MARTA and ME
Entering the Five Points station yesterday after work I was almost shocked to note that the fare gates, which were non-functioning on the North side last time I was a MARTA rider over a year ago, are still out of order. Somebody needs to give me a break. As a MARTA monthly pass holder, I get to walk up and slide a card into a reader on the gate. The reader is supposed to suck my card in and spit it out after reading it, then I grab the card and enter.
Good luck.
At least the readers at Five Points are covered over (with clumsily hand-lettered "out of order" signs). Most of the non-functioning card readers are uncovered, and simply refuse to suck your card in. (This happened to me at Inman Park yesterday although I forgot to mention it.) No, you poke your card into the slot where it's supposed to go, and it just springs back, refused. No reason given, no indication of any problem - you're just thrusting your card at the gate and hoping for the best. This is especially frustrating if somebody is behind you in line. Nothing like having to back through someone who's also trying to catch the train. A woman behind me at Inman Park yesterday morning actually tried her card after mine was refused and seemed surprised. I guess I don't blame her for not "studying" my experience, but life must be strange to someone who can watch me enter a gate, back out of it into her waiting arms, and then try the same thing I just did. She was kind of funny. "Oh, SHIT!" No shit. So then you are faced with a choice: move down the line of fare gates, thrusting your card at each one in turn until you find one that works, or jump the handicapped gate (which opens by a push bar.)
Attention, MARTA: Approaching a fare gate with a valid MARTA pass should not be an occasion for a sense of sinking dread. Fix your fare gates. This would also cut down on your alleged fare jumper problem. While I'm sure most of the jumpers you're experiencing are actual thieves, I and many other honest riders are in that mix simply because we have no choice or, yes, are impatient with your inadequate service at the gates. Don't expect me to play fare gate bingo, or search for a security officer to let me in when all I have to do is push that bar on the handicapped gate.
This morning I drove to the Indian Creek station, which is the end of the East Line. I got there after 8:30 or so, so I didn't expect to find a parking space close by. But I was surprised at how bad the parking has gotten: they've closed off the west end of the parking lot, apparently for construction. Dang.
The reason I drive to the Indian Creek station instead of easier-to-reach stations like Avondale Estates or Kensington is my one rule about riding MARTA: I will have a seat. My MARTA ride will be productive time, or I might as well be driving. I managed to read a scene from the play I'm working on, and I look forward to being even more productive on future rides. I wrote most of my adaptation of Tom Sawyer on the train, and also did most of my stage management script studies for Winnie The Pooh on the train.