A while back I shared with readers my frustration with the decision by our bus company TransLink to install an automated voice system. Called TMAC (Transit Management and Communications System) this $40 million dollar investment “improves communication, schedule reliability and safety.” (TransLink Media)

Through GPS they can track their buses, tell users when buses are scheduled to arrive at a stop and the “annunciator” helps the visually impaired know which bus it is and where is is going next. Wonderful technology that has now entered the fleet and made already loud, large buses become even more annoying!

Oh, I know there are those that love the new bells and whistles I’m sure. All you, techno loving people benefiting from the multimillion dollar pilot test that really wasn’t a test but a foregone conclusion. It doesn’t matter that this system would be implemented without full consultation on its impact.

What impact? Well, the constant reminders at all hours of the day and evening just where transit users are going! Yes,  the first thing that I hear in the wee hours of the morning is the number and name of the bus that is stopping out front. It is also one of the last things I hear at night just before midnight as I try to drift off into a blissful slumber.

Now, I have observed this annoying annunciator is activated even without one person standing at the stop and if the person’s are visually impaired that are disembarking they are sure good at hiding their condition. The disability advocates apparently have wanted this need filled and they got it. However, I contend that the majority of people actually riding the bus would not fall under the disability category for which it was created.

Instead, according to a very sympathetic TransLink employee, there are hundreds of complaints. Daily people are calling in to discuss the intrusion of “the voice.” The voice that travels great distance to announce what a human could do, if we weren’t so fond of automation. Now, please don’t bother to convince me this is worth the disturbance of communities for a special interest group. You, are probably not the ones whose home is affected by it. Traveling well over 100 feet, over a fence, up a walkway, through closed windows and doors,  this voice is an unwanted visitor daily.

After trying to get some headway with a call to TransLink and a call to see if my city could do anything under a noise bylaw I have become an advocate on behalf of homeowners; starting with mine. With my trusty duct tape and a homemade sign I marched down to the bus stop and erected a quiet but important message of my own.

QUIET PLEASE!

LIMIT THE USE OF THE AUTOMATED VOICE

ESPECIALLY EARLY MORNING AND LATE AT NIGHT.

RESPECT OUR RIGHT TO PEACE.

I’m sure my sign will not stay up long and I don’t have 40 million to invest in testing its effectiveness. That’s OK though, I have plenty of ink in the printer and paper. If they don’t like my small protest I may need to create my own automated voice to greet them everyday. I think it will be quite helpful as my annunciator will tell TransLink where it is and where it’s next stop should be.

If you too are bothered by this and feel inclined to try contacting TransLink here is the link to their customer service and good luck!