Captain Commute
Introducing Captain Commute
Faster than an express bus! Leaps a bus bench in a single bound! Knows all the bus stop numbers in the city and can make the ETS Trip Planner dance! Who is this masked crusader for public transit? He's Captain Commute, our new ETS mascot. And he's coming to an event near you!
Engaging and entertaining, Captain Commute works with people of all ages to help them find their way in the transit world of routes and schedules. We introduced him to Edmontonians in the Capital Ex Parade in July. Captain Commute is a positive role model promoting the benefits of public transit. We're looking forward to introducing him at many public events we attend during the year. If you would like to learn more about Captain Commute read his story below.
The Story of Captain Commute - A Hero for the Common Commuter
Late one fateful winter afternoon, Joe Commuter was on his way home from a long day at the office. He got caught into yet another fender-bender-inspired traffic jam and was at his wit's end.
"Does this have to happen EVERY day?!" he cried and braced himself for the long wait to get moving. The honking and tension reminded him of that morning when his faithless SUV had stalled in the middle of the Whitemud freeway. This Murphy's Law event had caused him much grief as well as for the miles of other drivers who were frantically checking watches, honking horns and making obscene gestures at one another in the rush to get to work on time. He had spent some time waiting for AMA rescue in -30C gales, learning very quickly how to deflect the hateful stares of the ticked off car commuter.
He was rudely awakened from this road rage reverie by a fuming rust-collector that cut across his lane with the arrogance of a flea. Joe cried in anguish, "There HAS to be a better way!"
Joe finally made it home, and as he was turning into Suburbia Lane, he was blinded with the blue and silver gleam of an object on the sidewalk reflecting the last drops of sunset. "AAAAGGGHHHH! What IS that?!?!" he fumed. Coming closer to the source of the brilliance, Joe saw that it was something he never really paid attention to before - it was an ETS bus stop sign!
As he pulled into his garage and dragged his commuting-weary carcass into his house, Joe decided that he simply didn't want to go through another rush-hour horror scene. He plopped himself down at the phone and called ETS Customer Services. He asked for help in planning a trip to work with the bus. ETS staff gave him the express route that would get him to work the fastest and also told him about the other great info on the ETS web site and BusLink, available 24 hours.
The next morning , dreading another traffic jam, Joe left his car keys at home and decided to try the express bus. He boarded the bus, was greeted with a smile and hello and took a seat. Joe couldn't believe how relaxed he felt. No signalling, no creeping through miles of freeway, no frantic shoulder checks for nutty drivers, no tailgaters, no wondering where to park! Wow! He opened the morning paper and actually finished the columns that he never got a chance to read and, before he knew it, he was downtown!
"See you tomorrow man!" Joe yelled happily to the bus driver. As he walked toward his office building, he glanced at Jasper Avenue and heard a cacophony of honking, screeching and revving. "Never again, " Joe noted with resolve. He decided to tell as many people as he could about the great choice that he had made and how easy and convenient it was to take transit.
That evening, as Joe got off his express bus, he looked up at the Bus Stop sign that had been the beginning of such a good day. Suddenly, the sun reflected against the sign and instead of being blinded as he was the previous night, Joe felt strangely energized, liberated, enthusiastic and… covered in blue and silver?!?!?!?
Zap! …he had turned into a SUPER COMMUTER! Captain Commute!
AND YOU CAN TOO! Try Transit!
Post-Transformation
A few months later, Joe sold his SUV and bought a smaller, more fuel-efficient car for occasional trips on weekends and evenings but continued to commute to work with ETS. With all the money that he saved on gas, parking, less insurance, he managed to save enough money to take a great trip to a tropical island.
Joe has offered his enthusiasm about public transit to promote ETS as a great environmental choice and an option that is good for the commuter's health, wallet, and state of mind!
For more information:
Contact Customer Services
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