Atlanta Bus Passes

[jkl]

I was just interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on the Atlanta LOC requiring all event ticket holders to agree to a criminal background check before they can buy a bus pass.
With the Novice and some Junior events being moved so far from Atlanta a bus pass or a rental car is necessary. Seems a bit far fetched that anyone with the investment into all event tickets would do anything on a bus ride to Gwinnett Co. You are asked to provide your social security number and drivers license number. Your thoughts?

[A.H.Black]

Just posted this over on FSU on the subject.

I agree that it's over the top. Here's a few thoughts we had about it.

1- Remember this is Atlanta. 1996 Olympic bombing.

2 - The main arena is very near if not a part of the CNN center. After the anthrax scare and a few other happenings like 9-11, a little paranoia is understandable.

3 - I'm not sure if this is coming from USFSA or the Atlanta committee. In my experience of 14 consecutive Nationals, I have found that some cities are just more paranoid in nature than others.


As far as bus passes go, you might want to actually count the number of times you will go to the other arena. If it's not that many, it might be just as affordable to get a group together to share a cab. The bus passes are getting to be something thats iffy. They used to be a must because it was the place to get to know the skaters but now....

[BittyBug]

My thoughts are that requiring criminal background checks in order to get on a bus is an incredible invasion of privacy - we are not living in a police state (yet).

If the concern is the skaters' safety, then put skaters on a separate bus. Yes, this would involve an additional expense for the LOC, but instead of paying $20+ for a background check on each bus pass holder they could use the money for separate transportation.

I don't think that the venue is of any relevance since a minority of attendees will be using the bus system - if their concern is security all the way around, then they should be conducting criminal background checks on every single ticket holder. And if anything, the LOC should be going out of their way to accommodate customers since they have chosen to use facilities that are quite far apart from each other, without a public transportation system to support the quick and easy transfer of ticket holders from one venue to another.

We live in an age in which identity theft is in the news every single day. Before you hand out your SSN to the LOC, ask yourself what qualifications and process they have to ensure that your data will be safeguarded. It's interesting to note that the release form on the bus pass application is completely one-sided - you, of course, have to indemnify and hold harmless the LOC and all related parties, yet they make absolutely no representations that your information will be used solely to conduct a background check, or that your information will be safeguarded. It's an insult to the public.

[peaches]

I'm not sure if that a USFSA thing or a LOC thing either and I live here and belong to the club! Anyway, my feeling is a basic criminal background check is nothing. Really, unless you have something to be worried about what's the big deal? JMHO of course, please no flogging. Trust me, they don't do a heck of a lot of digging if they're not asking for every residence you've had over the past 10 years, where you've been employed for that length of time, etc. It's just a basic run of the mill sort of thing. To put it in perspective, I ended up working with a girl in SLC that had a criminal record and the background check missed it because it was in another state. I was apalled they didn't do a more extensive check considering she was in a "Field of Play" position, in other words working there right beside the ice with the athletes.

I've gone through many of them in order to volunteer for different events so it doesn't bother me at all. For a bus pass, I think it's a bit over-the-top, but then again, money or no money, you don't know who you might end up sitting next to. Some of the worst serial killers were well mannered, seemingly upstanding, family men after all. I don't know specifics. Perhaps they intend to have the Novice and Junior skaters on the same shuttles (farfetched, but possible) in which case, I totally understand the check.

[iskater13]

in la they did not do that. but i feel they should do checks on people riding the buses because of the safety of the children involved with the event. Plus u end up riding eith them to the arena. I am staying in the hotel that is attached to the cnn center.........LOL

[peaches]

If anyone is uncomfortable giving out personal info for a Nats bus pass you can pick up Gwinnett County Transit at the Five Points MARTA station downtown and take it out. I'm not sure of the routes but I've been told they will be dropping off close to the Arena in Gwinnett. http://www.gctransit.com/frame_set.html

[IgglesII]

Originally posted by jkl
I was just interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on the Atlanta LOC requiring all event ticket holders to agree to a criminal background check before they can buy a bus pass.

I remember sitting on the bus during 2001 Nationals in Boston, realizing there were absolutely no safeguards in place should some lunatic decide to do something stupid.

They may have tightened up security at the arena itself after 1994, but everywhere else was still wide open.

This isn't a bad idea at all, and I hope it becomes standard practice in future years.

[Debbie S]

Originally posted by IgglesII
I remember sitting on the bus during 2001 Nationals in Boston, realizing there were absolutely no safeguards in place should some lunatic decide to do something stupid.


Well, in L.A, there were police officers on all the busses. I assumed it was a post 9/11 heightened security thing. Perhaps having police officers on all busses, all the time is too expensive for the LOC, but as peaches pointed out, a criminal background check isn't always a perfect safeguard.

Btw, in Boston, each bus did have a police escort. I suppose if something bad happened, as long as there was enough time for a police officer to get out of a car and run onto the bus, there was a bit of a safeguard there.

[BittyBug]

In addition to database errors which could allow someone to inappropriately pass a background check, it's worth noting that the crazies rarely have criminal histories. To my point, both Mohammed Atma (WTC) and Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City), would have passed a criminal background check. Jeffrey Dahmer would have passed as well.

The best way to ensure athlete safety is to separate the athletes from the general public.

[lilwish]

How far away are the practice rinks? I guess I will see Juniors only for finals at the main arena. One of the great joys of Nationals for me is practices and Juniors.

:(

[lilwish]

also any word on practice schedule? This often makes my decidion for how many days to stay and how to plan my stay while I am there.

[rudi]

Are volunteers able to purchase bus passes?
I am trying to weigh my options as well.

We will most likely have to be at the arena at 6am on some days.

What would be the closest hotels that are walking distance? I know someone mentioned the Holdiay Inn and I think the Hampton Inn. Anyone know how those are and if they are really close?

[Meredith]

For those concerned with the safety of the skaters on the shuttles, I can only say that the skaters are probably about the same age as many of the posters on this site or the posters' children, if they have them.

Do you or your children use public transportation? What are the safeguards in place for them? How is this busing situation different, with the exception of liability issues on the part of the LOC, of course? :roll:

When I first saw Atlanta's plans for the upcoming Nationals in at a previous Natoinals, I was very tempted to buy a ticket then. It appeared so well-planned and the members of the LOC at the tables were so excited and eager. Can't imagine how changed the climate must be right now. Had I purchased that ticket, I know I'd be outraged at the changes and would no doubt be demanding my money back -- now!

Divulge my social security number for a bus ride? I think not!

[RobinA]

My thoughts on criminal checks in order to get a bus pass is that it is absolute nonsense. Apparently we do live in a police state Bittybug. Let's say I do have a record. So I'm not allowed to ride the bus? We should feel safe because there are no ex-cons on the bus?

How about lie detector tests? After all, I might have committed a crime and not been caught. Maybe lie detector tests to see if we have ever THOUGHT of committing a crime. Like someone said, Tim McVeigh did not have a record, but if someone had asked him before he rented that Ryder truck if he PLANNED on committing a crime, a lie detector could have saved a whole lot of people.

What a bunch of crap.

[peaches]

Originally posted by RobinA
My thoughts on criminal checks in order to get a bus pass is that it is absolute nonsense. Apparently we do live in a police state Bittybug. Let's say I do have a record. So I'm not allowed to ride the bus? We should feel safe because there are no ex-cons on the bus?

How about lie detector tests? After all, I might have committed a crime and not been caught. Maybe lie detector tests to see if we have ever THOUGHT of committing a crime. Like someone said, Tim McVeigh did not have a record, but if someone had asked him before he rented that Ryder truck if he PLANNED on committing a crime, a lie detector could have saved a whole lot of people.

What a bunch of crap.

Then rent a car. :)

Or.......there are loads of people from the Atlanta area attending Nats, perhaps people would like to start a carpool thread later on when the official schedule comes out.

[lilwish]

For me at this point it is less about getting to practices (which is one of my favorite things about Nationals) and more about how ridiculous I think this whole thing about "screening" people on buses. I don't think it will help with security and i think it is abusive. We pay a ludicrous amount of money to go to nationals in the first place and I have always thought bus passes should be rolled into that cost anyway. To top that off with requiring our license numbers and social security numbers for the privilege of paying them to ride on their buses is insulting. They already have our names and addresses from ordering the tickets in the first place. If they wanted to run checks on us they could. This attitude they seem to be pursuing makes me feel as though Nationals is going to be a "security" nightmare and not a great deal of fun. If I had not already bought and paid for the tickets I would consider not going at all. Logistics is the least of my worries about the event. As others have said in this thread, terrorists on 9/11 had valid drivers licenses and social security numbers and using them to check our ids is not a guarantee of security but is an easy way to steal one's identity. I have no intention of faxing that information to anyone for such useless purposes. if that means that I miss some practices and junior events then so be it but if this is a process that other National event teams plan on pursuing then I will have to consider not attending further events. I have attended 8 years of Nationals and it is an event that I look forward to every year so I do not say this lightly. I hope that everything else in Atlanta will be a pleasure.

[adrianchew]

With USFSA security being managed by an ex-FBI nutcase - what do you expect anyhow? I have so much more fun attending smaller comps without all the security hassles of Nationals. ;)

[lilwish]

Adrian, that's the problem? That is really too bad. I am afraid that with the cost of tickets combined with these outrageous measures Nationals will become an event nobody wants to bother wtih. it is, after all, about the skaters and it seems to me that that is being forgotten year after year.

[jp1andOnly]

USFSA would rather have empty seats than lower the prices.

[RobinA]

Ex-FBI nutcase, that's the problem? I'll agree it's the idea of checks like this that's the problem. I would be very surprised if everybody sends off their SS#s. Every day I pick up the paper and read articles about how you aren't supposed to give out your number to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

I enjoy the smaller events too. I haven't been to Nationals post-9/11, but if, when I do, it proves to be too Gestapo-like I will have to sadly refrain from further visits until this blows over. Sooner or later the USFSA will care if I'm there again.

[jkl]

I was accepting the fact that criminal background checks were going to be a part of my riding the bus to Gwinnett County in January. I am not accepting the USFSA's reason for that as seen on the Atlanta Nationals website. That is that high profile events like Nationals attract "known criminal offenders". What is that about? Criminals only ride buses....Or should I expect more intrusion at the hotels and arenas? Why are known criminal offenders attending Nationals? Do I have a right to know what the crimes are?

[adrianchew]

Comprehend why this is excessive - you can buy a plane ticket today without providing your SS#.

Want safety for the buses? Provide an armed officer on-board, and check passengers boarding/exiting the buses for dangerous items such as switchblades and such.

Like I said - nutcase, cause there's no common sense being used.

[SkateGuard]

Questions:

1. Do the athletes, coaches, judges, etc. have to undergo a background check? (I know it probably is unnecessary for a 13 y.o. novice, but after '94, I would believe just about anything in this sport.)

2. Is this going to be standard operating procedure for _all_ major USFSA comps? Or is just this one?

I encourage all of you to come to Adult Nationals....they're in Lake Placid, NY, no skate moms (except the ones who are competing), cheap ticket prices (last year it was $5 a day), and lots of fun people who love skating to talk to! :-)

Erin
(who will definitely drive to St. Louis in 2006! Much better to have my own car...)

[SkateFan123]

The website says athletes/officials won't have to get the background check.

The FBI could do a background check without faxing the info requested in. Why they need race/sex I'll never understand.

There's another group in yahoo that exhausted this and according to it, this will be the future of the sport.

I'm not giving my information out. You all have to decide for yourselves.

Many of you raised excellent points here.

And yes, Adult Nationals is a blast! If you are near any adult events, go! Synchro events are also a lot of fun and inexpensive.

[CarolA0923]

Well, I was a volunteer. I have not heard anything and to be honest will probably withdraw if I am contacted so the bus pass purchase is not an issue there.

My volunteering was based on the facts that were presented. Now I would have to get to Gwinnett and I am not willing to deal with that. This is NOT the close arena that the website makes it out to be. (They seem to forget that Atlanta has some of the worst traffic in the nation!)

I have learned my lesson I will NEVER again purchase the All Event tickets that far in advance. I will NOT give my SS# to the event committee either.

[SkateFan123]

Originally posted by CarolA0923
Well, I was a volunteer. I have not heard anything and to be honest will probably withdraw if I am contacted so the bus pass purchase is not an issue there.

My volunteering was based on the facts that were presented. Now I would have to get to Gwinnett and I am not willing to deal with that. This is NOT the close arena that the website makes it out to be. (They seem to forget that Atlanta has some of the worst traffic in the nation!)

I have learned my lesson I will NEVER again purchase the All Event tickets that far in advance. I will NOT give my SS# to the event committee either.

My own decision is to no longer buy tickets 3 years in advance but to wait until all contracts are signed by the LOC before sending my money in. I attend quite a number of international events annually. They are much less expensive and there is a lot less hassle since they don't sell the tickets far in advance.

The Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security do not recommend giving your number to anyone but an employer, government agency or bank. No one recommends giving your information to a volunteer organization.

I changed my hotel from the Embassy Suites in Atlanta to a hotel in Duluth. I'll drive to Marta from there and train into Atlanta. I'll get a $13 weekly bus pass. Parking at the train stations are free.

That's my solution but you all have to determine your own solution.