Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Bethesda Metro escalators: Oh, no, not again!

I am shocked...shocked!...to report that some of the same escalators are out of service again at Bethesda Metro Center. The plaza-to-bus-bays escalator has been closed early this week for what WMATA calls a "major repair." WMATA also reports that a bus bays-to-mezzanine escalator will be out of service for at least part of today for an "inspection repair."

Riders have fled the system for their own personal vehicles or Uber, and only those who get free rides from the government or other employers are returning. The Washington Post has hilariously published recent editorials acknowledging that Metro is still terrible, and demanding that someone devise a way to force people to use it anyway. "Someone figure out how to keep those darn stagecoaches in business!" Good luck!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know about you, but I'm glad that they are promtly fixing the problem after it was discovered in a recent inspection.

Anonymous said...

Someone tell us about the ice cream

Robert Dyer said...

These escalators have been malfunctioning, or shut down altogether frequently for years. I wouldn't describe these repairs as "prompt," and they have previously been repaired many times - apparently with bubble gum.

Robert Dyer said...

7:23: They don't have ice cream where you're going in federal prison. You better hire an ex-con to get you ready - two years for each case of harassment, stalking and threats against me. And then there's the new Maryland cyberbullying law. You are going to be spending some quality time in the Big House, "ya big baby."

Anonymous said...

This is yet another need, that a four year degree at a debt of $200k doesn't cover. Elevator and Escalator mechanics, actually a very competitive field to qualify for and get training. Hard work but good pay.

Anonymous said...

Dyer's Little Helper @ 6:58 PM: "Only Dyer's trolls and the subservient local legacy media can spin an increase in rape as a good thing. Despicable."

Robert Dyer: "New comments have been disabled for this post by a blog administrator."

See: "Parthian Shot".

Anonymous said...

7:26 Chill, was replying to posts you apparently deleted. Actually interested to know about the ice cream scoop. Jeff's Best still around? It's good but too pricey for what you get. Didn't mean to ruin your escalator party.

Anonymous said...

Escalators, in particular those that are outdoors and exposed to the elements, are a maintenance nightmare. That's why WMATA replaced the escalators in Rosslyn with elevators.

The BART system in the San Francisco area, approximately the same age as Metro, is experiencing similar issues with its escalators.

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/bart-broken-down-escalator-repair-project-cost-rr-13688935.php

Anonymous said...

This is definitely Riemer's fault. He's personally responsible for all Metro escalator maintenance and I saw him just sitting down on the job and playing on his phone instead of actually doing the inspection.

Anonymous said...

For years, this escalator is broken more than it is working.

Anonymous said...

10:00 AM Are you ever happy? I've never seen you post anything supportive or positive here.

Anonymous said...

You must be joking. I frequently post my opinions which are usually very positive about new development if they are worthwhile ideas. Robert is the one who always seems to look for the dark side of every issue.

Anonymous said...

Do all those young folks going to nightclubs really need an escalator from the bus area to the plaza?

Anonymous said...

"I've never seen you post anything supportive or positive here."

Aren't you the one who is always complaining about "relentlessly positive coverage" and "Attaboys" for the Council?

Anonymous said...

5:23 PM Plenty of traditional media folks publishing daily hymnals of praise to their gods on the Council and those ossifying in government positions. Also lots of folks spinning up Wix sites and such to praise their gods.

Apparently, we are blessed with a righteous Council that has never done wrong. Worthy of the daily hymnals that all supporters can read from.

Anna said...

It's not overreacting. It's just a normal reaction to an abnormal amount of BS and hyperbole.

Pretty obvious to anyone who reads that the only ones praising anyone are Dyer's shills and minions lauding his superiority in all endeavors.

Robert Dyer said...

6:14: Please cite examples of "BS" and hyperbole I've published.

Anna said...

Your comment @7:26 is but one example: BS and hyperbole
"They don't have ice cream where you're going in federal prison. You better hire an ex-con to get you ready - two years for each case of harassment, stalking and threats against me. And then there's the new Maryland cyberbullying law.You are going to be spending some quality time in the Big House, "ya big baby."

Or the story attached to these comments is another: BS and speculation
"Riders have fled the system for their own personal vehicles or Uber, and only those who get free rides from the government or other employers are returning."

Anna said...

They do serve ice cream in Federal prisons, some even have soft-serve machines. You can buy it in the commissaries too. FACT.

Robert Dyer said...

10:03: You obviously have more experience in prison than I do, but you are citing a comment from a battle with a troll (likely yourself), not one of my actual journalistic articles.

The other example you give is from an actual story, and is easily verifiable via a Google search. Ridership has declined, is not recovering, and it is widely cited and accepted that those former riders have switched primarily to Uber and their own personal vehicles.

Likewise, it is well-know that the majority of riders remaining on the system are indeed those who get free/subsidized rides. There is an article in TODAY'S Washington Post that cites how Metro needs that subsidy to survive, and that our local congresspeople are trying to get the massive subsidy renewed for that reason.

Total vindication of my point that you cited,

BOOM

Anonymous said...

"Likewise, it is well-know [sic] that the majority of riders remaining on the system are indeed those who get free/subsidized rides. There is an article in TODAY'S Washington Post that cites how Metro needs that subsidy to survive.zzzzzzzzzzzz'

There is a federal subsidy, but it is paid to Metro as a whole and it is not given to individual riders. I don't know where you got this notion. Here is the Post article that you claim to reference - it does not support your claim.

Anonymous said...

Not sure how the "zzzzzzzz" got in there. LOL

Robert Dyer said...

1:30: You seem to be confused - there is indeed a subsidy...it's what the whole Post article was about. There is also the federal tax deduction for Metro riders, and employer subsidies.

You're trying to argue to avoid the fact that you've lost the argument from the get-go. It's a known fact that the majority of Metro riders today are those who are getting it free or heavily subsidized. Ridership is down. If you deny these well-established and widely reported facts, you just reveal yourself as a troll and complete moron.

Anna said...

It doesn't matter WHY you lied, but that you DID.

FYI, I studied criminology in college, back when I was a poly-sci major.

Your exact line was only those who get free rides from the government or other employers are returning. Your partial explanation holds no merit, and certainly is not "total vindication." You have in no way proved that ONLY those getting employer help have returned to riding metro. Just more hyperbole.

You blew yourself with that BOOM.

9:01 AM 4/27/19
Blogger Anna said...

UP...you blew yourself UP. Bad time for me to skip a word. Sincere apologies.

9:02 AM 4/27/19
"Bethesda Metro escalators: Oh, no, not again!"

Robert Dyer said...

10:20: Don't worry, "Anna," your behavior and maniacal trolling of late confirms you are being paid to do this. At some point, the commitment of time and energy exceeds even that of an insane person in a manic phase. Paid troll confirmed. Get the hell out of here, before your harassment and cyberbullying campaign winds you up in the federal prison system. You've been asked to stop repeatedly. Go away.