing and long winded… especially considering that many people are shocked at the notion that LA’s transit system could be “America’s Best”.
This America’s Best campaign reminds me of totalitarian countries where the citizenry is bombarded everywhere with totems of the dear leader.
lol, you’re right wad. it’s like there’s no humility at all. many people when accepting an award go “aww shucks, me? nah… i don’t deserve this, there are much better transit agencies out there, but hey i guess i’ll have to really work to prove i’m worth this award, thanks!” but mta on the other hand says “hell yeah i deserve this, about time… wait, don’t i get a bust sculpted in my image?”
The thing is, only the transit industry and geeks know what APTA is.
It’s not exactly an award that’s embedded in the public consciousness, like an Oscar, Emmy or Grammy. And with the boom in awards shows, even the value of those awards is less important since every cable channel now hosts one.
An industry trade award is relevant to workers in the industry, as it raises their stock if their organization wins one. But to plaster this motto on buses, trains and schedules? At best, it goes over the heads of riders. At worst, it’s a middle finger to them.
i think its the latter wad (middle finger that is). the award is a reminder everyday that the people in charge care more about putting their dumb ass stickers up than improving the current system. as if this award congratulates them for the hundreds of problems the system has. a point of pride for busses never showing up.
and i agree camino, schedules at each stop would of course be awesome for some people don’t have the internet and printed ones aren’t the easiest thing to come by. you have to either be lucky enough to be on a bus that has schedules or not work during the day cuz the metro info places aren’t open after 6, maybe earlier. so why not put them up at the stops so you can see when it comes or where it goes, you know just in case you decide NOT to plan out your entire trip before you leave (or like most people just aren’t knowledgeable enough to just know). instead Metro wastes time and money to put these dumb stickers and pamphlets with a big ol’ woman kissing on an old man everywhere. Sure its cute and fun, but get a grip on yourself Metro, show a little modesty. you’re far from deserving to be above it.