“Hey bus driver, keep the change, bless your children, give them names
Don’t trust men who walk with canes”. (Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street- Bruce Springsteen)
I’m a firm believer that one of the best ways to discover the soul of your place is to ride public transportation… yes I said take the bus. Here in the Seattle neighborhoods we also have street cars, a commuter train, light rail, water taxis and ferries. My wife and I have become completely proficient over the years taking any and all of these. In fact, for nearly 3 years we were willingly car-less … and we thoroughly enjoyed that season of our lives … even when we were labeled “un-American” for our choice. As if lives hadn’t been sacrificed throughout the history of our country to be free to make such choices. There are certainly different levels of openness to riding public transportation. What I mean is that with many people I know, there are levels of acceptability. Let me elaborate … Water based are fully acceptable, normal, even, may I add, admirable. Here in Seattle, ferries and water taxis take us to “the islands” or “the peninsula”. The train takes us on respectable commute trips to the burbs. The streetcar shuttles us through neighborhood main streets … they are clean, modern and attractive. The light rail whisks us to the outer neighborhoods and the airport. Taking these forms don’t really even constitute “public transportation” for many.
However, suggest to some that they “could ride the bus” and the conversation often goes a bit sideways. I didn’t know this ahead of time but, apparently riding the bus is for common folk. And that’s not really an aspiration for many… to be known as common. The funny thing is that those who ride the bus don’t share that view… at least those of us in command of our wits and mental faculties. I should tell you that there are many who don’t have command of those on any given day and on any given bus. I have developed a theory that states, no matter how debilitated one is because mental illness or addiction, “crazy can always find the bus”. Now to be clear, I am a huge advocate for mental illness and addiction interventions, so don’t post irate comments about how insensitive this theory is unless you are a regular bus rider or live by a bus stop and can honestly refute that this isn’t true.
The reality that crazy can always find the bus is one of the reasons I think everyone should be open to and able to navigate the public bus system. It’s also the reason that many never will. I’ll be honest, during the height of the lockdown it was a fairly intimidating place to be … Even for someone with my experience. Most of the commuters were no longer going in to the office and for a time the fares were suspended and anyone could ride for free. I rode a lot less, but I still would when I could. If you’re a novice I would not recommend beginning this exercise during a pandemic. For those who aren’t familiar with the practice or live in an area without a decent level of us service here are some things I’ve observed over the years:
- You can still be an American and not own a car.
- Buses aren’t for talking anymore… people only talk if they are conversing with someone that accompanied them onto the bus … real or imaginary (yes you read that right).
- Some people will look on you with pity if they know you “have to take the bus”. If you really want to blow their minds, just tell them you don’t have to, you get to.
- Riding the bus let’s you see the things you might not otherwise get to or want to see when driving a car. The only thing better is actually walking.
- Bus stops can be great social experiments.
- Get yourself a good set of headphones … but don’t always have something playing in them … let them act as decoys while you listen in on some very interesting real or imagined conversations.
- Be very aware of your surroundings (see above… don’t always have something playing in your headphones.
- And … like I said earlier … Crazy can always find a bus.