Government “Services” vs. Private Business

If you can't provide a better service, at a cheaper rate because of your own shortcomings as a "company" then by all means, use your standing as a government entity to declare the other guy's actions illegal. Certainly, that's doing what's best for all of us that the government "works" for. Bastards.

This story frustrates me to no end. (Registration is now required to read stories on the AJC). It seems that a private company is providing bus service along Buford Highway, and their drivers are clashing with MARTA drivers.

This week, things got seriously out of hand, with competing bus drivers
shouting back and forth on the street, curses and coins flying and passengers
calling the police...

MARTA officials are also concerned. On Monday, the MARTA board and staff
discussed potential legal remedies, including asking state officials, who
regulate privately owned transportation companies, to step in.

Excuse me! I understand that the issue of violence between drivers is a problem, and both drivers should be reprimanded for their actions. However, the fact that MARTA is now investigating whether it's illegal for a private company to pick up passengers along MARTA routes demonstrates the arrogance and cluelessness of this government authority. I'm sure they're also frustrated by the revenue they're clearly missing out on.

Ochoa believes Royal succeeds because it is more flexible than MARTA."We
are a little more rapid. We take fewer passengers. We don't have to stop as
much, and we give change," unlike MARTA, he said.Last year Royal transported
60,000 passengers a month on 16 minibuses, Ochoa said.

In spite of subsidies from Georgia taxpayers that MARTA gets and Royal Bus Lines does not, owner Carlos Ochoa is able to provide transportation services cheaper and with higher quality service. He's also making money, and MARTA is losing it - hemoraghing it, actually.

The gray minibus that customers have nicknamed "el ratoncito," or "the little mouse," stops near his apartment complex across from the Lindbergh Plaza MARTA station."If I take MARTA, I won't make it in time," Moral said. He leaves every morning at 5:20 a.m. and arrives at work at 6. The MARTA bus doesn't leave until 5:40 a.m., he said.

Aided Gonzalez, 28, boarded a Royal bus Tuesday to take her daughters to
the dentist. She likes the service because the $1.50 fare is 25 cents cheaper
than MARTA and the bus is smaller. Another big plus is that the bus driver
speaks Spanish and can help her with directions.MARTA officials contend some of
Royal's practices are unfair, if not illegal.

Royal will also make change for their fares; something MARTA doesn't do.

MARTA has made accusations that Royal accepts MARTA tokens. That is the only practice they mention as illegal. Royal denies the claim, and no one has shown proof of the transactions.

Ochoa says he wants to "work with MARTA to provide the best service" to
everybody.He's not scared of competition, he added."Everyone knows us as the
little gray mouse," he said. "Now we're painting the buses yellow and we're
going to be the lions of Buford Highway."

Sounds great! But I don't think he needs to work with MARTA.

Shut down MARTA busses, and let private enterprise take over.