Route 348

After starting this week with the intention of tracking the true schedule of the 356, I decided instead to try another bus, the 348. I like it. I actually takes considerably less time than the 356 in the morning. I also noticed that the 348 drops me off closer near my work faster than the 356 since I caught the 356 at the beginning of the route, and it would drop me off at work very last on its route. the 348 doesn't pick me up first, only stops at actual stops, and it seems like the bus drivers actually know the route - I mean, really, a bus driver that knows the route is a lot better than one who doesn't. I think I'll be taking the 348 from now on. The 348 has better buses, is not as packed and there are more of them. Plus, it even stays pretty close to its schedule - something that can't be said for any vehicle driving in rush hour down 56th West. The only thing I have noticed thus far is that its schedule in the morning between 90th South and 6200 South is too pessimistic. The bus waits for about 3-5 minutes because it has arrived too quickly. The bus could be quicker if the schedule reflected this early arrival instead of having to wait at a corner for a few minutes. The bus arrives later than scheduled by anywhere from 8-15 minutes as I've been tracking. It arrives earlier than expected but I have started to actually catch it now that I've tried to get there a littler earlier than I thought it would arrive.

Insanity

Sometimes I think it's pure insanity why people in Utah take buses. Either we're green as can be or we enjoy punishment. Many of the bus routes that are available are pretty lousy alternatives to just driving in. For instance, we have a new route on the west side that takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get downtown. It takes me around 30 minutes using a similar route. What makes this route bad? I think currently it's just how much construction is going on and the freeway entrance at 21st south is fairly backed up in the morning, especially during rush-hour when this bus decides to meander its way downtown.