Facing multiple delays aboard Calgary Transit buses and CTrains, commuters turned to Twitter to vent their frustrations Monday night.

“Some people really get heated up about this kind of thing and some of them go a little too far,” said Calgary Transit spokesperson Ron Collins, one of a “handful” of employees who devote hours daily to updating the organization’s Twitter account with real-time information every day.

“They start to swear and name call . . . we’re tough-skinned over here, we can take it, but there’s a point where you have to say ‘Look, excuse us, but we are human beings and we deserve to be treated like that.’”

Some went as far Monday to deem Calgary Transit the “worst in the world,” and the “bane of my existence.”

Those monitoring the account did plead for calm and patience and in response received a flood of support from others appreciating the real-time service ‘ including Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

“That was good to see,” Collins said.

Calgary Transit began routinely using Twitter about a year ago. Nowadays, staff monitor the account from 6:30 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m. Since the account was launched, transit has amassed 6,000 followers and put out more than 4,300 tweets.

“We view Twitter as a powerful social media tool,” Collins said. “There’s a lot of interest. People know that they can get immediate information from Calgary Transit on just about any subject.”

Collins said plans are in the works to continue expanding the use of Twitter ‘ he would just like people to utilize the service with respect.

“These people are absolute stellar performers,” he said of the Calgary Transit staff. “They’re doing this kind of job because they want to make a difference, they want to be able to help people.”