Chicago Dash & The Pitfalls of Government "Help"

As I sat crammed on the hard-as-a-board seat on a ChicagoDASH bus, I was struck again by the pitfalls of having governmental agencies try to do something in which they have no knowledge or expertise in and in the process of "helping" us, they end up spending countless amounts of our money to provide a inferior service.

What's happened in the case of the ChicagoDASH  is that to compensate for their lack of knowledge on how to run a bus service, the Valparaiso decision-makers guessed at what the users of the service (i.e. the customers) wanted.  As a result, we've ended up with buses that are universally accepted as uncomfortable, appear to be unsafe, fitted with seats unsuitable for long rides, yet are equipped with TV service (with TV screens smaller than the laptop I'm typing this entry on), have special compartments for bikes (which I've a grand total of two people use), and have WiFi Internet access that can't be effectively used because of the inferior service provided (not to mention that it's impossible to use a computer on these buses because of the poor seat configuration).

So despite the best intentions of our government officials, we were destined to receive what we got with the ChicagoDASH buses once they decided to "help" us.

ChicagoDASH - Increasing Our Commuting Time

Valparaiso's ChicagoDASH "Express" Bus Service to downtown Chicago will soon be less of an express if it adds another stop in another city along the way.  Currently, the travel times between Valpo and Chicago on the ChicagoDASH can approach two hours (see the ChicagoDASH bus schedule).  The addition of another stop will significantly increase the time commuters sit on these rather uncomfortable buses.

The reasons for this decision are unclear at best, especially in light of recent news reports about ridership being at all-time highs. 

Taking the passenger discomfort to new levels - Poorly Designed Seats

This morning's ride on the ChicagoDASH bus service opened my eyes further to how poorly designed these bus seats are and how the design ends up inflicting extreme discomfort on riders.  The first bus to Chicago was full enough to require a good number of customers to double-up.  I was one of the riders sitting next to someone - something I don't usually complain about.

Here are some of  flaws built into the overall design of these buses.  The seat manufacturers, IMMI,  as well as ChicagoDASH officials who purchased these buses both have to bear responsibility for the poor design.  However, our government officials can rectify the problems if they are willing...Are they?

1. As I sat down, my booty was painfully greeted by the seatbelt buckle which was strategically placed to ensure that riders can't use these seatbelts pain-free.
2. After removing the seatbelt buckle from my keister's left-hand cheek, I winched as a unidentifiable, but carefully place, metal tab introduced itself to the other cheek.
3. This metal tab, placed at the back of the seat, forced me to scooch forward a bit.  Doing so, however, forced my knees even further into the seat in front of me.
4. I then tried to straighten my legs just a few inches to relieve the pressure on my knees, but as I did so, I realized that there is another metal plate angled down from the bottom of the seat in front of passengers.  This plate digs into riders' shins preventing them from straightening their legs to remove their knees from the backs of the seats in front of them.
5. And lock riders into place, the pièce de résistance, are the limited "reclinability" of the seat backs.  This ensures that passengers cannot escape from the various features I've described here.

Most of us prefer not to complain about less-than-optimal service.  However, the situation with the ChicagoDASH buses go well beyond being "less-than-perfect."  The design flaws are so blatant that one is left wondering two things:  Have the seat manufacturers previoulsy built bus seats?  And who are the decision-makers who selected and purchased these seats?

SAFETY - The Real ChicaGO DASH Issue

Narrow Aisles:  In an emergency,
would these be enough to let us out?

The buses purchased area, without a doubt, unsafe. The extremely narrow aisles make it difficult for most people to walk down them easily (i.e. most people have to “shimmy” their way down the aisles). For some people, it becomes a true challenge to get up and down these walkways. When I see this, it makes me cringe to think about what would happen to these people if one of these buses were to be involved in an accident. While the buses may meet whatever requirements may be promulgated by the federal government, this does not relieve local officials from exercising more sense and better judgment to ensure that residents are safe.

This problem will only be exasperated as the bus is crammed with more riders and I would encourage you to address this issue before something horrible does occur. We may all want to avoid having to think about them, but accidents unfortunately do occur. With our region's stretches of bad weather, construction and crowded highways, the likelihood that something unfortunate does happen only increases. Pointing the finger back at federal officials and laying the blame at their feet would be irresponsible – especially when the issue has been brought to officials' attention beforehand.

Coming Soon: Longer Ride, More Discomfort



Two hour rides with bruised knees



Apparently the ChicaGO DASH "powers that be" aren't yet satisfied with taking a good concept down a few notches with the purchase of poorly designed buses (purchased, of course, with taxpayer money).  Now, as reported in local Northwest Indiana newspapers, the government officials who brought to you ridicuously uncomfortable buses, now want to add a stop in another city to cram more riders on these buses.

Of course, adding another stop will make the trip between Valparaiso and Chicago.  Currently, this trip runs well over an hour.  The real problem though is putting more riders on buses that seem to be designed by a group of old Soviet engineers.  Had someone thought about rider comfort and safety, filling every seat wouldn't be a problem.  

ChicagoDASH Discomfort - Seats Manufactured by IMMI

The ChicagoDASH buses have become more full and riders are having to double-up - creating even more uncomfortable rides between Valparaiso and Chicago.  Sitting alone in the ChicagoDASH seats is painful enough, but when passengers have to sit side-by-side, the discomfort goes to a new level. 

Seats by IMMI - Ouch!

The manufacturer of the seats that are installed on ChicagoDASH buses is IMMI.  The company is privately-held so there is little data on the relative sizes of the company's products, but based on the information that is available, IMMI has excelled in designing safer school bus seats.  While the company's efforts on this front are laudable, designing safe school bus seats, ones in which children sit for a relatively short period, doesn't necessarily mean that the company is able to design comfortable seats for long commutes by adults.  If the seats on the ChicagoDASH buses reflect IMMI's best work on coach bus seating, the company's future in this market isn't too bright.

The new buses: Where did the common sense go?

The new buses, purchased with $2.4 million of taxpayer funds, have a number of amenities that are primarily useful only on long trips.  These amenities include Internet access (via WiFi), power outlets to keep laptops charged, bathrooms, and satellite TV.  So WHY did officials approve seats that are perhaps the most uncomfortable I've experienced.  These seats are small, crammed, and extreme hard.  It's virtually impossible to sit comfortably for an extended period.  Where did the common sense go?  Let's get these seats fixed.

Look like this rider's comfortable?

You'd think...

A one-way trip from Valparaiso to Chicago's Loop on the Chicago DASH is scheduled to be nearly 1 1/2 hours long..about the same as the time it takes to fly from Chicago to New York.   In other words, ChicagoDASH riders are sitting for a long time.  You'd think that someone would have made sure that if one thing on the new buses was suitable and safe for long trips, it would have been the SEATS.  Apparently, government officials making these decisions didn't think about this and as a result ChicagoDASH passengers ride each day in unnecessary discomfort. 

Obviously, though, the people making the decisions understood how long the rides are.  Why else would the buses be equipped with bathrooms, WiFi Internet access and even power outlets for recharging our mobile devices? 

How do you reconcile the incredibly uncomfortable and cramped seats and the obvious use of these buses for long riders?

An Open Note to ChicagoDASH Officials...

Like so many other well intentioned governmental actions, the ChicagoDASH bus service between Valparaiso and Chicago has taken a turn that has many riders squirming in their seats - literally. The problem causing the squirming is what most people would consider the most basic of commuter bus amenities - comfortable seating.

The service, run by the City of Valparaiso, started off well enough using buses leased from a private bus company. The buses initially used to provide service were nothing fancy and seemed to have some miles on them, but they offered something sorely missing in the buses recently purchased for Valparaiso - simple comfort.

The three new buses, each costing taxpayers approximately $800,000, have seats (including leg room, seat width and ergonomic design) that are horribly designed and unsuitable for riders to have to sit in for the nearly two hours some ChicagoDASH routes take. As I write this, my left leg has gone numb again, and I'm watching the gentleman in the next seat change his sitting position for the umpteenth time during this particular commute.

I count myself among the many riders who appreciate the idea behind the service. Unfortunately, the thought
isn't sufficient when it comes to taxpayer-provided services. Poor decisions can make a mess of the
best laid plans. In this case, the decision to purchase bus seat that don't serve their primary function -
comfortable seating - has taken the ChicagoDASH service more than one step back. And with the City of Valparaiso looking to bring in additional revenue by adding stops in other cities, such as Hobart, the problem will only be compounded.

Fortunately, the situation can be rectifiable, if someone in Valpo City Hall is willing to step up and take responsibility. First, City offi cials have to be willing to acknowledge that the bus seating is wholly inappropriate for people sitting in one place for 1 1/2 hours.

Second, City officials have to work with the appropriate manufacturer to correct the deficiencies of the product it provided. I trust that City officials entered into a contract with the bus manufacturers that outline how quality issues will be addressed. Finally, City officials to should actively invite riders to provide input when these decisions are being made.  Hopefully, someone steps up and fixes this critical problem.