Ok - two posts in one day ..... but this one is completely different. Change - ok - I am usually ok with change - in fact change makes life interesting. I am ok with change - but not when it disturbs - or messes with my carefully planned travel routes. I am not good with directions or finding my way, so when I have a plan or THINK that I know where the Campus Shuttle stops are or where the Metro Transit bus will take me .... those things SHOULD NOT CHANGE!!!!
Little did I know that both of those things would change ......
Last week after my first day of class I walked to where I KNEW the Campus Shuttle would take me to the St. Paul campus. I had a meeting in Mpls before class, so I had gotten dropped off on campus, knowing that I could get to the St. Paul campus and walk home. However, to my dismay, the shuttle stop - my shuttle stop - had been removed. Who does that? Why was it removed? It was a busy stop and the shuttle still drove right by - but the stop no longer exists. No worries (except for Monday when it was 90 degrees) I did figure out where the next closest stop is .... well, I think I did. There has got to be a closer stop - but I will have to research this.
Next .... on Monday - when I decided that 90 degrees was over my limit for biking (and looking chic when getting to campus) I decided to ride the Metro Transit. The bus picked me up right on time and the second bus did as well. However, all of a sudden the second bus took a random turn. Where were we going?!!!? I got off at the next stop and walked 1/2 mile (which, I know, is not awful) to class. Although - I did end up a bit more sweaty than I wanted. What ..... where was this bus going? Then after class I walked to the bus stop to go home .... but ..... MY bus no longer stops there .... what? What was happening? These changes were not exciting or welcomed!!! No worries - I did make it home ..... but what is going on?
Eeeek ..... after a few deep breaths I did make it through - and I will make it through all of these changes. I am not sure why the stops were cut at the U of M - but my fear about the Metro Transit changes is that routes are being cut. This is not ok .... not just for me .... but for those individuals who absolutely depend on the bus system. I have other options - walking, my bike, friends .... but there are those who do not have other options.
Something for all of us to think about ...
Showing posts with label riding the bus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label riding the bus. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Journey around St. Paul
I had an interesting bus ride today!!! :) I got a ride to class - so needed to take the bus to a meeting downtown St. Paul and then back to my new house. I used the metro transit link to map the route --- but didn't actually look at the map - just knew where I could get on and off. The ride from Mpls to St. Paul was uneventful - albeit LONG. I took a complete tour of St. Paul through neighborhoods that were unfamiliar to me. It reminded me that my love of St. Paul is limited to a specific area! ;) It also brought up a few questions - like what is BENGO? I have heard of BINGO - but not BENGO. And - who knew that there was an Aerospace Elementary School in St. Paul? Well .... I am sure many people did - but I didn't!!! :)
The ride home was a bit more "special"!!! :) The first 1/3 of the ride was quiet --- and by that time I was one of two people (besides the bus driver) on the bus. And then the fun started!!! :) As I said - there was only one other person sitting in the bus when The Couple got on and of all the places they could have sat - they sat in the two seats right ahead of me. They happened to be very loud, very affectionate and very drunk .... and perhaps they hadn't bathed in awhile. It was amusing for a few minutes - and I really should have gotten up to move, but I didn't want to hurt their feelings .... not sure why I thought that ..... but if I had moved --- they probably wouldn't have turned around to offer me a drink of whatever they had in their brown paper bag!!! :) So --- there was I sitting behind these two individuals who were so drunk they could barely speak (although they were able to find each other's lips) trying to hold my breath --- which would have helped when the woman farted ..... and of course they thought that was hilarious!!! :) And despite the fact that they were so gracious to share their drink with me --- I did decide to get off a couple of stops early, because by that time the bus was filling up!
As I was walking home it did make me smile. Why was I worried about hurting their feelings? They probably won't even remember the bus ride. .... And, at least they didn't try to kiss me!!! :) Many, many years ago a similar experience with a gentleman on a bus - who kissed my mom and offered us his chicken wings had scared me off the bus for a LONG time. Now it was just an amusing part of the day ..... and next time I will just move to another seat.
The ride home was a bit more "special"!!! :) The first 1/3 of the ride was quiet --- and by that time I was one of two people (besides the bus driver) on the bus. And then the fun started!!! :) As I said - there was only one other person sitting in the bus when The Couple got on and of all the places they could have sat - they sat in the two seats right ahead of me. They happened to be very loud, very affectionate and very drunk .... and perhaps they hadn't bathed in awhile. It was amusing for a few minutes - and I really should have gotten up to move, but I didn't want to hurt their feelings .... not sure why I thought that ..... but if I had moved --- they probably wouldn't have turned around to offer me a drink of whatever they had in their brown paper bag!!! :) So --- there was I sitting behind these two individuals who were so drunk they could barely speak (although they were able to find each other's lips) trying to hold my breath --- which would have helped when the woman farted ..... and of course they thought that was hilarious!!! :) And despite the fact that they were so gracious to share their drink with me --- I did decide to get off a couple of stops early, because by that time the bus was filling up!
As I was walking home it did make me smile. Why was I worried about hurting their feelings? They probably won't even remember the bus ride. .... And, at least they didn't try to kiss me!!! :) Many, many years ago a similar experience with a gentleman on a bus - who kissed my mom and offered us his chicken wings had scared me off the bus for a LONG time. Now it was just an amusing part of the day ..... and next time I will just move to another seat.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Memories -- Old and New
In the process of making new memories today while riding the bus --- some wonderful memories of living in San Francisco came back and made me smile ....
The weather was a bit iffy this morning, so I decided that it was time for me to take the bus. I had looked last night about what bus/buses to take and was all ready. However, when I got up this morning, I am glad I was up a bit early --- since the buses I was going to take were either running 15 minutes behind (too late to get to class) or there was a schedule change - or I had looked at it incorrectly. Whatever the case --- I was up in plenty of time to walk to the bus stop. (First lesson - make sure that I am early to the bus stop, because the bus was 2 minutes early ..... not at all like San Francisco!!!) The best thing is that the guy at the bus stop gave me a warm good morning ..... when does that ever happen while driving a car?
I got on the bus --- paid my $2.50 (I really need to get a bus pass!!!) and sat down. I didn't get too comfortable --- as I didn't want to miss where I needed to get off to get my connection. Once I made my connection (for which I only had to wait about 2 minutes) I was able to sit back an enjoy the ride. It immediately brought me back to commuting in San Francisco - the cool, damp weather also helped to bring me back.
It was odd, because when I was in SF it didn't seem like I was doing such a big thing ...... just doing what everyone else was doing. Everyone road the bus to work --- as experienced by me being the last stop from the Russian Hill area on an express bus to the Financial District. Often that bus was too full to stop ---- and when it did stop I would be left standing (sometimes in the stairwell) holding on for dear life!!! :) ..... that was always compounded by the fact that at 5'1" it was hard to reach the overhead railing .... and hanging on to something was imperative when going up and down the SF hills!!!!
Today was a totally different story. I was sitting down --- only having to share the other seat for less than 5 minutes. I also noticed that people brought their coffee on the bus --- something that was taboo (as I recall) in SF. The one thing that was great - as it was in SF ---- that I had time time to truly notice the neighborhoods we were going through. I can't read on the bus --- so all I have is time to watch and notice. It was amazing the places I passed and thought, "Oh - that is where THAT is ....". I remember in SF memorizing the neighborhoods and feeling so safe and knowledgeable about the city --- much more than here ---- and I grew up in St. Paul. Hmmmmm ...... perhaps it was all of the walking/biking/busing I did in SF. ..... And now I am so excited to continue to explore/learn about the Twin Cities in the same way.
I also learned --- or it was reinforced --- that some bus routes are going to be more favorable than others. On the way home from class today there were a few less professionally dressed individuals --- or perhaps they were just professionally dressed for some alternative profession!!! ;) But - just as in other aspects of life --- there are places I would walk alone at night ---- and there are places I wouldn't walk alone even in the day.
As I was on the bus going home ... I also remembered that in SF I would go shopping and take the bus home. Why, oh why, did I think that was ok ---- but I couldn't imagine doing that here? Why don't I think that taking the bus is as cool here? Is it because in SF the buses ran down all of the trendy neighborhood streets? Is it because it was riding the bus in SF was completely socially acceptable? That at night on the bus you would see everything from hot 20-somethings ready for a night on the town - to a couple on a first (or what looked to be a) date - to people in black-tie going to the opera? ..... And during the day completely chic women with thousands (or at least a thousand) dollars on newly purchased shoes and clothing --- to families going to enjoy the sites --- to individuals coming home from the grocery store on the bus. What would that be like if everyone in the twin cities started taking the bus? How awesome would that be? And why was I so nervous about it? ..... Maybe all of the current bus riders are actually uber-trendy!!!
I have to say that it was actually quite liberating to ride the bus. I now know that despite the weather --- I really can get most places easily --- and independently --- without a car.
Oh --- and don't think that I am giving up my bike ..... but it is AWESOME to know that there are options!! :)
The weather was a bit iffy this morning, so I decided that it was time for me to take the bus. I had looked last night about what bus/buses to take and was all ready. However, when I got up this morning, I am glad I was up a bit early --- since the buses I was going to take were either running 15 minutes behind (too late to get to class) or there was a schedule change - or I had looked at it incorrectly. Whatever the case --- I was up in plenty of time to walk to the bus stop. (First lesson - make sure that I am early to the bus stop, because the bus was 2 minutes early ..... not at all like San Francisco!!!) The best thing is that the guy at the bus stop gave me a warm good morning ..... when does that ever happen while driving a car?
I got on the bus --- paid my $2.50 (I really need to get a bus pass!!!) and sat down. I didn't get too comfortable --- as I didn't want to miss where I needed to get off to get my connection. Once I made my connection (for which I only had to wait about 2 minutes) I was able to sit back an enjoy the ride. It immediately brought me back to commuting in San Francisco - the cool, damp weather also helped to bring me back.
It was odd, because when I was in SF it didn't seem like I was doing such a big thing ...... just doing what everyone else was doing. Everyone road the bus to work --- as experienced by me being the last stop from the Russian Hill area on an express bus to the Financial District. Often that bus was too full to stop ---- and when it did stop I would be left standing (sometimes in the stairwell) holding on for dear life!!! :) ..... that was always compounded by the fact that at 5'1" it was hard to reach the overhead railing .... and hanging on to something was imperative when going up and down the SF hills!!!!
Today was a totally different story. I was sitting down --- only having to share the other seat for less than 5 minutes. I also noticed that people brought their coffee on the bus --- something that was taboo (as I recall) in SF. The one thing that was great - as it was in SF ---- that I had time time to truly notice the neighborhoods we were going through. I can't read on the bus --- so all I have is time to watch and notice. It was amazing the places I passed and thought, "Oh - that is where THAT is ....". I remember in SF memorizing the neighborhoods and feeling so safe and knowledgeable about the city --- much more than here ---- and I grew up in St. Paul. Hmmmmm ...... perhaps it was all of the walking/biking/busing I did in SF. ..... And now I am so excited to continue to explore/learn about the Twin Cities in the same way.
I also learned --- or it was reinforced --- that some bus routes are going to be more favorable than others. On the way home from class today there were a few less professionally dressed individuals --- or perhaps they were just professionally dressed for some alternative profession!!! ;) But - just as in other aspects of life --- there are places I would walk alone at night ---- and there are places I wouldn't walk alone even in the day.
As I was on the bus going home ... I also remembered that in SF I would go shopping and take the bus home. Why, oh why, did I think that was ok ---- but I couldn't imagine doing that here? Why don't I think that taking the bus is as cool here? Is it because in SF the buses ran down all of the trendy neighborhood streets? Is it because it was riding the bus in SF was completely socially acceptable? That at night on the bus you would see everything from hot 20-somethings ready for a night on the town - to a couple on a first (or what looked to be a) date - to people in black-tie going to the opera? ..... And during the day completely chic women with thousands (or at least a thousand) dollars on newly purchased shoes and clothing --- to families going to enjoy the sites --- to individuals coming home from the grocery store on the bus. What would that be like if everyone in the twin cities started taking the bus? How awesome would that be? And why was I so nervous about it? ..... Maybe all of the current bus riders are actually uber-trendy!!!
I have to say that it was actually quite liberating to ride the bus. I now know that despite the weather --- I really can get most places easily --- and independently --- without a car.
Oh --- and don't think that I am giving up my bike ..... but it is AWESOME to know that there are options!! :)
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