Bus Complaints Get Mayor’s Attention

Responding to seniors displeased with a new intercity bus service, Ventura Mayor Jim Friedman has written a letter of complaint to South Coast Area Transit.

Seniors have cited late buses, canceled trips, inadequate seating, telephone busy signals and inexperienced bus drivers, according to city officials and seniors.

The new paratransit service takes seniors anywhere within Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai and Port Hueneme for a small charge if they make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance.

In a letter written to SCAT last week, Friedman wondered if “there is a problem far greater than growing pains” with the month-old operation.

The problems are easily explained, SCAT General Manager Peter Drake said. “Demand is so great, it just overwhelmed the system. People have to be tolerant.”

Drake said the contracting company, Laidlaw, had not received the new buses it had ordered and didn’t initially have adequate phone capacity. He also said the company changed locations and the firm hoped to have the kinks worked out soon.

Nonetheless, Ventura city officials are concerned about the continuing snags and want riders to feel confident in the bus system.

“We are cautiously concerned and want to do what we can to make sure the service works,” said Thomas Mericle, city transportation engineer.

He said the city may help SCAT purchase more buses or aid with a volunteer program to remind seniors of scheduled appointments.

Ojai’s director of general services, Dan Singer, said seniors in his city had also complained.

Ventura resident Ruth Kinne said a shopping trip Thursday that should have taken 90 minutes took twice that long. “The problem is with the whole service,” said her husband, Art Kinne. “If you get through to the operator, they put you on hold for several minutes. How long are old folks supposed put up with that?”