My porch is not a bus stop

[Aut]

The bus stop on this side of the street used to be down near the intersection up until about a month ago. The one route that turns onto our street from the intersection left the tail end of the bus hanging out into traffic when it would get to the stop. So they moved the bus stop to quite close to my driveway in order to give that bus a chance to straighten out before stopping. I don't think I ever noticed how often busses from 2 routes stopped there until then. It made me nervous because I didn't like seeing all these people loitering next to my driveway.

But then it got better. Not even a week after the move, the weather was not so great. At the time, it was only sprinkling, but apparanly that was too much to for some guy who came and stood on our covered porch while waiting for the bus. My house is in the front and the office and storage units are in the back. I have 2 large windows looking from the living room over the porch/front yard/street. It was somewhat dark outside, and I had lights on inside and the blinds open because I just get depressed and feeling all closed in if the blinds aren't open during the day. He saw me and I saw him and it's not hard to tell that what you are seeing inside are living quarters. So do think he leaves? No, He paces the porch, glancing back in a few times until I closed the blinds. Yeah, I could have gone out and said something, but I'm a chicken, and it was just me there with my kids +2.

Later in the week, someone else comes over from the bus stop, rings the office doorbell and then asks if I can give them a ride to the TRAX station down the street. Does my van say UTA on it? I guess they didn't want to wait for the bus. That makes me curse the stupid stop relocation even more. And then the next week, the bus was at the stop, I'm coming back from class, watching the bus closely to see if it was going to take off before I got to my driveway. It had it's lights on on that it wasn't going anywhere at the moment, I get ready to make the right turn into my driveway only to see the bus pulling away from the stop. If I had not been paying so much attention, there could have been an accident. Instead I abandoned the turn and had to make a U turn down the street.

Seriously BAD idea to move the bus stop right there. They could have moved it not as far from the intersection and still corrected their problem without messing up my property. Grrr.

I had another family duck into my porch today, but didn't chase them off because they had a small child with them. They were there only 2 minutes, but then it didn't really start storming until right after they took off.

[JustaCashier]

I'm a full time bus rider and have been doing so in my city for decades. To me, that type of behavior is incredibly rude, and inexcusable.

Sure. some may argue that the person chose to live there, but there are many instances such as yours, where you were there before the bus stop was installed.

I've noticed, over the years, where bus riders will sit on peoples' rockeries, retaining walls, the steps connected to the walkway that leads to the front porch, and such. Don't recall whether I've ever seen anyone actually standing on the porch though. Of course, some of them litter in the peoples' yards as well.

I've noticed on occasion, that some residents will put a bench (if there's room) and/or some type of garbage can near the bus stop. I always admire those that do that, but think it's maddening that they feel they need go to that expense and trouble, to keep their property from being abused.

I don't know that my bus system offers any kind of help for people in your type of situation, but maybe you could contact you local system and see if they can do anything for you. Maybe they can put a shelter in if there's room, especially if it's a well used inbound (toward town) stop. At the very least a bench, but that's still exposed to the weather.

Of course, this may all be a pipe dream, what with our most hated phrase; "the economy" because I'm sure that most transit systems such as mine, are struggling simply to keep normal service running, on tighter budgets.

Another idea; maybe a "No Trespassing" sign? Unless you think it might detract from your business.

Anyway, good luck. And the next time some rude bus rider stands on your porch, tell 'em I said to "Go to Hell!"


Mike

[Eireann]

Can you afford to screen in your porch, so that they can't use it as a shelter?

[Aut]

I wish we could do that. THe owner would never go for it. I think he should just fence the whole front yard. If that one morning of heavy wet snow hadn't killed the junipers on the side of the driveway last year, they wouldn't be able to see the bus stop from the porch. And the bus stop is just over the property line, on the apartment complexes property (the previous stop was also on their property). Would be nice if they would provide something (since many of their residents use the bus), but they are so cheap, it's really turned into a craphole over there the last few years.

[draggar]

We're having a VERY similar situation in our community - they moved the bus stop to in front of our community and people are always sitting on people's steps, some even right in front of the door (in FL building code - doors have to open OUTWARD so if anyone opened up the door they would have hit someone sitting there).

We called the police about an unrelated isue and we mentioned our issue with where they moved the bus stop to.

He said to do the following:

First - document EVERYTHING. Damage done to your property, tresspassers (yes, they're on your preoperty w/o permission - they are tresspassing), people knocking on your door, ect..

Petition the city about it - get your neigbors involved. Chances are the first few will get ignored (consider yourself lucky if they actually send you a rejection - this means they actually took the time to look at the issue).

Then, the fun part. You have a crowd of people on your porch (by your door) and you don't know who it is? Take pictures and call the police (yes, the officer actually recommended this). Don't call 911 but get the non-emergency number. If you use a digital camera you should be able to print them out by the time the police come. Even if they are gone let them come so it is on record that they responded to the call. If you continue to see people on your front porch / property continue to take pictures and call the police. YOU don't know who these people are and how do you know they are waiting for the bus? All you know is that you have a crowd outside your door.

Continue to petition the city with documtation, pictures, etc..

Eventually the police will complain to the transit authority and then you will start to see results.

We're now at the latter part and a few officers are backing us on this (once they even took someone away in cuffs because called in "suspicious subjects outside someone's house".

[BookstoreEscapee]

I would complain to whoever decides the bus stop locations. Tell them it's too close to the driveway and is a safety hazard.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Another idea; maybe a "No Trespassing" sign? Unless you think it might detract from your business.
Mike

I know in my area at least, a No Trespassing sign is only valid if it's registered downtown at the county courthouse. You can't just buy one at the neighborhood hardware store and put it out front: you have to go through the court to make sure your property is listed as a no trespassing area so the law can be enforced.

Or at least that's what I heard my Mom say last week when we were on the phone with one of my g/f's, whose parents are having issues with one of their neighbors over a private driveway.