Cape Town Commuter Chronicles

The worldcup is here

2010-06-08T21:44:00.000+02:00

I have not been blogging for a very long time now and here's why.

I resigned from my job in the Waterfront in February and haven't been using the daily train from Oosterzee station for some time now.

I was delighted however to find out that Oosterzee will be used as a oark and ride station during the Fifa 2010 world cup soccer tournament.

I simply cannot wait for Friday to get on the train and go see the 2nd game of the world cup in Greenpoint stadium.

I've bought tickets for 3 games in total for the whole family and we are all very excited.

One year

2010-01-26T14:36:00.002+02:00

Exactly one year ago today, I started using the public transport system in Cape Town, South Africa.
There has been ups and downs, slow goes and no goes, ins and outs, queues and crowds, shocks and relief and a host of other emotions and feelings I can't even begin to describe.
I can summarise it though as follows:
The Good:
Trains were 90% on time
I've managed to read around 17 books on the train
I got a new perspective on life and this country
I've become fitter
I've saved more than R14000
Walking made me discover the city

The Bad:
When trains are late or don't show up, you're screwed
Bound by certain schedules
When crowding happens it's really bad
Smelly people
Loud people
Rude people
Sick people
(Very) Bad ticketing system
PRASA blue paint

The Ugly:
Golden Arrow busses
Golden Arrow Bus Services
Rude Golden Arrow bus drivers
No Golden Arrow bus schedule at stops
No Golden Arrow bus route information
110% Golden Arrow bus ticket price hike

Sleepy snorring people = Sidesplitting

2010-01-25T08:28:00.000+02:00

"GRRKRUP"! That was the sound of a "little" snorring flareup somewhere behind me on the train this morning. This "little" sound started a chain reaction that soon had 20 odd people shaking in hysterics trying to stop breaking out in laughter.

A second flareup sealed the deal for us and everybody just let it go.

These little moments are always good. When an anonymous crowd share the same emotion and get to know one another in a split second.

Thorn in my side

2010-01-18T11:47:00.004+02:00

My commuting year started today. The train was on time as usual at a ticket price of R11.00 return to travel the 40km to Cape Town and back.

Same old, same old I thought and with a happy hop skip and a jump I decided to use the bus...the "Bus for Us".

I found it around the corner waiting for me and I moved towards it with a song in my heart.

The song was abruptly ended with a screech not unlike old record player needles used to do to old vinyl records when the driver requested R8.00 (yes one way) in stead of the usual R3.70 of 3 weeks ago!

I mean, not R4.00, not R5.00, not R6.00, not even R7.00 but R8.00!

Shame on you Golden Arrow Bus Company, SHAME ON YOU!

Hey at least the bus is farely empty now ;-)

Needless to say this breathtaking increase is going to do my excercise plan a world of good. thanks GABS!

End of 2009

2009-12-31T11:10:00.002+02:00

I took my last train trip for 2009 to work yesterday. I cannot believe that it's almost a year since I started taking the train.

I'll end this year with a few random pics I took in the last couple of days.

I'll be on leave for two weeks before I'm back on track.

Pedestrian bridge update

2009-12-22T07:28:00.000+02:00

Took this pic a couple of days ago. The contruction rigging for the bridge can be seen in the centre between the trees. Can't wait for this bridge to be finished. I think it will be a very nice addition to our city. This is after all the "entrance hall" of Cape Town.

The PRASA Blues

2009-12-21T10:26:00.000+02:00

Herewith the promised new blue painted on the pillars inside Cape Town Station. This is the PRASA blue.
I don't think there is a more vile looking blue anywhere on this planet, you be the judge:

Cape Town has balls

2009-12-04T11:22:00.000+02:00

Some more balls:

And some more Station update pics:

Rail Commuters Action Group

2009-12-03T10:42:00.001+02:00

I found this article on the Cape Argus website after a search lead me to the Rail Commuters Action Group and the landmark court cases from 2001 - 2004 and beyond.
The article shocked me and changed my perspective as someone who only started using the public transit system in 2008.

Article

Victory for rail passengers

Court judgment hailed
November 26, 2004 Edition 1

Maureen Marud

A landmark Constitutional Court judgment today says the safety of train travellers is Metrorail's responsibility.
A full bench of eight judges declared that Metrorail and the South African Rail Commuter Corporation have "an obligation to ensure that reasonable measures are taken to provide for security of rail commuters".

The judgment, hailed as giving hope to 600 000 train commuters in the Western Cape and millions in South Africa, is the culmination of a nearly three-year fight that began in the Cape High Court in January 2002 after the Fish Hoek-based Rail Commuters Action Group revolted against Cape Metrorail's refusal to accept legal liability for commuters being killed, injured or robbed on trains.

Their battle against train terror was sparked by the death in June 2001 of Juan van Minnen, a 20-year-old Cape Technikon student who was stabbed during an attack in a first-class carriage.

When the Cape Argus broke today's news to Juan's father, Leslie van Minnen, he said: "Oh beautiful ... absolutely excellent ... I don't know what to say ..."

Awaiting the judgment yesterday, Van Minnen said: "We have gone as far as we can go in terms of the law. Now everything depends on the Constitutional Court to see the needs of the people who travel by train."

Cosatu, which supported the fight against train crime on behalf of thousands of workers, also hailed the judgment.

"It certainly vindicates the position we have held that there is a responsibility on the State to provide safety to the citizens of this country," said Cosatu's Tony Ehrenreich. "It is unacceptable that a court decision has to get the government to do the right thing in the interests of its people, and we now want to see urgent action to safeguard commuters."

In May 2002 the commuter group's initial court action was joined by seven more applicants - passengers maimed for life by violence on trains and two widows whose husbands died when they were thrown off trains.

Today's judgment is the end of a rollercoaster ride for commuters whose victory after a Cape High Court ruled in their favour turned to ashes when the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned that ruling. They had pinned their remaining hope on the Constitutional Court.

Danie Dippenaar, the Rail Commuters Action Group's junior counsel, said after this morning's decision: "This judgment means that Metrorail cannot pass the buck to the South African Police Services any longer.

"They have to implement security measures that will be reasonable, and we will hold them liable and take them to court again and again if they do not provide protection against murder and rape on trains."

The commuters asked the Constitutional Court to decide whether rail commuters were entitled to relief from the courts by invoking their constitutional rights to life, dignity and freedom from violence.

"The rate at which rail commuters fall victim to crime is unacceptable and intolerable in a society in which there is a constitutional democracy and a Bill of Rights ... intended to affirm the values of human dignity, equality and freedom," said the applicants.

They argued that Metrorail's limited number of security personnel were "not much use in preventing and combating crime". But Metrorail nevertheless favoured employing "more hired, under-trained, all but useless grade D guards".

The commuters went to the Constitutional Court nearly a year after the Cape High Court gave judgment in favour of commuters in February 2003.

Mr Justice Dennis Davis and Ms Justice Belinda van Heerden found that Cape Metrorail and the SA Rail Commuter Corporation had a legal duty to protect the lives and property of commuters while on railway property.

In their judgment, Cape Metrorail and the corporation had failed to meet the statutory standard of a service run in the public interest. The court gave Cape Metrorail 120 days to make rail travel in the city safer for commuters.

But the court rejected an application by the group for an order making police responsible for safety on trains.

Metrorail appealed against the Cape High Court judgment. While the appeal was pending, the High Court gave an interim order that Metrorail should not operate trains while carriage doors were open.

In September 2003 the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld Metrorail's appeal and the interim order fell away.

The Appeal Court found that Cape Metrorail had no greater obligation than to provide public transport, and could not be expected to provide security services to those using trains. Law and order and prevention of crime were functions of the police, not Metrorail, said a full bench of the court in Bloemfontein.

In October 2003 the group applied to the Constitutional Court for special leave to appeal against the Supreme Court judgment.

They asked the court to rule on whether the expression "in the public interest" could be interpreted widely enough to make Cape Metrorail provide safety and security services on Western Cape trains and stations.

They questioned whether the police were properly fulfilling their function when it came to policing trains and stations, in the light of restructuring that left the Western Cape Rail Commuter Unit with only 38 personnel from 6 500 railway police in 1986.

They argued that the decision to re-prioritise police services should not have omitted railway crime when Metrorail's "index" of serious crime on rail facilities showed a rate of 682 serious incidents for every 100 000 paid passenger trips.

Dippenaar said this morning: "This judgment gives hope to 600 000 train commuters in the Western Cape, and indeed millions in South Africa, that their rights as human beings will be respected and protected."

Chigago Bus Tracker

2009-12-02T16:22:00.001+02:00

How absolutely cool is this page. Chicago's bus transit system has live updates of where the buses are and ETA's....we have Golden Arrow Bus Company with no timetables, no routes, no proper buses and no hope until we get a proper BRT in by hopefully next year March.

ctabustracker

Screenprint:

Soccer 2010

2009-12-02T16:17:00.000+02:00

On the way to the Cape Town Waterfront:

Station Changes Part n

2009-12-02T15:02:00.001+02:00

There has been some more changes at the station.
Mostly a dash of paint. It comes with a lot of confusion though:
I saw this very nice white and grey paint going on during the week, but this has been painted over with a horrible horrible blue subsequently....

Changes

2009-11-17T08:49:00.001+02:00

I have noticed a change in the policing of tickets on the train the last month.

Tickets are now being checked every day in the following way:

The "Official" starts check tickets from the 1st(or last) Metro Plus coach from the back and moves to next coach when done.

Problem is when passanger enter after he/she has checked the tickets.

At least it's a start.

As seen below, ticket checking at the station is still dismal and laughable. Can't wait to see some change there.

Brave new commuting world

2009-11-12T10:21:00.003+02:00

A co-worker sent me these pics, thought I'd share it. This is a crazy way to commute!

This truck has a GP number plate....please tell me he has not been holding on all the way from Gauteng. ;-)

Edit:
No it's not an advert, the logo is simply a kind of watermark/copyright thingy.

Golden Arrow Bus

2009-11-06T07:38:00.003+02:00

I've been making use of the Golden Arrow bus now for just over a month.

It is very difficult to find anything positive to write about the bus or the company it belongs to.

The new modern bus they are using on the Station to Waterfront route prompted me to try out the service.

The sad thing is that although the bus is new the service is still extremely bad and unreliable.

I get on from the Two Oceans Aquarium busstop in the afternoons but I've had an average wait time of 20-25 minutes. This wait time is not what the call center promises me it should be. I've been calling the GA info number now for over a month on a weekly basis and have been told that the busses takes between 10 and 15 minutes.

I've met people from all over the world at this busstop. People on vacation, people attending conferences.

Here's a short list:

Couple from Austria

Couple from Great Britain

Couple from USA(African Americans who refuses to take that ugly yellow bus)

Scientist from Russia currently residing in Germany here for a conference on bio-diversity.

Family from Lyon, France

I've met these people all in the last month. The reason I've met them was because they were confused about the busstop, the bus, the time and the route it takes. The funny thing is that they all approached me in the same way:

Them: "Is this busstop?"
Me: "Indeed."
Them: "How you know?"
Me: "The big yellow B on the tarmac over there is the secret symbol for bus."
Them: "Is going tooooo?"
Me: "Cape Town station....in the city."
Them: "Ahhhh oohh good good....and when is coming?"
Me: "That is a very good question. It should be anywhere from now to within half an hour from now if everything goes well."
Them: "And what are the routes for these bus?"
Me: "Ha ha ha ha, no routes here...there are no route maps for these busses, you have to phone the company that owns them...here's the number if you want."

Sure they could have taken a private taxi or could have walked, but they all expected the bus service in Cape Town to be as smooth and friendly as in their parts of the world.

Sadly they have all been bitterly dissapointed.

Edit:
Forgot to add that the bus drove past three of us waiting for it. We were on the correct spot to be picked up and everthing. I phoned, complained but couldn't do anything because I did not get the number of the bus.

The Fifth Season

2009-10-15T10:10:00.003+02:00

We have moved into what I refer to as the fifth season here in Cape Town. This is the season between winter and whatever was spring. It is the season to be dotty. The gods are crazy, the weather patterns are crazy, the animals are crazy and last but not least commuters are crazy.

The other day I took a coach further down the train, a coach that was not MetroPlus, but Metro. Just Metro.

In the old days it would have been called 3rd class.

In South Africa there is no such thing as 2nd class.

Three stations down a man got on the train with his cigarette still in hand and smoking. He made landfall on the seat right next to me.

The man to the left of him told him to put out his cigarette in his language and he complied. He then decided to start talking to me about the hard life he has to lead these days. As he started talking I realised what his problem was as his breath was smelling like the inside of an old liquor store that had a couple of crates of broken beer bottles.

He rambled on about how good the old days were under apartheid and that at least they knew what they had and what was coming. He further explained how these days it is impossible to survive and then requested a job in my garden for the Saturday.

Luckily for me my station was up next and I got out of the liquor vapor cloud.

Sometime last week another silly man dressed in a leather jacket and sporting a hairstyle right out of the 70's curling over his ears started checking everyone's tickets. He was clearly not in the employ of Metrorail and took this oppertunity to chat to all the ladies on the train. He had some story about taking in all old tickets as those would be discontinued soon. He even took in some, clip most and tore up an unfortunate man's ticket!

He got involved in an argument with a man that didn't have a ticket and when this man started accusing Metrorail's lack of control our 70's man started backing away.

He exited the station waving a ticket just like everybody else. No doubt there were a couple of people stuck without tickets at the turnstiles that morning...

People are strange

2009-10-09T15:17:00.001+02:00

Bling bling headphone man

That crrrrrazy preacher

Art girl, sometimes beautifull as is, sometimes turning heads as a scary snake girl or purple hair gothic/emo/something or other. You can't rush art!

Station progress photos

2009-10-09T14:36:00.001+02:00

Check out the writing on this sign....WTF, never mind slipping and hurting, just DON"T damage the tiles.

Another day another crazy preacher

2009-09-22T14:00:00.000+02:00

All I want to do at the end of a long day is to get to the train, find a seat, get out the book, reflect a little on the days activities and then start reading while the train moves along steadily.

All is peacefull and quiet until another crazy proxy from heaven steps on the train and starts screaming truths and secrets about the one god that gave us breath and saves us from cobras in the wild and criminals on the streets.

This particular one is as mad as a crazy man stepping on a train and starts speaking loadly without permission of almost 100 people.

The guy next to me wanted to take him outside at the next station but crazy proxy just kept those words of wisdom rolling.

At one point I wanted to ask him to bless us with the one thing I really needed from above(or the universe as I see it) and that is silence.

New Golden Arrow bus type

2009-09-21T14:44:00.002+02:00

I am impressed. I know, me, impressed? What may you ask impressed me? Golden Arrow bus company has a new tpy eof bus that runs the Waterfront route. And so for the last two days I've been going straight for the bus stop rather than walk the walk.
For the 10 minutes of bus ride I feel like I'm a European country or other first world country.
I promise to post a pic here soon...

OK, so where is the catch. The catch is in the wasy the system works. Nice new bus, same old crappy system, where you have to go to the drivers cubicle and wait for change or your ticket clicked. This wastes anywhere from 5-10 minutes. This is clearly not a priority for GABC as they don't realise time is money.

Solution: Employ a conductor to check the tickets while the bus is in motion.

Bloggers guilt

2009-09-17T12:09:00.005+02:00

Blogger's guilt drove me to post today. The next line should have been: I'm sorry I've been neglecting posting or something. But I'm not sorry, I've just been busy and there's not been much to write about the last couple of days.
So here goes:

Saw the epilepsy man as he got on the train beginning of the week, I looked at him, he looked at me and he walked past me. A sigh of relieve escaped me.
Gave up on finishing the Social Intelligence book on the train, I just cannot concentrate with all the babble going on around me.
Got 'harassed' by a drunk black dude still smoking his cigarette(on the train!) He tried to convince me to give him a job in my garden for the Saturday and that the old apartheid government was better even though blacks were referred to then as something beginning with a K and that all the foreigners are taking local people's jobs and that he hates the new government and that war is looming and foreigners better run, etc, etc.
Shook my head at the lack of control at Cape Town Station as the usual old timer that tries to check 1000's of tickets couldn't control the crowd as they decided to start using all of the 6 turnstiles rather than wait for him to do the checking.
Started reading a Terry Pratchett novel I started reading a long time ago and never finished.
Got caught in the rain on my way to work this morning. It's cold and wet in Cape Town and it's springtime!!! Why does it feel to me that Cape Town is defying every universal law known to every universal being?!!? Even the seasons are late in this town, but I love it!

Brandon Huntley

2009-09-10T12:03:00.003+02:00

A few days ago a certain individual by the name of Brandon Huntley went crawling to the Canadian immigration desk and requested political asylum based on the fact that he as a white person is the target of black criminals in Cape Town.
As I was walking from Cape Town Station to the VA Waterfront as I do almost every morning and I looked around at my fellow pedestrians I couldn't help thinking if Brandon Huntley and I are from the same city.
The morning pedestrians on this route consists of 90% black people and 10% other, including, pink skinned badly burnt Europeans on holiday complete with dangling cameras and route maps.
As a white South African I do indeed stick out like a "sore thumb" for lack of a better description, but I have to say that I have never ever been or felt threatened in any way.
It's only since I've been taking the pedestrian route that I've really felt close to the city and being a South African.
I don't know what happened to you Brandon Huntley and I can't say I'll remain immune against possible mugging or any form of attack, but so far it seems I've been living in a completely different Cape Town than you.

Angels, Demons and common sense

2009-09-01T21:30:00.004+02:00

Monday morning marked another first for me. I got on the train just before 8am and settled in nicely with the latest John Van der Ruit book, Spud Learning to fly. A very neat 50's something gentleman took his place across from me at the next station and he settled in nicely with his Daily Sun newspaper.

We both continued to settle in nicely, me smiling at the crazy eight's antics and my fellow passenger smiling at his sports pages.

After stop 4 or 5 my fellow passenger suddenly looked to his right and slightly upwards and started to mutter/moan into the air. This very soon turned into a blood curdling scream albeit a weird one.

At first I thought it was a bee or a wasp that freaked him out, but when my gaze returned to his face I realised what it was. He was having an grand mal epileptic seizure. I remembered what they taught us at college and also in first aid training and immediately helped him get on his side and making sure that his tongue was not blocking his air passage.

His hands were curled up and his legs and body was shaking violently with the spasms. He passed out after about a minute or so. I managed to remove his spectacles and put his paper under his head as he was now lying on the floor.

We let the train driver know at the next stop and three of us took care of him and his belongings until we reached Cape Town station.

I sat down a while to catch my breath and gather myself.

The people walking past from the coaches further back all rubber necked to see what happened.

Then it happened. Second fright of my peaceful morning happened as a 40 something guy walked in and asked us what happened. While I was busy relating the situation he walked straight up to the now patient on the floor, stuck out his hand with fingers all spread an inch away from the patient's head and fired away: "IIN THE NAAAAME OF JEEEEEZUSSSSS, BEGONE WITH YOU..."

This upset me to the point where I had to ask mankind's saviour and part time PR to the heavens to stop harassing my patient. He stopped after nothing was exorcised and walked out.

The next hurdle came in the form of ill mannered and untutored security guards who "had to get him of the train" because all they knew was that the train had to go back to Belleville.

I argued for about 4 minutes to leave the man alone while, I was hoping, the medical people would show up.

As luck would have it, the patient started waking up and we all rush to help him up and tried to act as normal as possible even though he now looked completely shaken up and utterly embarrassed.

After witnessing the seizure first hand I can understand why some unschooled religious fanatics can think that it must be a demon. It looked like he saw something or that something was moving him.

I see it as a short circuit in the brain. It's simply neurological.

Back on track

2009-08-24T09:30:00.003+02:00

I am happy to report that I am back on track. No more highway blues for me.
I have to remember my book though, half an hour is a long time staring past other faces staring past mine...just awkward.
Looked out the window and grinned when I saw the highway backed up....suffer babies!!!

Negative people

2009-08-19T21:28:00.005+02:00

Just read an article this week about how negative South Africans are.
More than 50% of our thoughts are negative.
I've had to endure many a negative thought when talking about using public transport in the last eight months.
I myself have been poisoned of late by negative people and it's very difficult to get rid of this negative culture in our lives. Negatives are everywhere. You find them at work(a lot), at the weekend braai, on the road and worst of all in the media.

This report was however done by an Australian called Meiron Lees. I'm sure he will make a fortune feeding off our negativity.
Although I agree with him on how negative the population comes accross.
Being negative is all relative though.
Just the other day I was negative about using Metrorail, this week I'm desperate to use the train again and hoping the strike would end but now I have something else to turn my negative energy towards...that being the strike and the appalling traffic conditions.
I would like to see any Australian come work and live in South Africa for two years using the infrastructure, transport and other services without losing a postive shiny ozzy ozzy ozzy bright eyed and bushy tailed feeling.
Bottom line here is, I don't want to be surrounded by negativity or negative people anymore.

The Cape Town Highway blues

2009-08-18T10:17:00.003+02:00

So the Cape Metro rail strike is really in full swing and it is really crappy on the highways and byways to the CBD.
It took me nearly 2 hours to get work this morning...this it the stuff I had to endure living in Pretoria and working in Sandton and one the main reasons I left that place and moved to the mother city.
What got me is that I saw a Metro train going past the N1...now I'm thinking is there some sort of scaled down service going? Should I try and find out from the crappy website or try to phone?
Will it be overcrowded or deserted???

The strike has struck

2009-08-17T11:24:00.003+02:00

I took the train on Friday to avoid the traffic chaos on the N1 North on Friday.
This means leaving my car at work. This also means that this morning I had no way to get back to work as Cape Town Metro rail employees embarked on a strike.
Nice, luckily my better half dropped me off at work ;-)
We left at 9 and the traffic was bumper to bumper almost all of 25k's to town. I'm sure it was packed with people that couldn't take the train to work today. What utter chaos.

Cape Metro Rail map

2009-08-14T06:43:00.002+02:00

Seems people don't know about this map, so i'm posting it here for them.

Wellness

2009-08-14T06:22:00.004+02:00

I've not been feeling too good lately. Pins and needles in my hands and feet.
I've been to the doctor and I was sent for blood tests. I hope it's not due to the walking that's maybe aggravating a possible back problem.
My other worry is that it may be blood related.

Cape Town Station Progress Update

2009-08-05T21:25:00.002+02:00

Station is coming along nicely, just those tiles...slippery when, wet, dry or dirty.

Springboks

2009-08-05T16:19:00.006+02:00

So the Boks are staying in the same hotel as the Lions stayed in...wonder where the Australians find themselfs this week. Oh and I got a "new" phone, at least better, with 5mega pixel cam. So the pics should be better...yay!

Metrorail strike?

2009-07-27T11:13:00.004+02:00

Is the strike going to affect me or not? Would it help me to phone and find out if they are busy striking or do I just keep an eye on the news?
What happens if I can get to work in the morning and they start striking during the day?
Why am I beginning to hate Metrorail more and more?
Is it because the coaches are filthy and stinking and rickety and noisy while the Cape Town station facade is being made pretty and shiny?
Why am I angry when thinking of all the praise that went Maria Ramos's way for turning Transnet around? Why couldn't she see to better service delivery and helping it stay up to date the the changing modern world?
Why aren't our trains more regular like every 5, 10 or even 15 minutes all day long?
Why are all these cosmetic changes only now just before the start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup?
Am I in a bad mood or what?

Shosholoza Meyl...

2009-07-22T09:05:00.000+02:00

The family and I took the plunge and booked ourselves and our car on the Shosholoza Meyl Tourist Class from Cape Town to JHB.The only good thing was the experience of a long train journey as we could only sit or lie down and relax as a family and enjoy the scenes passing our cabin windows.What was bad then? THe fact that the train was delayed just outside Paarl at Dal Josafat station for 3 hours. This meant that we missed the best part of the scenic route...very disappointed in that was the one reason we decided to take the train.That wasn't the worst of it though as the rest of the experience nothing to get excited about.The service was poor, with a forced smile here there and everywhere. One staff member even had his girlfriend on the train and spent more time looking after her than doing his job.The journey takes a very very long time as it is at 27 hours. Imagine having to deal with bad service plus an additional few hours delayed.The bedding was also extremely old and i cringed getting in to it. Luckily we took along some of our own sheets.All in all a not too good experience. I cannot recommend it and I am also reluctant to upgrade to Premier Class as it would be the same bad service in old coaches for more.

It was good

2009-07-20T10:30:00.002+02:00

My three week holiday was really really good.
I will be posting some updates on how the train journey up north was during the following few days, but for now I can only say that Shosholoza Meyl is not really worth the time, effort and money. Fly or drive if you have to.
Apart from the bad quality and slow service, the experience was nice.

But before I start rambling on about the experience here's something off topic.
I've received the following email:

Hi,
We just posted an article, "The 100 Best iPhone Apps To Make Your Commute More Productive (and Fun)" (http://www.jobprofiles.org/library/students/100_best_iphone_apps_to_make_commute_produtive.htm). I thought I'd drop a quick line and let you know in case you thought it was something you're audience would be interested in reading. Thanks!

Amber Johnson

So yeah, it's really fun and informative for the next time you take the daily commute on a train like me.

On Holiday

2009-07-06T08:41:00.002+02:00

I'm one week into a three week holiday! We are taking the train(Shosholoza Meyl) to Johannesburg. I dropped the car off to be put on the same train around 6:30 this morning.
I then hopped on the next available train back to Oosterzee.
Next we have to drive to the station to be there at 11:00. I'll dropped the fam off at the station and then drive to work. Park the car and walk back to the station...crazy!

The Lions

2009-06-22T10:23:00.004+02:00

I missed the game between The British Lions and The Springboks on Saturday due to DIY pressure at home.

The type of DIY where you have to get the gate back up before nightfall.

I wasn't too impressed, but I did get a consolation prize this morning when I stumbled upon the Lions tour bus parked in front of The Cullinan Hotel across from the CTICC.

(insert standard promise to upload pic here)

Pic update 2

2009-06-19T16:11:00.004+02:00

Tiling underway at Cape Town Station.

A nice clean empty coach on MetroPlus.

A not so nice coach with a not so nice word spray painted for the rest of us.
I mean, what's in a word?

Cape Grace hotel in the pm.

Big ship in the dry dock. Tight fit or what?

Pic update 1, at last

2009-06-19T16:01:00.003+02:00

Traffic deadlock in Cape Town when a waterpipe burst flooding the N1 outbound.

(Glad I took the train that day)

Shiny Ferarri just waiting to be loaded on the train.

Red Ferarri, eager to ride the train.

That number plate is rich, Rich. (I really hope your name is Richard)

Old and new. The new slippery when walked on tiles are looking nice, but be warned, It's slippery.

Livestock III: In confined space, no one dares scream

2009-06-17T15:43:00.003+02:00

After being absent last week, winter is back in Cape Town. So far I've been lucky and I've mentioned before that the universe is looking after me.

Back at the station(Oosterzee) this morning, the burnt out car is now lying on it's side...so someone was playing on youth day and going down the steps I noticed lots of people on the platforms...this can only mean one thing, trains are running late. Delayed trains leads to...overcrowding and overcrowding is what we all got again this morning.

Nothing like a jam packed train to warm one up.

Being in very very close proximity with 200+ people is not a joke, even though it is funny.

First thought that goes through your mind is...what's that smell? OK, no one farts!

Second thought is: No one sneezes...and so on and so forth.

20 Minutes into the trip the woman to my right tried to say "sorry" just before she collapsed. She fainted and it took about 30 seconds for her to "wake up"

What is really amazingly stupid and sad is that I had to suggest to two "gentlemen" to offer a seat to this poor woman after the incident.

The progress at Cape Town station is amazing. The tiling and recladding project is really moving forward rappidly. Only problem is that the tiles and really shiny and slippery and I'm not sure what the architects were thinking of when they order it.

I had to tread very carefully and almost slipped twice in about 30 meters.

The thought that went through my mind as I walked accross the very nice, very shiny, very light, very slippery, very big tiles was that our station is being made pretty and shiny. All nice on the outside and presentable for the FIFA soccer world cup in 2010 but inside this system is rotten.

Bomb scares

2009-06-15T09:21:00.004+02:00

So it turned out that someone had a really fun time scaring people in Cape Town last week.

Following the bomb scare at the station there were another two with one at the Golden Acre and one at the High court.

I wonder who in the world could be enemies of the mother city?

Outraged taxi bosses or political opposition of Helen Zille?

I wonder...

Time Flies

2009-06-12T12:17:00.001+02:00

I've been taking the train for more than four months now.

I've not realised how time flies. I've also read 8 books and I'm busy with number 9. I'm having trouble reading number 9(see sidebar on right hand side) as it is not a novel, but rather deals with the science of social intelligence.

Not an easy read when you sit next to groups of people chatting and gossiping about work and love and life in general. I find you do tend to follow some of the conversations partly because some of them are so funny, some of them are so loud and them some others that are both and more.

I've been on and off taking public transport for personal and work overload reasons.
I am glad I didn't take the train yesterday as there was a bomb scare...or so the rumour goes. I haven't read anything in the news about it though.
I've taken some nice pics the last week or two and I've seen some strange things, like a burnt out car at the Oosterzee station.
This burnt out car had me pondering about all sorts of things, was it a daily commuter or a nighttime lurker's car? I've also seen Ferrari's that takes the train and have pics to prove.
I'll be uploading pics soon, promise.

There has also been huge advances in the upgrade at the station and it is looking great(pics to follow)

Where are you from?

2009-06-05T17:23:00.004+02:00

The following map shows where visitors to this blog is from. I opted to go with Google Analytics in stead of one of those side jobbies that you can click through.
As these smaller visitor counter scripts clash with Analytics I had to get rid of them.

I find Analytics is far more insightful and useful. Leave a comment and where you're from if you can spot your location on the map.

Sick

2009-06-03T16:04:00.003+02:00

I've been sick since Friday and have resorted to taking the bus (for us) again. I continue to be amazed by how inefficient the Golden Arrow bus service is here in the mother city.
The term timetable simply does not exist for this company and the thousands of unwilling clients have no clue of when the next bus to where is.
As I was sitting in one of these sardine cans I couldn't help but think how everyone just simply accepts the poor service. (A side effect of Ubuntu?...also made me think why people would call an operating system after "suffering together")

This morning after waiting 3 minutes(good average) for the bus to arrive and another 10 minutes for drips and drabs pf people to hop on and pay the driver, said driver closed the passenger door and got out of the bus.

Off he went to the station!

Five minutes later he returns opens the passenger door, let in another 20 or so people before the wreck finally shuddered off.
No one complained or said a thing.

I am still grateful that I could get a ride to the Waterfront in my condition with the rain and all, but taking this bus is torture. It is the best illustration of a country wanting to break free from the shackles of a third world label but has no idea how to do it.

Cape Town Station Update Photos

2009-05-27T09:46:00.003+02:00

There's been some revamping progress at the station:

The picture quality is poor but it shows one important thing: The electronic time/destination boards on the platforms are working at last!

OMG

2009-05-26T14:26:00.003+02:00

So, yesterday was another first for me. I had my first encounter of the biblical kind.

Young white guy with backpack enters train left:
(In load urgent preaching tone)
'AS I WALK DOWN THIS TRAIN, I SENSE THAT THERE ARE TIRED PEOPLE'
'AND NOT JUST TIRED BECAUSE YOU'RE BODIES ARE TIRED, BUT BECAUSE YOUR SOULS ARE TIRED'
'WELL I'VE GOT THE ANSWER FOR YOU, YES YOU KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING, IT'S JESUS'
Five minutes later:
'THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF YOU AND JESUS IS YOUR PRIDE'
Five minutes later:
'I USED TO WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF ROADS NOT KNOWING WHERE I WAS AND O FOUND JESUS'
'YOUNG PEOPLE, LISTEN TO ME, I KNOW'
Five minutes later:
Young white exits train right with: 'GOD BE WITH YOU MY PEOPLE'

Eeek!

I'm Green!

2009-05-26T09:03:00.003+02:00

I am delighted to know that my blog has been added to the blogroll of the green site Ecostreet.com

I never thought of what I do be seen as eco friendly or green, but I suppose it pretty much is.

Well, I'll continue to help 'save' the planet by walking and using the train.

Tickets please, Part Two

2009-05-22T13:40:00.004+02:00

I was surprised again yesterday morning to hear the voice say "Tickets please" and again I was interested to see how many "free riders" there were amongst us.

What I don't see happening is the inspection taking place in the afternoons. Yesterday afternoon was a bit full and crowdy with people that were clearly not paying a cent as they scrambled onto the train.

I still don't see why MetroPlus should cost twice more than the normal fare.

There is no benefit really to pay double other then being surprised by the inspector twice yearly.

------------

I had a really nice comment from a blogger called Ghost, thanks for the thoughts and I'm glad you follow my "adventures".

I'll keep blogging as long as I use public transport.

Tickets please

2009-05-20T09:18:00.003+02:00

I nearly fell of my seat this morning when I heard someone in the back say "Tickets please"
This is the first time I've been asked to produce a ticket! Amazing.
It was really interesting to see that some of the regulars I've come to know during the past four months didn't have any tickets to show.
Luckily the conductor is followed by a person with a ticket dispenser and the guilty can redeem themselves by buying one on the spot.
These two metrorail staff members were followed closely by 3 guards.

Overcrowding Feedback

2009-05-19T10:40:00.005+02:00

I've received feedback from Metrorail in response to the complaint I made.

In short Metrorail says:

Sorry.
There is not much they can do.
I can avoid overcrowding by working flexy hours and take alternative trains outside peak time(6-8am)
I can avoid overcrowding by not getting on the train.
I can avoid overcrowding by not getting on the first couple of coaches and rather taking the last ones.
Metrorail has not kept up to date with the demand of more passengers.
Metrorail CEO compared the oversight with that of ESKOM's oversight for the growing demand for service delivary! I have this in wrting from Metrorail.
Demand has increased by 17% on MetroPlus and 6.5% on Metro classes respectively.
There is a shortage of coach manufacturers.

This is Metrorail's response, believe it or not...

Radial Cape Town

2009-05-15T14:53:00.004+02:00

The city of Cape Town Spatial Development Framework is planning easier movement around the inner city and beyond in the next couple of years.

In short the city planners wants to get rid of the radial problem when moving accross the city.

That means having to go into the city centre to get to another outlying area.

SDF Article
I like the summary of the article:

How will Cape Town establish and support an integrated, grid-based movement system?

By promoting and encouraging cycling and walking
By creating an efficient and safe public transport system
By locating development on what is known as the ‘accessibility grid’ – in other words along the public transport routes (such as Main Rd, Koeberg Rd and Voortrekker Rd) and development routes (such as Klipfontein Rd and Jan Van Riebeeck / 35th Avenue)
By facilitating the development of strategic infrastructure, such as the new IRT and station improvements
By reducing the distance between where people live and work, by supporting development in the metro south-east
By promoting higher-density developments where appropriate (a “middle path” densification strategy), that aims for an average of 25 dwelling units per hectare. This is the minimum density at which public transport is efficient and sustainable

Photos

2009-05-08T14:42:00.006+02:00

School kids rowing in the harbour.

Scaffolding is gone at the station.

Here's that old 60's style coaches of the Malmesbury train. Just a reminder...these pics were taken 8 May 2009, not 1967!

Kids drives the bus?!

2009-05-08T10:01:00.004+02:00

I just read this on news24.com:

Driver let kids drive schoolbus

Cobus Claassen, Beeld Pretoria -
Parents are upset after a Tshwane Metro Council bus driver apparently gave schoolboys "a chance" to take the wheel of his bus. Beeld received several calls from Pretoria Moot parents this week, claiming that pupils were allowed to drive a municipal
bus after school. Jan Rheeder of Montana said he was surprised to hear on Tuesday from his son Christiaan - a Grade 11 pupil at John Vorster Higher Technical School - that a pupil from State President CR Swart High School had driven the double-decker bus on which he had been travelling with his school friends. "Christiaan and his friends sat on top and were not aware of this. They only saw who was behind the wheel when they got off at the bus stop." The boys asked the driver about this, but he snubbed them and told them "not to bother him". Rheeder said he would like to know for how long his son had been at the mercy of another child's driving skills. The bus takes the Wonderboom route and the boys wrote down the bus number (234F).

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2513177,00.html

This happening in my old town...WTF?!

On time

2009-05-07T08:31:00.002+02:00

It seems the switching glitch has been sorted out on the Northern line and the trains are back on schedule. I have a feeling that the 7:06 train will take me to work through winter.

The Malmesbury train still has the coaches from the 60's with no lights inside. I will keep giving that one a miss as it rolls in and out of Oosterzee station.

Blogging

2009-05-06T10:11:00.005+02:00

This is offtopic but it's really funny, so I had to put this on my web log:
I just posted a comment on a friend of mine's blog. The word the 'word verification' form expected me to type in was...wait for it:
Wobbly flowing letters and all...

Livestock 3: Freerange!

2009-05-06T09:30:00.006+02:00

The 7:06 from Belleville was delayed again this morning. This time there was an announcement on the intercom system to tell us that the whole Northern Line was affected and all trains affected including the old Malmesbury train, complete with 60's effects and lights not working on the 3rd class coaches.

I gave that one a skip again and waited! for the 7:06(time is relative!), while 80% of the Oosterzee crowd decided to jam themselves in there though and the old diesel was off with a hoot and a shudder.

The 7:06 eventually arrived around 7:20 and stopped just before the platform waiting in the thick mist for something...that something turned out to be the Malmesbury train that could not completely exit the station. Although the 7:06 was full it was pleasant compared to the previous two days. There was enough space to range around freely, take a backpack off, take out a book and read and turn around once or twice.

NICE!

The really funny thing is that when we(the 20% part of the crowd) arrived at the station we made it to the turnstiles before the 80% of the crowd that hopped on the Malmesbury train!

FUNNY!

edit: How could I forget...I did receive a response from MetroRail to say that the problem was switch related and that it won't happen again...but it did offcourse, today.

Livestock 2

2009-05-05T08:37:00.003+02:00

Following on from yesterday's post, I did phone the complaint number and went through 15 minutes of explaining my complaint of overcrowding to the call taker. I have also been given a reference number that I'm not sure what to do with, but I have it, and will keep it safe.
It was no surprise that this morning's 7:33 train was again packed beyond it's capacity.

This morning I discovered why.

I actually got to the station at just before 7 to catch the 7:06. The 7:06 never showed up or it did, only at 7:33, Same train as yesterday, same situation, but this time I have a reference number.

Something else that completely shocked me was the Malmesbury train at 7:03. As it rolled into the station it felt as if I was transported back 40 years. The coaches date from the 60's with those little doors at the front and back and still painted in the old colours too. It too was horribly overcrowded and I gave it a miss thinking the 7:06 save the day...

So today, I'll make another phone call to 0800 65 64 63 and complain about two things. This should take only 30 minutes.

Livestock

2009-05-04T10:06:00.003+02:00

Continuing from the winter survival mode I started getting into last week, I took the 7:33 train this morning. Calling it a train does not fully explain the atmosphere and situation that greeted me as the doors slid open. I had to get on, as the 7:33 train is my cut off time to arrive on time for work. How I managed to squeeze in remains one of my life's great mysteries, but I managed. The overcrowding is really appalling and I'm not sure if there's anything one can do to alleviate it.

While being wedged in between others aI suddenly got the feeling that we were exactly like livestock being transported to the slaughter house. Some of us had nowhere to hold on to and you get the same effect you see when livestock gets transported and they bump around against each other and the sides amidts weird sounds and trampling of hoofs.

Yeah, I thought, exactly like livestock, but what kind....oooh pigs or swine to be precise.

That made me think of the swine flu and the ease at wich it can spread in public transport where the passanger next to you is closer to you than you are to yourself.

Thankfully, no one sneazed.

I am going to phone 0800 65 64 63 however and complain.

More photos

2009-04-30T06:21:00.005+02:00

Construction work at station, plain white cladding has replced the old cladding.

Trees being removed at the Southern Sun Hotel next to Buitengracht.

City scape

Coping

2009-04-29T10:54:00.003+02:00

As we keep on plunging headlong into winter I keep on thinking is this it? Is this the worst it can get? Maybe I should not be taunting the universe and mother nature too much. I know it can get far worse than we've had this year.

I'm coping very well so far and I'm adjusting to the changing of the seasons. One way I'm doing this is by taking a slightly later train than usual. I'm doing this mostly due to the fact that it is so dark now around 6:30. An hour later makes all the difference. I am also aware that the darkness will creep in around the 7:30-8:00am mark soon, but I'll be able to manage that.

Coping with walking to work is something of a challenge, but so far my jacket with hood have kept me safe.

The worst is the wind and I fear it will be the real test for someone like me wearing hard contact lenses, but the shades I bought keeps my eyes shielded nicely...it sounds like I'm preparing for a walk to the South pole :-)

Elections 2009

2009-04-23T10:21:00.003+02:00

This has nothing to do with commuting, but here is my two cents worth:

I voted yesterday and realised how flawed the voting process was.

The checks:
1. Your name on the voters role is there and it's crossed out...check.

2. Your ID document gets a stamp...check.

3. Your thumb gets an ink mark...check.

4. Follow the other(second) queue to get your ballot papers...UNchecked...I'll explain below

5. Before you get your ballot papers, your ID is checked for a stamp...check.

6. Vote

7. Drop vote in box

If you wanted to vote again, all you had to do is follow the procedure from step 4, no-one was actually checking to see if you jumped the line to get a ballot paper and you have the stamped ID and inked thumb to prove you're legit!

Well this is how it was at my station, I'm sure it must have been the same most places.

BRILLIANT!

Besides that our IEC's ability is showcased on their website:

GREAT!

Winter

2009-04-20T10:50:00.002+02:00

I think winter has arrived in Cape Town. The temperature has dropped and the wind has picked up. I am prepared though with an all weather jacket with hood and shades to shield the wind.
My daily posts have also dwindled to weekly posts it seems, but this is due to work and home pressure.
I have some new pics that I still need to download from my stupid phone. Those will be up here shortly.
TTFN

Two things

2009-04-14T07:50:00.004+02:00

First and foremost I would like to declare my relieve that I am not driving to work during this current fuel debacle and resulting shortage. It's just a reminder that driving to work by ourselves is a very expensive method of transportation. Very convenient if you want to sit by yourself and listen to the latest stolen pranks by Whackhead Simpson or the mindless phone calls to Gareth Cliff. It does become an inconvenient inconvenience if you're stuck without petrol and can't listen to them. I know not everyone can take public transport due to the lack of proper infrastructure and the lack of "circle service" routes, but I wonder how many people have actually investigated to determine what's possible and what not. You see this current inconvenience won't last long and just like the common cold, this will pass within a week or two.

People will be back in their cars, one by one listening to the clown and the Idols judge.

The second thing is this story about a blogger that got convicted for what he posted on a blog!

I am amazed that one post can have such a huge effect on so many people(even a country) and can only dream that one of the posts on this blog could have an effect on people to make an effort to start using public transport.

"Seoul - Prosecutors demanded an 18-month sentence on Monday for a popular South
Korean blogger who is accused of spreading false financial information in a
case
that has ignited a debate about freedom of speech in cyberspace.
The
30-year-old blogger, a fierce critic of government economic policy,
was arrested
and indicted in January after he wrote that the government had
banned major
financial institutions and trade businesses from buying US
dollars.
Prosecutors have said the posting was not only inaccurate, but it
had
affected the foreign exchange market and undermined the nation's
credibility.
But opposition parties and critics have claimed the arrest is
aimed at
silencing criticism of the government and restricts online freedom
of speech.
Seoul District Court spokesman Kwon Tae-young said prosecutors
demanded 18
months in prison for the blogger, identified as Park Dae-sung,
and the court is
scheduled to deliver a verdict on April 20.
The charge
carries up to five
years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.
The blogger, known by his
pen name "Minerva" after the Greek goddess of
wisdom, had rocketed to fame after
some of his predictions, including the
collapse of US investment bank Lehman
Brothers, proved to be correct.
In
some 280 postings on bulletin boards on a
popular internet portal last year,
he denounced the government's handling of the
economy and made largely
negative predictions.
His writings were sprinkled
with jargon that
suggested he was an economic expert, and his identity was a hot
topic of
discussion in South Korea.
Prosecutors said Park is actually an
unemployed Seoul resident who studied economics on his own after graduating
from
a vocational high school and junior college with a major in information
and
communication. " - AP

Zuma takes the bus

2009-04-08T06:08:00.004+02:00

Nice bus, pitty we don't have these for public transport.

Rugby 95

2009-04-03T09:15:00.005+02:00

I walked past the location of the Rugby 95 movie set. Again, apologies for the poor quality of my cellphone pics...

This is just across from the Audi dealership at the Waterfront.

The lot, complete with trailers...where's Matt?

More Cape Town photos

2009-04-03T09:00:00.004+02:00

My my, aren't you the lucky ones, here are some more stunning pictures taken with my not so stunning cellphone.
I took an earlier train the other morning and the sunrise around these parts is trully amazing.

Clock Tower on the right.

Sol's new One and Only Hotel with all the star studded glitz, nice setting.

The not so dry dock 1. Tugboat in for repairs.

The not so dry dock 2. Chinese fishing trawler in for repairs.

Cape Town Photos

2009-04-03T08:46:00.003+02:00

Here are some pics of my day off on ze red bus...

Ze Twelve Apostles

Ze Twelve Tourists

Ze Crew

Ze Campsbay beach

Exception

2009-04-02T10:14:00.004+02:00

When does something or someone become an exception?

Since I started to do the daily walk from the station to the V&A Waterfront I've realised that something was out of place. That something turned out to be me.

I am probably the only white person walking from the station to the waterfront to get to work. The only other whiteys that can be seen are either tourists with very pink sore skins or rich folk jogging or cycling.

Have I had an epiphany? I've come to realise that white people as a rule do not walk to work. There are exceptions, me being one and my colleague Susan being another one...oh and yesterday morning I saw two "ooms" walking and talking(I'm sure they're working on the new Greenpoint soccer stadium)

OK, so maybe there lots of exceptions, but still, lots of white people don't walk any part of their journey to work. The other lot of exceptions are those who work in the CBD around the station.

White people like to put on very expensive running shoes, shorts, shades and pods and then go for a jog. I see them running past me in droves every morning.

Is it just me(the exception) or is there something odd about this?

Maybe I am just beginning to see South Africa from a whole new perspective now that I am taking a road more traveled.

Me, I'm just promoting my new found way of getting fit and saving money while getting to work all at the same time....BRILLIANT!

Seasons

2009-03-30T10:47:00.004+02:00

The seasons are changing and it's most notable when I look at how much darker it gets every morning I get to the station around the same time. It is also much harder to wake up in time for that same train. There is a definite bite in the air but it makes for a much more pleasant walk. The closer I get to winter the more I am considering taking the Golden Arrow bus.
I am taking everything into consideration, cost of ticket, closed windows with lots of sneezing and coughing vs. cold and windy walk up to the Waterfront...I wonder.
I have changed the appearance of my blog, to white background...not sure it works. I will be experimenting with different look and feels some more.

Tourist for a day

2009-03-25T07:45:00.006+02:00

I took the day off on Monday and became a tourist in my own city for a day. There is so much to do and see in Cape Town that one day is just not enough and should be seen as day 1 of many planned trips. We took the Citysightseeing bus and I was extremely impressed with it. It's a relaxing stress free way to see the city. If you do take the red bus I have to recommend you stop at stops 5, 6 or 12 to do a bit of city crawling, discover some nice shops and impressive galleries. The breakfast at Da Capo in Green market square was very nice. Seated outside on the sidewalk having breakfast I was at times mentally transported to somewhere in Europe complete with Vespa scooters going up and down. Next up were a couple of galleries. All of them are recommended:

Gallery F with photographic works with a twist by Jonathan Taylor. A must see

Atlantic Art Galery with the super realistic paintings of Mark Midgley.

WorldArt Gallery with various artists including Marlise Keith expressing herself on the window

A walk up Long street and then over to the Company Gardens were next where we met up with the red bus again.

The bus also made a stop at the base station of the cable car with breathtaking views of Cape Town before it goes over Kloofnek to Campsbay with more stunning views. A quick Stop was made for lunch in Camps Bay.
Lunch was at Blues. The food really took a long time to arrive and I was dissapointed with my choice. The views from the terrace was nice though and overall not too bad.

Lunch was over and just in time for another red bus stopping accross the road.
All in all a really good day and something I can recommend to tourists and locals alike.

Photos

2009-03-19T21:03:00.006+02:00

I've not posted a photo in days, so...

Construction work on the pedestrian bridge. A 2010 project.

Construction at Cape Town Station in progress. A 2010 project.

Duck! Not a 2010 project.

Metrorail's FAQ

2009-03-19T08:18:00.006+02:00

Herewtih some interesting responses to frequently asked questions by Metrorail. I found some of these really funny...

PREACHING ON TRAINS
Many customers welcome preachers, others find them offensive. Metrorail receives complaints from time to time, usually because some of these preachers are intolerant of other creeds. On the whole, though, the feedback from commuters travelling on coaches where there are preachers has mostly been positive.
However, where it is brought to Metrorail’s attention that preaching on trains is offensive, has a negative impact or inconveniences commuters, action will be taken and the offenders can be arrested and prosecuted in terms of section 12(1) (d) of Schedule 1 of the Legal Succession Transport Act 9/1989:
* “A person who knowingly acts in such a manner as to inconvenience in an unreasonable manner a passenger in any vehicle of the Company shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction any competent court may impose, in its discretion, a fine or imprisonment, or a fine and imprisonment, or an other suitable punishment within the court’s jurisdiction”

COMMUTERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES TO IMPROVE THEIR RAIL SERVICE
Commuters can contribute substantially to improve their commuting experience through self-management. Ensure that you act lawfully and encourage fellow passengers to do the same.
• Familiarise yourself with the Legal Succession Act (Act 89 of 1989), Schedule 1, Section 12(1)
• Pay your way – Ensure that you buy a train ticket and report those who avoid paying fares. • Customer punctuality - Be punctual and board/alight your train safely and promptly
• Be safety conscious - Adhere to safety requirements. Develop a culture of rail safety by teaching your family safe habits such as crossing railway lines at authorised subways, pedestrian bridges or level crossings. Stand behind the yellow line on the platform and ensure that train doors are closed before departure and in transit.
• Be security conscious - Be vigilant when travelling alone or after dark, whenever possible travel in groups and arrange to be met at the station. Avoid travelling with valuables and/or cash. If you own a cellular phone, pre-programme it to dial emergency numbers. Be observant should you witness an incident of any kind and supply the SAPS official with as much detail as possible. Report all incidences, no matter how insignificant these may seem. Information leading to the conviction of criminals is rewarded with as much as R25 000.
• Hold local authorities accountable for spending your rates/taxes
You have the right to demand value for your money. Station/rail surrounds should be clean and safe in your neighbourhood. Insist that municipal property adjoining rail precincts in your area be appropriately secured especially if located close to facilities for children and the aged/infirm.
Report illegal land invasion and hawking activities immediately to the appropriate authorities. Protect the environment and preserve precious land. Inquire whether new commercial and/or residential developments can be accessed by rail.

So I take it from this last one that it's up to me to make things better?...mmmm

What was I thinking

2009-03-18T10:49:00.008+02:00

So yesterday against my better judgement I decided to try the Golden Arrow bus again.
What a total waste of time. I should have known it would it late. I was patient though, sitting on the benches across from the Aquarium chatting with my colleague. Sure enough it arrived after about 7 minutes. What I could not have known was how bad the traffic out of the Waterfront would be. After sitting on the bus for nearly 15 minutes I realised that it only progressed 400 meters. I suddenly realised that I had less than 15 minutes to get to the station.
I jumped off mid traffic and started running.
Fourteen minutes, 30 seconds and 62 breaths per minute later I arrived at the platform.
I slumped against one of the pillars inside the coach and then realised that I was in a pool of sweat. Everybody on board also realised this and just stared.
Note to self: Next time, just take it easy and get the next train...

This morning's train was one of those standing models again. Not sure what they call them. There is simply no room on these types of coaches, especially if you try to read a book standing by the door area.

My book and I got squashed up again but amidst all this and attending to a phone call from my colleague I managed to finish my 3rd book!

Question is, what ever am I going to read next?!?!

There is that long list of top 100 best books but I can't bring myself to start reading number 1...Pride and Prejudice.

Lord of the Rings is too thick, although it could stop a knife.

Same goes for the Bible in at number 6, but honestly, I won't be reading that on the train.
So at this stage it looks like I'm heading towards something like 1984...by George Orwell...oh well, is anybody even watching?

Another day

2009-03-17T07:49:00.002+02:00

The events of last Thursday has not deterred me to keep on commuting publicly. I'm still here, still taking the train, but this time I am way more cautious and prepared.
Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Public transport is dangerous

2009-03-16T08:10:00.005+02:00

I am really sad to report that the Thursday morning train to Cape Town via Monte Vista was the target of an armed robbery.
A woman that was stabbed in the process related how it all happened. A man was also seriously injured and his jawbone broken in the ensuing chaos. I don't have all the details about the event but will try and get more when I see her.
She reported the incident to Metrorail.

I almost feel like I have to apologise for one of earlier posts about the power of positive thinking and feel like an idiot at this moment.
I am continuing to take the train however but I am regarding 50% of the people on it as potential killers, robber or looters.
I have written about this before and I am convinced that this event would not have happened if there was proper control at every station.

What really makes me sad is that no matter how much the city and the country for that matter upgrades the public transport and sporting facilities, we will always be held ransom by a small minority of criminals.

This also make me think why some of these upgrades are only happening now as part of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup?

In more than 14 years of a new democracy the new government has done nothing to improve the public transport network in this country.

Historical Cape Town

2009-03-13T07:45:00.005+02:00

I got these from my colleague Susan yesterday. It was too good not to post. Enjoy.

Adderley street

Cape Town Airport(not international)

Foreshore...for sure!

Cape Town Station...Seems Lion Beer sponsored the station back then.

Last but not least...the cable car. Dude, get back in there!

On the street

2009-03-12T21:20:00.003+02:00

I discovered to my shock, that my really really cheap bottom of the range Samsung J700 cellphone starts renumbering pics from 0001 every time previous pics were deleted on it.

Second shock is that the blue tooth file movement simply replaces existing file names. Overwrites them without question.

So the sad thing is that I've lost around 20 pics of construction progress and nice sights on my route.
I hate this phone.

I did manage to save some I've not posted before...

Inspirational advertising by Johnny Walker. I'm still walking.

Early morning reflections on building

The Free Riders

2009-03-12T16:40:00.007+02:00

This morning I happened upon a group of people I can only describe as the free riders. I should probably say, they happened upon me as I was standing reading my 3rd book by the door.

There must have been about 12 of them and they were in a great hurry to all get onboard. The problem was that there was no room inside, but they managed to get on anyway. Even if that meant squashing up everybody else that was standing in the open area by that door.

I had to move down the coach to continue reading my book. This group of people then departed as promptly as they entered at the next station.

I was enlightened by some bystanders that this happens from time to time.

You see, the Metrorail system is not a closed system. There are no ticket control points at the smaller stations along lines. There are no automated integrated system to check tickets. Security here does not check people jumping turnstiles, they look after you life.
The only control is at Cape Town station where the 'checkers' aren't even doing a proper job. Refer to earlier posts when I've forgotten my monthly ticket.

The power of positive thinking

2009-03-11T11:01:00.005+02:00

Since I've started using public transport I've run into some really negative thinking people regarding the topic. I realise that I was from that same negative place myself just 2 months ago.
I am just astounded that the average perception out there amongst middle to upper class people is so extremely negative towards using it.
Since taking the "bold" step into using public transport I've come across comments like:
"are you mad?!",
"you're a very brave man",
"isn't it dangerous",
"my best friends shoes were stolen while she fell asleep on the train",
"a family had a bad experience with drunks on the tourist route to Simon's Town ",
"surely not after dark!",
"weren't the taxis burning the trains",
"not my type of people, no thanks",
"it's so limiting to be bound by scheduled departures",
"yeah, I'd take it but how do i get to work from the station"
"wait until winter"

Well, you know what? I'm still alive. I've not once seen anything remotely dangerous. I've started walking the last mile in protest of the Golden Arrow bus.
I've made a plan and I'm doing it. Besides, there are lots of people already doing it, that's thrown away the shackles of thinking against change.

So there, I feel better now.

P.S.
I am a little worried about winter though, but I'm getting myself prepared for that too.

Cape Town Station contruction

2009-03-10T05:45:00.001+02:00

There used to be a huge "ticket" office" in the middle of this area. It's all gone now. I posted a pic here that still showed the red boards.

The old cladding is being removed. This pic a couple of days old though. All the red cladding is gone.

Red construction boards on the right hand side.

This is the island in Buitengracht where the Highway enters and exits the city. All closed up for work. Not sure what's happening here.

Crack of dawn

2009-03-09T10:49:00.005+02:00

I've decided to get to work a little earlier starting today. It is much darker 20 minutes earlier in the morning.
The lighting at Oosterzee is really good, so good in fact that one can play a game of tennis on the platform if one had racquets, balls and a net.
I was surprised to find how packed the train was at 6:17am already. Shouldn't people be asleep this time of the morning?
So a new time brings a new crowd to get used to. I'm ot so sure I'll be able to get up so early for too long though.
Getting to Cape Town earlier helped with the long walk to the V&A Waterfront though as it wasn't hot at all.

Books

2009-03-06T08:12:00.004+02:00

I finished reading my second book on the train yesterday. This morning was the start of a brand new one.
Taking the train really gets me back into reading and is one of my motivators to keep on commuting publicly.
It is tricky to remain focused on the book sometimes when people start cellphone conversations next to you. These conversations are never at normal pitch BECAUSE THEY THINK THE TRAIN MAKES A NOISE AND THE OTHER PERSON CAN'T HEAR THEM.

But it's mostly good. This morning I managed to go through the first 15 pages of "Life, The Universe and everything" on my 30 minute journey. This while tannie Koekie next to me had to phone oom Hennie to go have a look at her place because the alarm went off. Oom Hennie also had to make sure he put the two bricks at the gate against it, so her darling four dogs don't get out into the street. Then she phone the armed response people and explained the same and then back to oom Hennie(who was promised a bear for his efforts)

The Malmesbury train

2009-03-05T10:22:00.010+02:00

This train stops around 7am at Oosterzee. It is a big diesel drawn train with lots and lots of coaches. The problem is these coaches are already packed to capacity by the time it reaches Oosterzee. But that's not all. You see, Oosterzee is not the last stop before Cape Town, so the closer we get to Cape Town the closer we get to each other...while I read the posters inside that read:

FACT:
80% of germs
get spread
by
touch

That's the poster next to the other poster that reads:

Money back guarantee Funeral Plan

...huh? So you get your money back???When?!?!

Now what am I supposed to do with this knowledge on a jam packed train?

Travel tip: Rather catch an earlier train @ 6:40am or wait for the 7:04am train.

People are strange...

2009-03-04T13:08:00.007+02:00

It has been such a funny week so far. The more I get used to the regulars the funnier and weirder they seem to get.
There is the charmer that sometimes hops on accompanied by a blond, sometimes with a brunette. Can't wait for the day both blond and brunette make it to the train at the same time.
Then there were the beggar pair from elsewhere. The one sings for she's blind and the other holds the cup for the coins. They won't make any through the first auditions at Idols though but the entertainment value was priceless.
Then there was the chubby black dude that fell asleep on his feet and almost pasted his face on the floor.
A dishonorable mention goes to the chunky white dude that tried to re-enact a scene from a cartoon to one of the other seen around regulars.
Then there are the purple shirted retail workers that make it their aim in life to test cellphone volumes and people's patience.
The winner however must go to Mr. Standup-comedian-on-a-train:

Mr. Standup: "Haaallooooo to all de people on de traiiin!!!!"
Mr. Standup: "Whyyyy so glummm?!"

Everybody else: Maintains silence and grimly looking down or out the windows.

Mr. Standup: "Ooooh it's mos de financial crises ne"

Everybody else: Maintains silence and grimly looking down or out the windows.

Mr. Standup: "So let me help you out then"
Mr. Standup: "Der is mos 3 rings ne, engangement ring, wedding ring and a suffe ring"

Everybody else: Exploding with screams of laughter.

Mr. Standup: "Maaach better, maaach better, have you heard the one of..."

And so it went on for 30 minutes.
Everybody was laughing and tears of joy had to be wiped of cheeks by the end of the show.

And the funny thing is...

2009-03-03T09:08:00.008+02:00

I was reprimanded by 24.com yesterday.
I thought I was being clever when I created a blog on their blog system referring to this blog.
It was only a day or two when suddenly I got this email:

"Hi there
It has come to our attention that you have started a blog on 24.com merely to market your blog elsewhere.I am afraid that we do not allow this sort of marketing/advertising. If you are not going to become an active member of the blogging community within 24.com please let me know so that we can delete your blog with us."

Needless to say, I'll remove the link referring back to this blog.
It just makes me cringe.

To me it doesn't seem that blogging on 24.com gives you much freedom of speach as out here on the real blog community.

I wonder if I were to write about this on that blog how long it will be before I'm silenced.
I always thought that the media was FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE

I find this funny in a 'shock therapy' kind of way. Are there really people monitoring each and every blog that has been listed with inappropriate words or URLs, scanning, moderating, eliminating...?!?!

Zen and the art of Ubuntu

2009-03-03T07:47:00.006+02:00

Nothing says ubuntu better than waiting in a queue at the Cape Town Station. That feeling of being who you are because of who we all are.

It's a good thing I left half an hour earlier yesterday to buy my ticket. The queues must have numbered around 20 each containing around 30 people.

There I was stuck in a queue looking around me and experiencing ubuntu, maybe not in the 'hardship' kind of way, but still enough to make me think. I suddenly realised that for most people standing in a queue to get the ticket to ride was the easiest and best part of an otherwise hard day spent to survive.

I must say the service behind the desks was efficient to keep processing the feed. But again I have an uneasy feeling about the readiness for the 2010 event. I just hope they have a better system for daily commuters soon or are they going to declare match days as public holidays. Does anybody know any detail around this?
I bet you Sep Blatter didn't travel in commuter style to get to the city when he came to inspect the stadium. I also sure he was not witness to the masses queuing to get a ticket.

I can only hope that the ticketing system gets a good and efficient upgrade that allows for quick buying, exiting and entering or flow at the station.

A new month, a new monthly ticket...

2009-03-02T14:01:00.003+02:00

Off course, I forgot. So I did 'n sneaky at the turnstiles this morning.

My heart nearly stopped when the commuter in front of me was double checked.

I just smiled my best smile, flashed an old ticket and walked past. I suppose I should be thank full that the system doesn't really work.

Doesn't bode well for the 2010 Soccer world cup though.

The Sharks in Cape Town

2009-02-27T05:58:00.005+02:00

I came across these sculptures of sharks in an open area in the city. They rotate freely. So when the wind blows it creates the effect of them swimming around.
I'll try to take some better pictures when I get the chance.

More sights of Cape Town

2009-02-26T10:25:00.007+02:00

Spot the homeless person.

Skyscraper.

Misty morning on the canals at the V&A Waterfront.

Ferrari at the Cape Grace Hotel.

The Cape Town Hop on Hop off bus, aka CitySightSeeing, aka The Red bus.

The Red Bus is only good for tourists and travelers. No good for commuters as it costs R120-R200 for the day.
This is nice to go on if you are a tourist. Go visit the website at CitysightSeeing
Mmmmmm, it would be nice to use this bus in stead of the Golden Arrow bus. Notice it has to doors and plenty of seating, air con downstairs and a big sunroof upstairs.

On the streets of Cape Town

2009-02-26T06:17:00.004+02:00

I almost forgot. Today marks the first month of me on the public transport system. Hooray!!!

Statue of a boy with plastic bike toy

Statue of man on cellphone

Oh dear, the notorious bus for us. Won't be taking it soon.

Oosterzee station...again.

The 6:40 train to Cape Town

Google Maps updated!

2009-02-25T11:47:00.004+02:00

This is a good day indeed. About three weeks ago, I sent in a complaint to Google Maps data provider about the shocking state of the detail in Cape Town and surrounding areas. Strand Street was where Riebeeck to name one example.

I could not believe my eyes however when I took a look at my own map below and saw an upgraded map of the city!!!!

Bring out the champagne I say.

Minibus Taxis from hell

2009-02-25T10:35:00.003+02:00

There has been some horrific incidents involving minibus taxis in the last week or two.

Apart from the mindless strike against a proper rapid transit network taxis have made the news due to fatal incidents.

Death by minibus taxi is quickly becoming the number one way to die in South Africa.

I still refuse to make use of them. Others are not so fortunate and can only rely on them to get work and back.

I was wondering while walking this morning what would happen if the people embark on a strike against the taxi regime...I can't wait for the dream of the rapid transit system to be implemented.

Sights, sounds and touch

2009-02-24T08:05:00.005+02:00

One thing is for sure. The Metrorail trains are not underutilised. The scene that greets one as you gets of a train at Cape Town Station is one of a hurried mad rush. People everywhere trying to get to the turnstiles first. I've always been first out the door up till now, but this morning I decided to venture deeper into the train and get a seat to continue my book. The side effect of this is that you get out last and pretty much lands in the middle of the mad rush.

The mad rush is nothing however compared to what awaits one around the corner at Texies(a shop at the station that sells stuff)

The queue to get on the "Bus for us" is staggering. I was tempted to do the pedestrian route again this morning, but decided to time the bus against the alternative of walking.

Got the bus at 7:10 and eventually got to work around 7:30

It normally takes me 20 minutes to walk as well.

So it's clear to see that taking the mobile sardine can with 64 seating and 25(i.s.o. 14) standing passengers has no advantage what so ever.

Yes the bus is overcrowded and there are scenes I'd rather not see in my days on earth. People still adjusting underwear and getting half dressed and the like. Then there are the three young men that each played the best/worst R&B music on their cellphones as load as those tiny little speakers can go.

So all I can say in a calm and collected gentlemanly manner is: "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M IRRITATED?!"

I will have to take it in winter though, when the rain comes and the air is still dark and feels like a stormy night.

Back on track

2009-02-23T11:53:00.004+02:00

Just a short one today.
It feels good to be back on the train. I even took the "Bus for us". I'm almost sure it's quicker by foot to the Waterfront than on the bus.
I did pay with a R50 note and had to wait a couple of minutes for change.
Conclusion, I don't have pay to walk and don't have to wait for change or queues either.

Highway blues

2009-02-20T07:26:00.007+02:00

Yup, I've done it. I had to use my car today because I'm just not willing to take a 17" CRT monitor on the train and bus with me.

So, there I was stuck in traffic again. The congestion wasn't that bad, but I left 6:30am and it took me 35 minutes. Compared to Gauteng traffic on the Ben Schoeman, it's nothing, but I don't want to sit in it anyway.

I must admit it was with great resistance that I got into my car today and driving past the railway line I couldn't help to think about the people and faces I now know and see on the train.

I will write about some of them soon.

Follow up:

I have to add the following:
I am feeling the heat from some people I know and followers(Chris) on the blog about my car trip today.

So I am stating categorically that I am not giving up commuting by train.
(Yeah, sounds like a politician I know)

Force of habit

2009-02-19T08:20:00.003+02:00

I wanted to use my car to come to work this week to work late.

So far I've not been able to bring myself to do it.

I can only conclude that I've become used to the public transport system.

Now that I think back to the time before my conversion and during the consideration phase it becomes clear that it is all about the force of habit and a resistance to change.

I am happy using public transport and my resistance against using my car for daily commute has grown.

Some pics

2009-02-18T06:06:00.007+02:00

Oosterzee @ 6:39 (see little Table Mountain over there?)

Pedestrian walkways past Waterfront Village

Bridge en route to Station via Cape Grace Hotel

'Platform mayhem' or 'find your train game'

Just a note on the pic above. Usually there are no problems to find your train. Only about 1/20 times the train is on another platform. There are announcements, but I can't make them out. You're in luck if you know the regular crowd on your train and then you follow the mystical 'kind of rush' all over the platforms. All in all not too bad, and anyone will be able to do it. Start using public transport if you can!
if you can't use public transport, why not leave me a comment and I'll publish it. Let's make ourselves heard.

Found

2009-02-17T08:07:00.003+02:00

I found the ticket but not before I got lost myself.

My usual 17:20 train always leaves from platform 24, yesterday the 17:15 Express(that means it doesn't stop at my station) left from platform 24.

I was just about to relax, got my book out, started reading when suddenly the doors closed(at 17:15) and off we went.

I realised something was wrong when the train did not stop at the first small station.

I got off and Belleville station and waited for the first train back to Oosterzee...

Belleville station by the way is not a station I would use again, especially not in the cold rainy season. There is no protection against the elements.

Lost

2009-02-16T08:12:00.006+02:00

Tickets, I've spoken about it before and have even lashed out at pirate riders using 3rd class tickets in 1st class coaches.
There is no form of control on the trains, only at Cape Town station as you enter or exit the platform area.
Big was my shock when I realised my monthly ticket was gone...just as the train rolled into Cape Town station.
A quick frantic search turned up nothing. I did however found an old daily ticket and a cunning plan was set in motion. A plan so cunning, that no plan before or after would ever be so cunning.
"They don't call me clever Pete for nothing." - Black Adder, series 1

Using my old ticket, I headed straight for the turnstiles spotting the least able looking ticket "checker"(they cannot qualify for inspectors) and flashed my ticket without the slightest sign of hesitation.
I was free!
Now I won't be doing the same thing this afternoon and will have to opt for a day or weekly ticket.

Also I feel a little guilty for lashing out about the lack of control when I depended on that lack this morning to gain my freedom.

Metrorail sauna and spa

2009-02-13T11:55:00.006+02:00

Hey travelers and survivors of the recent global financial crises, here's some money saving tips:

Forget about spending a fortune on some fancy spa in the Western Cape near the coast.

Just take a nice stroll from the V&A Waterfront to the Cape Town Station and hop on a train to somewhere(there are plenty of destinations to choose from)

Upon you arrival at the station, you'll have to fork out some money(R5.50) for a ticket to Belleville for instance and then you can board the mobile sauna on one of our splendid yellow coaches.

Some features of the mobile sauna:

The extreme heat inside will make you sweat and you will loose weight quickly.
You will stand, it's good for toning those calves.
You will get to wrestle with the locals(who's only paid for 3rd class tickets) for a standing spot at no extra charge.
Your destination will be an absolute oasis after one of these trips.

Yeah OK, I know, I am being negative and sarcastic(for those who did not realise) but yesterday was the first day I could really say that I felt let down by Metrorail.

The overcrowding and heat on that train was almost unbearable.

Overcrowding happened again this morning.

There is NO CONTROL on the boarding, safety and tickets of passengers.

Why do I have to pay twice as much as other passengers and end up having to share the ride with them. I demand a flat rate then and let's call the whole MetroPlus/Metro class thing off!

In the three weeks I've been using the train, I've have not once seen anyone asking any passenger to produce a ticket.

How on earth can we be ready for 2010?!

The pondering pedestrian

2009-02-12T08:59:00.004+02:00

The minibus taxi strike has started me thinking. I'm going to 'keep on walking' the last mile to work.

Not only is it very good cardiovascular exercise but it's also good for my mind.

It's amazing what one thinks of while walking.

I'll be getting fitter, and I save even more money.

Provided the weather is nice...