eModest Proposal: Can AATA handle email alerts?

Of course, it hasn’t been all roses and schadenfreude. After the long weekend, I got on the bus, cracked my book, and discovered the route had changed yet again. We were now circling south instead of north, further disrupting the “loop” aspect of the course. I immediately texted my roommate to let her know of the change, assuming that she similarly had no warning of the traffic shift. And here it hits me: why am I doing this? Why doesn’t the AATA do it for me?

I checked the website, but I couldn’t find any information on getting updates—either mobile or by email. I called to ask if the AATA offered any such service, and I was told no: there were simply too many. As I hung up, it occurred to me that when routes change, the AATA sends an employee to make rounds to each stop, setting up paper notices. Even these are often incomplete, stating “This stop will not be served beginning on 5/14.” Until when? Where will the alternate route run? And would an email really be any harder than going door-to-door?

I’m not terribly tech-savvy, so I’m unsure as to how alerts could be handled. The best case scenario would be automated that would ping you when there were changes concerning your route. An outgoing email address per route, aata5@aata.com, for example, would allow you to sign up for only the information pertaining to your regularly traveled route. Any email service would be an improvement, even a weekly notice with blanket updates on proposed changes and construction alerts. It’s better to get information—any information—ahead of time, rather than call AATA when you’re waiting at the stop.

In all fairness, AATA does update its website when routes have been affected. However, this does very little good when you are waiting at the stop, wondering why your bus has not come by. Might there be an automatic email sent when updates have been posted, even if it’s a simple “AATA has made route changes?” Sure, it may not affect your route specifically, but at least you’ve got a head’s up.

I’m not bagging on the AATA. I can’t even if I wanted to: I’ve been taking advantage of their UM free-ride program for years, and I love it. They provide a wonderful and (usually) reliable service to commuters. I’m not looking to improve the routes or buses or drivers—I want to improve the riders. I want every Ride commuter to have up-to-date information at her fingertips so she can stop haranguing the driver about route changes or blaming her tardiness on the AATA.

I realize that, even if the event of email service, paper alerts would sadly still be necessary; since the shelters are removed from web and schedule contact, there would still need to be a notice of the old-fashioned variety. But that shouldn’t be the first notice riders receive; ideally, they would serve as reminders.

Sarah Smallwood is a freelance writer living and working in Ann Arbor. She is currently rewriting her first novel, keeps a daily blog at The Other Shoe and hosts a podcast at Stuff with Things. She can be reached at heybeedoo at gmail dot com.