In order to receive approval from the PUC we have to show there is a need for the service. We need the public's support... a hearing will likely be scheduled in February or March of 2009. We need witnesses with specific experiences regarding inadequate service to share with the PUC. Here are some ideas and questions:
- Taxi services
- Do you receive timely and courteous service when you call for a Taxi?
- How many miles are on the Taxis?
- Are they always clean and safe?
- Are the drivers, courteous, helpful?
- Are Taxis always available?
- Are they dependable and on time?
- If you don't use the service, why?
- Did you even know that Yellow Cab is responsible for service in Greeley, Loveland, Longmont, Fort Collins, Windsor, and much more? How good is that service?
- How is the customer service?
- Are your calls quickly answered?
- Is the web site easy to navigate?
- Are the people you talk to friendly and helpful?
- When there is a problem, is it handled quickly and efficiently?
- How is the quality, timeleness, and convenience of the Airport Service?
- Airport Shuttle Service
- Is the service convenient enough?
- Is the area you live getting good service?
- Is the service frequent enough?
- Are there too many stops?
- Are the busses cool in the summer and warm in the winter?
- Would you like a direct service between NOCO and DIA?
- Are the vehicles up to the standards you expect?
- How about the exhaust and particulates from the busses? Is that okay?
- Is the pricing reasonable for the service provided?
Want to support Green Ride's application to provide Taxi and Airport Shuttle service? Be a witness? See instructions and complete a survey at www.greenrideco.com
Bob Flynn
5 comments:
Mr. Flynn, I read your site with interest. As the former GM of Shamrock you appear to be bashing the operation you yourself allowed to deteriorate. Your operation was an embarrassment. I want to see what Veolia does. I checked them out and they are all about “Green” . I have already seen some new buses on the road. Being the former GM of Shamrock should disqualify you from being the head of a new transportation company even if it exists only on paper. Your résumé is broken down on the side of the road with a “wash me” scrawled in the oil spray.
To sell a house and then immediately blame the new buyer because it needs to be condemned is going pretty low. Let’s give these guys chance. You had yours.
Dear Anonymous, Thank you very much for your comment and I absolutely agree that Shamrock had a long way to go and I agree that I did not make the progress that I would have liked to make during my short term as GM.
However, the improvements that took place during my one year tenure as GM were nothing short of incredible. We worked closely with local organizations, we worked hard at paying off significant debt and liabilities that shackled Shamrock since shortly after 9/11/2001. We had financing approved to purchase two 55 passenger MCI buses in August (BTW, this purchase was not supported by the then prospective buyers, Veolia). We were ready to upgrade the fleet. You may have noticed two excellent brand new busses that were added to the fleet in March 2008. We made changes to the infrastructure, accepting credit card payments, upgrading computers and software, putting a financial management system in place, providing the tools people need to do their work.
But the real changes were below the surface, the training programs, the focus on maintenance and safety, the empowerment, and the building of trust in the independent contractors and employees. I was overwhelmed by the dedication and drive that many of the people at Shamrock were beginning to show. The most difficult changes are not around technology and equipment, they are around attitude, concern for the public, and dedication to each other and to the services we provided. That is where we made the most progress in the shortest period of time.
I am incredibly proud of the people I had an opportunity to work with at Shamrock.
It would be enlightening for you if you could have a good open conversation with employees who worked at Shamrock under my tenure. Some might not want to talk, because of fear for their current jobs with Veolia, but I know most have the confidence and strength of character to speak from their hearts, even if they want to remain anonymous to their current managers.
I know that under my leadership and with the dedication and trust we developed in the Shamrock organization, we would have soon provided the type of service that everyone in Northern Colorado would be very proud of.
Veolia will have their chance, to prove themselves. I don’t think there is much any small business can do to change the direction of a multibillion dollar, multinational conglomerate, but for some reason I sense that they fear competition and will do everything in their power to ensure that Green Ride does not get to provide services in Northern Colorado.
But there is no need for Veolia to fear Green Ride. I honestly believe that supporting a business that is socially responsible, local, and sensitive to the environment, will also finally provide the level of service the public deserves.
Supporting Green Ride will be good for all employees, for the environment, for the economy and it will be for good for both Veolia and Green Ride. Lets give the public a choice and a chance to enjoy the benefits of competition and excellent service.
I would be happy to meet with you and talk about my real accomplishments and failures at Shamrock and then maybe you can make a more informed judgment on my ability to contribute to improving transportation options in Northern Colorado.
Beat Regards,
Bob Flynn
Mr. Flynn,
I must take issue with someone in your organization sending out spam in an attempt to garner support from the community for your new venture. Spam is spam, and no legitimate group uses it. Please put a stop to this before it costs you more good will.
Another Anonymous
Interesting discussion. I am always in favor of competition. If Bob wants to start another bus company, that is his choice.
There were pros and cons to Shamrock.
The first pro was the OLD schedule: every hour was terrific. I don't mind waiting an hour. But now it can be 2 or more hours waiting to come home after a long biz trip and that is too long. I don't ride the bus nearly as often as I used to just because of the schedule.
Second, the drivers were nice and professional. I did resent the constant begging for tips, but then that is nationwide not just Shamrock.
Cons: well, the list seems to be growing.
The buses were junk! My feet were constantly cold in the winter, the doors did not seal, I was on one that broke down and we had to transfer to 2 smaller buses. (fortunately it was on the way home or i would have missed my plane!) Another time the doors flew open going down I-25!
Why run those huge diesel hogs for a handful of people? Not smart. And I have seen several times where the bus was empty or had less than 10 people on board.
In cases like that, they should have some of the buses parked at DIA and some here. Then they could take the bus down if it was full and swap out to a smaller van if the return was not full. And vis a versa.
Price: it used to be cheaper to take the bus, now it is not.
Schedule: the new schedule was a joke and the last nail in the coffin. Nobody, even the phone reservation agents, could figure it out. And when you did, they changed it again. People will not wait 2 hours for a bus or be at the airport 3 hours before a flight. Our time is just to valuable. Period. We will find another way. And I did.
Now if Bob wants to create another bus service, I say good luck to him. Maybe, even if he fails, the competition will force prices down to a more reasonable level and bring the service back into customer service.
PS: I would never take a taxi that far, but one way car rentals each way are cheaper when 2 people or more go.
Steve
To "Another Anonymous regarding your comment on spam"
I'm not a fan of spam and I apologize for upsetting you. I hope you clicked on the "Unsubscribe Instantly" link. If you did, you will never hear from us again.
We feel a responsibility to get the message out to as many people as possible in the shortest possible time frame. We have to determine the level of public support for another transportation service. So far the feedback has been overwhelming positive with over 90% of respondents indicating they would support the applications for operating authority submitted to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by Green Ride Colorado. If we cannot show the PUC that there is overwhelming public support for another transportation service it may be many years before another opportunity like this comes up again.
We have only received one complaint about the message. 1.8% of the people who received our message unsubscribed so they will never receive a message from us again, unless they specifically request to be added back to the distribution list.
Over 30% clicked on a link to find out more about Green Ride, and over 90% of the folks who took the survey were in support of our application. I think those numbers indicate a public interest that needs to be served.
It is now or never... if we can't convince the PUC that the public interest is served by adding another transportation company then the results of the past 15 years will continue for a long time into the future.
Almost all applicants for authority have lost their bid or given up on their application because they were not properly prepared or could not convince the PUC that a second provider was in the public interest and/or would not lead to destructive competition. The one exception is Dingo Travel, LLC who received authority to operate within a half mile radius of Old Town Fort Collins and that authority was additionally limited to operate between the hours of 9pm and 3am.
We need something better for the North Front Range... Green Ride Colorado will serve the public interest in many different, distinct and valuable ways.
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