Last week, I wrote about a recent experience I had encountered trying to book my return ride from the Vancouver Folk Festival for Sunday (July 17) with HandyDart (DART).

I was told the return ride I wanted at or later than the 7:00-7:30 p.m. slot was not available, but an earlier ride for the 5:35–6:05 slot was open.

Inexplicably, their current booking policy prohibits a DART user from both accepting a ride that is not at their preferred time—but is a ride, and being put on a wait list for the ride time they do want.

I could be put on a wait list for the 7:00-7:30 p.m. slot but if I did so, I would not be permitted to book the 5:35-6:05 p.m. trip. If the wait listed ride failed to come up, I would have no way of getting home.

The whole situation was crazy.

I’m delighted to say that today I am writing to sing the praises of TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn.

He must have become aware of last week’s blog, as his office called me on Thursday (July 21) to ask if I would be agreeable to a telephone call with Mr. Quinn later in the day.

I immediately agreed and a few hours later, he called me.

Like his predecessor, Kevin Desmond, Mr. Quinn is a breath of fresh air in practical circumstances. He is definitely not your typical CEO. He makes every effort to connect with customers at the front end.

He took time out of his busy schedule to ask me to explain the situation to him. He was very receptive and not the slightest bit interested in defending a policy simply because that is the way it has always been done.

Mr. Quinn let me know that he would have one of his senior staff people take a hard look at the policy and get back to me.

Metro Vancouver’s citizens are very fortunate to have such an exceptional individual at the helm of the region’s transportation authority, TransLink.

Hat’s off to Kevin Quinn!

Daily atmospheric CO₂ [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]

Latest daily total (July 22, 2022): 417.10ppm

One year ago (July 22, 2021): 416.17pm