No Help From 911
As I'm sure many of you know, the Orange Line had massive problems this morning, with several disabled trains and thousands of inconvenienced commuters, to whom it was suggested (though not officially advised) that they exit at Community College, walk Prison Point Bridge and O'Brien Highway to get to the Sciene Park station, and thereby make it into town sometime before Christmas.

As we walked down the right side of the bridge the sidewalk disapeared, as it was in the middle of massive construction. There were no police or city authorities present. Tons of people were hopping the barricade and running across the traffic. When I saw a guy with a stiff artificial leg try to do this, I called 911 to request police crossing guards.

Here's the truly amazing part. The state 911 transfered me to city 911, and the city 911 operator couldn't figure out where I was.



My cell was transmitting from a tower which was apparently in Roxbury. I explained the "nature of the emergency", and explained that I was not in Roxbury.

+"I'm at Community College Station, the Orange Line."

-(witheringly)"M'am, do you know how many thousands of community colleges there are in Boston?"

+There are hundreds of nearby colleges, maybe not thousands...and far fewer in the CITY juristiction...and there's only one Community College Station. Near Bunker Hill Community College."

-"Where's that?"

+"Under Prison Point Bridge."

-"Where's that?"

+"Perpendicular to 93"

-"Perpen what?"

+"Nevermind. I'm turning left onto O'Brien Highway."

-"Where's that?"

+"Across from North Point Park."

-"I thought you were on a highway?"

+"I'm walking to Science Park Station, the second to last green line stop. Send somone northbound on the Green Line and look for the PARADE OF PEOPLE."

-"You're not making any sense."

+"Zakim Bridge to my left across the water! Science Museum to my right! Major Storrow Drive intersection in front of me where a HUNDRED people are currently crossing AGAINST the light! Don't you have a MAP over there?!"

-"No M'am."

+"Fine. Enjoy cleaning the blood off Leverett Circle."

-"Where is Lever-"

*CLICK!*

The level of authoritarian incompetence in this city is truly astounding.
I called 911 back and requested METRO police, who said they'd send a unit.

Anyone else have 911 issues? What do you do in that frustrated heat-of-the moment? Am I in my rights to ask for an incompetent dispatcher's idenity?
And did everyone make it in safely this morning?

Incidently, we couldn't get on at Science Park because the crowding caused a medical emergency (people had fainted.) I led a growing gypsy band all the way to North Station, and we got on the green line there.