BlackBerry Bus

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   There is a mini-bus (25-30 passenger capacity) sponsored by BlackBerry that is picking up passengers at Bob's. This morning I was behind the bus. It picked up everyone who was in line (about 10-12 persons) except for one guy who decided on principle that he was not going to ride with them and came with me (THANK YOU!). this means that at least 5-6 cars behind the bus had to wait extra time to find passengers. The bus did the same thing for a long time at the Rolling Valley slug line. It wreaked havoc for the drivers who had to wait long periods of time to find passengers. Sometimes the bus will even wait until it is full before leaving! 

	Is there a way to stop them? Can the authorities (who??) intervene?

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kajal Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Location: va Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote kajal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: BlackBerry Bus Posted: 27 Aug 2013 at 12:44pm
	There is a mini-bus (25-30 passenger capacity) sponsored by BlackBerry that is picking up passengers at Bob's. This morning I was behind the bus. It picked up everyone who was in line (about 10-12 persons) except for one guy who decided on principle that he was not going to ride with them and came with me (THANK YOU!). this means that at least 5-6 cars behind the bus had to wait extra time to find passengers. The bus did the same thing for a long time at the Rolling Valley slug line. It wreaked havoc for the drivers who had to wait long periods of time to find passengers. Sometimes the bus will even wait until it is full before leaving! Is there a way to stop them? Can the authorities (who??) intervene?

scottt Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Slug Joined: 12 May 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote scottt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Aug 2013 at 4:52pm
	Sorry, I have to object. The bus has its pluses and minuses. I recall once when the bus stopped at the 19th and F pickup line. That day the line was VERY long. Thanks to the bus, I got home at my usual time, vs 30-45 mins later. I've ridden it 4 times. Another time it was a very long line at Bob's on the 18th St line. It was great to go from 25th in line to getting a ride. They will only be running the bus for a few more days (according to them) so you won't have to put up with it much longer. I, for one, will miss it.

billybaru Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 03 Dec 2010 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote billybaru Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Aug 2013 at 8:48am
	I feel that this taints the whole "slug" system. Although blackberry may end this promotion who is next ? The Clorox bus ? The Tide express ? If this continues drivers will be discouraged to pick up slugs because .....well there aren't any in line. The system is based on people donating a seat in their car and in return the slugs get a free ride into DC. Simple and it works, why disrupt something that works. just my two cents respectfully

scottt Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Slug Joined: 12 May 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote scottt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Aug 2013 at 9:46am
	I didn't find it to be a disruption. In the afternoon at 19th and F, there were still PLENTY of people in line when they came and picked up. At Bob's in the morning, there was only one car behind them, and 2 people from the back of the line got in. Perhaps the bus is more of a disruption at other lines, however I found it to be great for the lines I use.

RetiredMarine Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote RetiredMarine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 2013 at 3:07pm
	I think this is great for the slugs and reduces the amount of cars on the road!!

scottt Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Slug Joined: 12 May 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote scottt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 8:08am
	Rode it the other day. They are extending it thru Sept. I told them we could really use them in Dec/Jan/Feb :-)

jonmalay Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 23 Aug 2011 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote jonmalay Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Sep 2013 at 7:27am
	The Blackberry busses (and others which may follow) are a serious disruption to a very good system. There's an inherent "contract" between riders and drivers. The riders offer themselves as HOV passengers and drivers offer a free ride. If riders willingly get on the BB bus, they're breaking the contract. Drivers, who of course pay for gas and parking, are left with fewer riders and have every right to be angry. I'm not a lawyer, just a ticked off driver who is asking riders to step onto the bus, tell its driver to leave, get off, and then get into one of the cars waiting to give them a FREE ride. Just saying... Jon

scottt Members Profile Find Members Posts Senior Slug Joined: 12 May 2004 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 106	Post Options Post Reply Quote scottt Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Sep 2013 at 8:40am
	I'd love to see you try that argument when it's 20 degrees and snowing.

ETC Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 08 Dec 2009 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote ETC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Sep 2013 at 10:00am
	Have to agree that the BB Bus ruins slugging for drivers. This is supposed to be symbiotic relationship

colossus911 Members Profile Find Members Posts New Slug Joined: 19 May 2006 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote colossus911 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Sep 2013 at 11:49am
	I convinced my partners to change away from blackberry's products directly because of this bus. There are 25 employees in our firm and we all changed last year after I ranted about this in a principals meeting. Whole process has easy solution, if we can cost blackberry more customers then they get from the promotion we win. See thing I don't get is why Blackberry thinks it is a winning process. I am guessing most riding slugs don't control the purchasing authority for their firms/offices, while I would bet there are more than a few drivers who do.