Posted Aug. 5 at 8 a.m.

Cue the dramatic music, usher in the beautiful Bond girls and cue the double "O."

It's time to engage in a little bus and "L" espionage. 

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join "Going Public" in its ongoing online mission to shed light on the troubles and triumphs of the CTA.  I get so many great photos and insights from riders all over the city that I'd like them to get the credit -- and some shine-- for their hard work.

So here's what you need to do, besides immediately delete this posting before it self-destructs.  Send an e-mail to goingpublic@tribune.com titled "CTA Spy" and include the following:

do you know the worst bus route in the city #24 wentworth when i'm going to school i'm nearly late and i think all the other slow bus routes should be corrected as well and i hope mr. huberman gets the cta toghether for the olympics their coming soon

suggest lowering volume on loud spkrs,,,drivers should drive more smooth,,,given nature of city driving,,,using brakes & accelerator only as needed saves wear & tear on motor ,brakes & drive train,,riders in ft aisle facing seats,(disabled & older folks)those standing get thrown around like pinballs inside slot machines.also think drivers should signal(call) buses arriving at connecting streets to WAIT for his exiting passengers.all the expensive technology ought not to obviate smooth drivin.

Am I The only one who had a hard time trying to get to the air and water show a week ago. We had cta buses pass us by and the one's that did slow down were all ready full to the back. cta should have had more longer bus going that coming back. Some of the people were angry because they had miss the show. I told them i would say something about as soon as i could. I hope next year will be better.

I take the red line to 95th street 5 days week.
What a hot mess.You pay your fares and then the bus that you are on take another route.That is another fare. THE 119 and Western is the best example that I know.The superviser is the worst.why are these people working?Why not post a sign on the bus and let the people know where it's goinging.There is no commucation at all.I
will be taking the Methra from now on.

Put $20 on my card at the washington/wells stop. The machine said thank you. THe next day, I went to use a bus and the card was empty!!! I stopped at the CTA HQ and I was told by customer service to go back over to washington/wells and write down the machine number and come back with the number. If there was an extra $20, they would give it back. I was outraged! Are you kidding me, do you think I'm traipsing all over this city because you have bad malfunctioning equipment? Give me my $20 bucks and I'll taxi to work! Anyway, after thousands of phone calls and emails, they did mail me my refund. I was also told that the machines "sometimes malfunction".

I am a C.T.A. bus operator who takes his job very seriously and one thing that i have noticed in my 6 years at the company is that everyone tries to place the blame and get to the bottom of why buses are late and i can certianly say one of the main and most overlooked reasons is selfish, unprepared, inconsiderate passengers. here's a very important list (which since c.t.a. should consider issuing to passengers in print!) of commuter RESPONSIBITIES which 95% of commuters overlook which would help make every single bus ride smoother, safer and better overall. 1. Have your fare or fare card out and READY when the bus is approaching. 2. when u board the bus, even if u are only going a few blocks, move to the REAR of the bus and exit the rear doors, as this will enable waiting passengers to board immediately upon stopping and allow buses to service each stop much quicker. 3. mothers with small children, FOLD YOUR STROLLERS and prepare your fare upon arriving at the BUS STOP. a stroller in the isle or having people move to accommodate it as ALWAYS a delay. 4. never use priority seating unless u fall under the category described for it's use. anytime an elderly, disabled are pregnant person has to walk past the front seats the bus is delayed because a responsible operator has to wait for them to be seated before they leave the service stop. 5. If boarding the bus with packages of any kind please do your best to KEEP THEM OUT OF THE ISLE as this will allow easier movement to the rear of the bus for boarding passengers. These five things alone if regularly practiced by at least half of chicago's daily commuters would significantly decrease delays.

"GOING PUBLIC" SAYS: I can't say I disagree with you, J.R. If you're not part of the problem, you're part of the solution. However, I would add that aging buses, the need for next-bus tracker on all routes and more of the next-bus signs for those of us who do not have Internet-enabled devices are also a part of that solution. Thank you for weighing in. I know you all take a beating out there, and we do appreciate the operators who take their jobs seriously despite all the CTA setbacks.

I am a Cta Bus Operator,I would just like to make a statement on the thing that the commuters have to say about us operators.The commuter always have bad thing to say about us drivers,however all drivers (such as myslef are not rude)! The commuters make our jobs harder then it really is,what the commuter need to do to maintain a safe & peaceful ride is,1.Have their fare ready when boarding the bus.2.Make sure that their cards are good( have money on them).3.Pay their fares & proceed to the rear of the bus(NOT STANDING @ THE FRONT),blocking others from boarding safely.4.Pull the Stop Request Cord when bus is approaching their stops,( not just assuming that the driver can read minds).5.Exist the rear doors so that boarding passengers may get on the front in a safe & quick manner.6.Women with strollers need to fold the stroller,so that there is room for other passengers(especially those who's Children are able to walk).7.Passengers need to be patient & be more considerate to the elderly,or those with disabilities,or even pregrant women,& allow them to sit in the seats that are disignated for them.8. Passengers need to be more considerate to weather conditions ( we as operators can't just speed down the street cause they are in a hurry).9. the commuters need to allow us operator to do our jobs the way inwhich we were train (By Cta's Professionals) to do them.10. cummuters need to (STOP HARASSING the Operators),cause they are having a bad day & need someone to take it out on. The problem with commuters today is that everyone is in such a rush,& they don't allow themselves enough time to get where they need to go, but they espect for the driver to drive, as if we are operating a plane,which is not safe at all!!! We are Human being that are trying to do our jobs in a safe & professional manner,so that we can care for our families! The passengers need to be respectful to us & our jobs, they will then see how peaceful,Safe & Calm the ride would be!!! The commuters do'nt realize how much of a distraction it is to an Operator, when they Harrass us just because!!! We were trainned to do our jobs (by cta's professionals), so PLEASE LET US DO OUR JOBS WITHOUT ALL THE UNDO STRESS!!!!!!!

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