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A 17-minute wait for the QLine to reach the Campus Martius platform was posted as I waited around 5:30 p.m. this week. That compares to 12 minutes between DDOT bus arrivals along Woodward during rush hour.
When streetcars run every 17 minutes during a peak travel time for workers, it sends the message that this transportation may not really be for commuters, but rather a boutique mode of transportation for sports fans and tourists. And actually, the train showed up about 20 minutes later, not 17.
"This shows Detroit is not ready for prime time," said one woman who stood on the platform waiting for the train.
In frustration, I posted on Facebook:
Why during rush hour should there be a 17-minute wait on the QLine at Campus Martius, a dedicated 3.3 mile route on Woodward? Buses run every 10 minutes.
BTW I stand corrected; DDOT says it's every 12 minutes.
Some readers responded with skepticism about the QLine:
► Paul Roache: It was never intended to be "rapid" transit. It's a gimmick. If you're going to ride it, it has to be with the expectation that it ain't gonna be fast!
► Brian Leonard: The estimated departure time is always wrong. We saw it go from five minutes up to 25 minutes, back to seven minutes and then the QLine appeared, while it still said it was seven minutes away. Also, why don’t they set it up so the driver gets green lights as it approaches? Wouldn’t that make too much sense?
► Doug Riddle: Buses run every 10 min, what universe are you living? Only problem with the Q is Detroit drivers who park on the tracks.
► Steve C Wixson: People mover two. lol
► Steve Schwartz: Was against it before it came out. At least the people mover has a dedicated lane that isn’t affected by traffic.
► David Gifford: Mayor Mike Duggan, please figure out a way for DDOT and SMART to use the QLine stations. That is the only way this will ever be real transit.
► Michael Hinsky: Blah, blah, blah, blah. Ride it everyday. It is not the be all and end all, but it works.
► Justin Moline: After the Pistons game Fri. night the one i was in (on) got hit by a car. That was one heck of a delay.
► Dennis Hampton: Because whoever designed it put it close to the sidewalks instead of the middle of the street. Cars need to turn right, cars just in the path. Bad design altogether.
► Bustin Jamilton: Well, if one of the trains goes down, for any reason, then none of the others can move either. It’s a brilliant system.
► Michelle C. Brock: Because people park their cars in the rails and leave them and every time a plastic bag or debris gets on the rail the conductor can’t get out to move it so it takes forever.
► Melissa Summers: I think it's specifically designed for weekend visitors to the city. My boyfriend (a city resident who has tried to use it for his commute from Ferry Street to Campus Martius) and I have had to grab a Lyft often during the week rather than waiting for the Q, he's been left stranded or late to work despite being at the Q stop at least 30 minutes early. Miraculously yesterday after the Lions game we got picked up within five minutes and were from the stadiums back to home base at the Ferry station in 10 minutes.
I wish it was marginally reliable so it could expand its usefulness beyond suburbanites visiting the city for events. :(
► Arnold Kirsch: Every one but college elitist know buses are smarter and better than trolleys.
►Susan M. Jones: Some car in the way. Or maybe an abandoned scooter!
► Kate Albertson Buck: Those times are not accurate at all...over the weekend it said 2 minutes for at least 20...we ended up taking a cab and walking...
► Carol Perdue: Cause it "Knew you were waiting, knew you were waiting for me!" Sung in my Aretha Franklin voice, LOL!
► Dave Collins: Big complicated bus, that can't change lanes. It also does nothing to bypass traffic or buses. A cute item for tourism. Perhaps in our future it will make sense. Let's hope so. We're stuck with it.
► Don Deisenroth: The line scheduler is bad at arithmetic?
► Dave Rosz: Another boondoggle in Detroit. Waste of time, money, space.
► Bill Swifty: The train to nowhere.
