Not having a vehicle has made me rely on an inconvenient form of transportation in Bakersfield in order to get everyday tasks accomplished.
Golden Empire Transit, which serves Bakersfield area residents, recently broadcast a commercial advertising the conditions of traveling on the GET bus, as well as their offerings to the general public.
The image GET portrays is one of a clean and pleasant experience for its riders. In my opinion, this commercial creates a false image for both the prospective and seasoned rider.
My experience while on the GET bus is that there’s nothing pleasant about it. In the commercial, everyone has a smile on their faces, while a number of businessmen in three-piece suits are carrying brief cases.
Everyone seems to be happy and pleased with the service they’re being provided. What I have experienced throughout the years has been the complete opposite of pleasant. I have been traveling on the GET bus for a number of years and not once have I experienced what was displayed in the commercial.
Let me tell you about some of the conditions I have encountered while traveling on the GET bus. The driver and the passengers aren’t smiling. The passengers are usually quiet and well-mannered, aiming to merely get their business done and move on with their lives.
In the commercial, GET neglects to show the lady with three bags of cans or the bum throwing up in the back of the bus, which no one bothers to clean up.
I also didn’t see the woman with six kids and three strollers running over your feet, not once echoing an apology or excuse me.
One incident I vividly recall is when an older gentleman had his feet run over by a guy in a wheelchair. Not once did he apologize for his actions.
I have only mentioned a few problems that I have experienced while traveling on the GET bus, and hope that you have a better understanding as to why this commercial frustrated me.