This is from Alice who writes on this rainy day:

I was prepared for the day’s rainstorm. I had my umbrella out and, while waiting for the M66 on the corner of 67th and Madison Ave., I stood beneath a restaurant overhang. I’m noticeably pregnant, so when the bus arrived, I took one of the seats reserved for disabled people near the front of the bus. All was fine until about a minute before I was scheduled to get off, what felt like about a cup full water splashed down on my head. The top of my head was soaking wet, as was part of my coat. When I looked up, I realized the water was coming from the emergency exit roof panel directly above me on the bus’s ceiling. I quickly moved seats and informed the bus driver, asking if there was anything she could do — perhaps ask the MTA to fix the problem or, at the very, least put out a sign warning people not to occupy that particular seat. To both suggestions, she shook her head and said “nope,” offering zero advice or even a sympathetic word. I understand that these are tough times for the MTA but leaving your customers all wet (pun intended) as a result of vehicle flaw without so much as a “sorry” is ridiculous. I’m hoping to call them to complain and receive at least one free bus or subway trip in return. Wish me luck.

Good luck with the complaint, Alice!  This story is one of many that have driven me to think of a clever feedback system to reward “good” drivers.   I’d like to (or someone to) build an app where you can rate your driver.  You’d determine basic information about where/when you are (the bus number can be entered, but just using GPS can narrow down the possible options for which lines you might be on).  So you’re on the M66 at Lexington and 66th @ 9:30am on Monday.  Now you can report some feedback both about the bus and the driver.  Reward good drivers who don’t slam on the brakes and gas while reporting drivers who send you flying and making your ride not only uncomfortable but dangerous.  Reward drivers who clearly enunciate stops and maybe (rarely) say funny things like they are on a radio station.  Report buses with leaks and events like this.

The main downside to this is that this feedback will fall largely on deaf ears.  The MTA’s unionized workforce doesn’t seem to give a shit that they mostly consist of assholes who can’t drive or have no sense of customer service.  Oh well - we’ll see if anything improves.