Bus Blogging

Starting my second month as a "bus rider" and totally enjoying the freedom from driving hassles. Nice to arrive at work, road rage free. There is a bus culture but it's not like any other group wherein we participate. On a single ride, to or from work, it appears that every ethnic and socio-economic class is represented for at least a portion of the ride. Whether finances, driving record or just personal choice influence the reason we're on the bus, the bus is a great equalizer. I see more good manners than bad and in the small, sometimes hot and crowded confines of the bus, it restores my faith in basic human civility. Why can we be so kind and respectful on the bus and such raving assholes on the highway? What happens behind the wheel? Save that for another time.

I love mornings on the bus best. Everyone is sparkly clean and the scent of showers and soap and shampoo drift lightly through the air as each new passenger boards. A fresh start for a new day. The memory of sleep still lingers in the eyes and calm seems to be the order of the day. No time yet for agitation to begin stirring up adrenaline. The highy charged individual seems very out of place in the serenity of the morning ride.

Today a young man asked the driver if this bus would take him to his destination - the driver said it was a beginning and that he would explain the rest of the route if the young man would board the bus. Once on, the young man was obviously anxious and forgot to pay for the ride. The driver called back several times and had to remind him that money was due. The young man's anxiety distracted him, but eventually he walked forward with the money and received instructions and his transfer slip from the driver. Ours is a small bus and every transaction is easily observed by all on board. While nothing was said, there was a strong sense that anything to remedy the young man's discomfort or the driver's need for payment was available from all the other passengers if necessary. There's an interesting dynamic and energy on the bus.

Bus stories, you gotta love 'em.