After almost a year of being car-free, my wife and I bought an eleven year old minivan (mainly with the money saved by NOT buying gasoline) with the intention that we wouldn't use it unless we absolutely needed it. The problem is she no longer wants to ride the bus anymore unless I'm at work and can't take her (she doesn't drive and never had a DL). Something was trying to tell me this was going to happen. We have discussed this before getting it but it seems to have been conveniently "forgotten" about. I tried to explain to her that this vehicle doesn't get the fuel economy of our old Geo Prizm that got wrecked but she won't listen.
Anyway, she doesn't like riding the bus because of the fellow passengers are sometimes wierd or crazy people and a few instances are downright scary. She works in a restaurant and sometimes didn't get to her stop after closing until almost 1am so I had to meet here there with our dogs so she wouldn't get followed home (when a creep sees a black pit bull they change thier behavior real quick!). I don't want to get this post too long so I won't get into all the examples of generally bad behavior on public transporation but I believe this is part of the reason why commuters want to be in a private motor vehicle instead of having to put up with some "different" people. Feel free to share your experiences if you like.
I still ride my bike everywhere I can (work, errands, etc.) and ride the bus occasionally. Personally I hate the loud conversations on the bus that seem to last the entire trip (where do they get all the energy?) and I'm wanting to get a radio Walkman of borrow my wife's CD player and invest in some good CD's.
cyclezealot
10-07-06, 11:08 AM
Well, at least your travels in the bus wern't as entertaining as our. Last October we had business in Los Angeles. We hate driving there. So we took the train, subway , bus up to LA. So on the bus going our Wilshire, there errupts an old fashioned fist fight. No apparent weapons. The bus driver does not seem too rattled. Just stops the bus at the next stop and out go the brawlers onto the street. I was afraid some of the punches might miss and hit a passenger. Glad they were a couple rows behind us. I'd prefer the bike to buses, but Trains and subways might get me off my bike.
folder fanatic
10-07-06, 11:16 AM
I live right in the middle of older suburbia Los Angeles that deteriorated into gangland over the last 25 or so years. So I feel that I am somewhat of an "expert" in dealing with the lower ebb of society's ladder rung. I have dodged fistfights on buses, screaming kids and their mother's insistance of bringing aboard a massive baby buggy that does not really fold down, rude fellow riders, and other such activities. I apply what I learned of New York City here. Either ignore it, avoid it, and eventually get a car since most people drive here and public transit is demoted to welfare and student status-no serious commuter would be caught dead on shared vehicles.
Rowan
10-07-06, 12:02 PM
Fuel price increases mean the low socio-economic levels suffer first and turn to public transport. It doesn't surprise that the trend to wierdos on public transports increases -- at least it gets them out of cars so they aren't a threat to cyclists.
By the way, didn't you know... wives have short memories and are always right. Didn't you pass your pre-nup test on this? :D
gwd
10-07-06, 01:46 PM
Sit up near the driver. Lately I've had to take the bus and noticed that
they've added some rules against disruptive behaviour that seem unconstitutional. You can't be loud and can't speak to other passengers if they don't want to hear it. The sign says you can be banned from the system for non compliance. Everyone riding the few busses I take seems civil. It looks like the new busses have security cameras on them. I see these dark glass domes near the driver and in the rear.
tfahrner
10-07-06, 03:06 PM
I half-sympathize with your wife. It's true: few transit systems in the US have ridership not skewed toward the crazy or the desperately poor. The part that doesn't sympathize is the part that rides a bike instead of the bus unless perhaps my leg is broken. Why doesn't she ride bike?
smurfy
10-07-06, 04:07 PM
Why doesn't she ride bike?
She does ride on the bike path but not out in traffic. For some reason she is deathly afraid of car traffic and she is afraid to even cross the street on foot. Also she has azhma real bad and has trouble breathing which would be aggravated in high-stress situations.
mlh122
10-07-06, 04:34 PM
By the way, didn't you know... wives have short memories and are always right. :D
+1
<-- newly married
krazygluon
10-07-06, 06:25 PM
When I was riding the bus, the couple of "crazy" regulars (whether insane or wierd, I'm not judging, but they were definitely troublesome) were known by the drivers (who usually drove the same route) so if you had a problem, the driver had your back and would reprimand the offender in question.
oddly, one driver tried to keep one wierd guy up front near him instead of keeping people needing protection there. this actually seemed to work best.
As for wives with short memories and always right...+1 (not yet married but have been with the girl 6 years and we are almost married)
ever notice that memory's selectively short...it can get pretty long if you pi$$ them off enough.
Roody
10-07-06, 07:09 PM
AFAIK buses are actually pretty safe, although you do see a small amount of behavior that is disturbing (of disturbed). That doesn't mean you're actually at any risk of being harmed. Almost all of the people on buses are working people, and in spite of the prejudices repeated here, most certainly seem to have enough money to own a car if they wanted one. Most of them are just like us--they have their own good reasons not to drive a car, and I respect them for it just like I respect all of you. By no means are they all poor, or DUIs, or social outcasts.
You might want to see if your police department keeps statistics about crime on buses. If the figures are low, as I suspect they would be, this might reassure your wife. It might be more dangerous to stand around in the dark waiting for the bus, as opposed to actually riding on it, so use your good judgment.
becnal
10-08-06, 03:13 AM
Doesn't your wife ride a bike?
derath
10-08-06, 06:25 AM
Lately I've had to take the bus and noticed that
they've added some rules against disruptive behaviour that seem unconstitutional.
I always love this stuff. What like they are infringing on your free speech? If so just another misinterpretation of free speech
-D
Dahon.Steve
10-08-06, 11:05 AM
After almost a year of being car-free, my wife and I bought an eleven year old minivan (mainly with the money saved by NOT buying gasoline) with the intention that we wouldn't use it unless we absolutely needed it. The problem is she no longer wants to ride the bus anymore unless I'm at work and can't take her (she doesn't drive and never had a DL). Something was trying to tell me this was going to happen. We have discussed this before getting it but it seems to have been conveniently "forgotten" about. I tried to explain to her that this vehicle doesn't get the fuel economy of our old Geo Prizm that got wrecked but she won't listen.
I still ride my bike everywhere I can (work, errands, etc.) and ride the bus occasionally. Personally I hate the loud conversations on the bus that seem to last the entire trip (where do they get all the energy?) and I'm wanting to get a radio Walkman of borrow my wife's CD player and invest in some good CD's.
I've always said that being car free is easier for men than it is for women. It's the men who make this world dangerous for men and especially women.
Whenever I'm on the lightrail and someone is sick or loud, I get right up and walk to the other side of the car. I refuse to catch someone's cold or have my day ruined by ill behavior. I'll give up my seat even if I'm dead tired because it's safer to stand next to the driver than be involved in an ugly encounter.
I happen to find the bicycle the best form of transportation in bad neighborhoods. My mother lives in one and driving a car would mean parking in some secluded place many blocks from her home. Walking some of those blocks would be a scary situation because there's never any parking close to her door. With a bicycle, I can ride right up to her door and walk in. No need to walk dangerous blocks or wait for the bus or even ligthrail at night. When it's time to leave, I'll ride faster than normal treating red lights and stop signs as yield. I've never had any problems.
tfahrner
10-08-06, 12:36 PM
Almost all of the people on buses are working people, and in spite of the prejudices repeated here, most certainly seem to have enough money to own a car if they wanted one.
I'd be wrong if I said most of the people on busses were crazy or poor (I didn't) and prejudiced if I said so without having ridden transit plenty (I'm not). The smaller the percentage of people who rely on transit in any area, the higher the likelihood that you'll be pent up with crazy/poor for your trip (along with plenty of pleasant and interesting people too -- also, there's nothing wrong with being poor; it's just that prolonged poverty tends to contribute to the craziness). It's a chicken-and-egg problem. In NYC, for example, it is indeed a pretty normal mix of people on transit.
I do sort of resent the mental association of car-free with "takes the bus." I lived in San Francisco 8 years car-free and rode transit within town less than 10 times; I figured out that it was always faster to bike, famous hills and all. The only time I needed it was when crossing over to the East Bay, because they don't let bikes on the bridge. I nearly always got out with my bike at the first east-side stop and continued to my destination that way.
tfahrner
10-08-06, 12:41 PM
She does ride on the bike path but not out in traffic. For some reason she is deathly afraid of car traffic and she is afraid to even cross the street on foot. Also she has azhma real bad and has trouble breathing which would be aggravated in high-stress situations.
I find it ironic that the people most afraid of motor traffic are the ones most likely to escalate the danger by not riding bike instead. Anyway, my wife is rather fearful of traffic too; the fear increases the longer it's been since she's ridden. Keeping your head in traffic, even enjoying it, comes from being in it often.
Roody
10-08-06, 01:07 PM
I think part of the issue with buses is that any time you're in public, you will run into people from the entire spectrum. At the extremes, there are rude people, of whatever SES. Some of the rudest people on buses are those who play their little movie things at audible levels. Since these movie things (Sorry, I don't know what they're called) are very expensive, I assume that many of the people who use them could afford a car if they wanted one. Wealthy carfree people can be rude and obnoxious too, though perhaps at a lower rate than other people. ;)
Another issue is that we tend to note the behavior that disturbs, frightens or annoys us. I might go on ten bus rides that were pleasant, but I'll always remember the jabbering droolbucket on the 11th ride. (Just like I forget the 1000 cars that passed me safely and remember the one that buzzed me.)
A couple things I try to remember: One is that "crazy" and rude behavior is not truly dangerous. I might be annoyed, but rarely have I been menaced on a bus. Second, if somebody is breaking a rule--like the radio or movie thing--I will often complain to the driver. If the driver does nothing, I would follow up with a complaint to the bus line management. But so far that's never been necessary because the driver always has handled the situation. In return, I'm always one to back up the driver if a passenger is giving her/him a hard time. They have a tough job, and they need the support of the "good" apssengers from time to time. Also, sometimes you just have to take the bad with the good. If a bus is a convenient and economical choice for you, then take the bus. Observing "different" behavior is part of the price you sometimes pay in order to avoid that monthly car payment. To me, it's a small price to pay.
Certainly, most Americans are unwilling to put up with "deviant" behavior, and most of us are also unwilling to be tied down to a bus schedule. Personally, I don't take the bus very often for those reasons. Thank God for bikes! Freedom and self-reliance without the expense and hassles of a car! :) :) :)
Platy
10-08-06, 02:04 PM
If you teleported 25 random motorists out of their cars and observed them for an hour, I wonder if they would all appear to be entirely normal.
rajman
10-08-06, 02:48 PM
I haven't had any particularly bad experiences on the buses, but late at night seems to bring out some odd characters. I used to have to leave for work at 3:45 am and took the streetcar about 5 times a week. Definitely an education in humanity, but not so scary.
Perhaps your wife could take a cab home at night, and the bus in?
Spaceman Spiff
10-08-06, 02:59 PM
I used to ride the bus every day a few years ago (too far/cold to bike) and HATED it because of the other passengers. Among the various types of idiots I encountered, the worst were:
-Teenagers who feel the need to tell each other about their sexual exploits, very loudly so that the whole bus can hear.
-Screaming toddlers whose mom doesn't seem to think anyone else is disturbed by the noise
-People with terrible body odour
I never felt afraid of anyone following me or anything like that (but then I'm a big guy), it was just the annoying things people did that made me hate it.
twochins
10-08-06, 03:03 PM
about the loud conversation, this may be one of the only times some people get to have a conversation with another person about things they want to talk about..they aren't trying to bother you with thier 'loud' conversations, they are just trying to release some of the strain of the daily grind or blowing off steam before thier next job...
re-title the post: 'why snobs won't ride public transportation'
Spaceman Spiff
10-08-06, 03:17 PM
It's a matter of respect. When you're inside, whether inside a building or a bus, and there are other people nearby, you speak quietly.
donnamb
10-08-06, 04:41 PM
re-title the post: 'why snobs won't ride public transportation'
Are you male or female? Sometimes loud conversations have topics that are somewhat intimidating to listen to when one is female travelling alone on public transit. Most women spend a lifetime avoiding potentially bad scenes, and so we tend to go with the better to be safe than sorry approach to our personal safety. Not all loud conversations are a prelude to female harassment, but most harassment of females in public by unknown men start with loud conversations.
donnamb
10-08-06, 04:49 PM
My approach to encouraging others to leave me alone on the bus is to wear headphones. You don't even have to have them on. When people that want to drag you into their drama observe that you've disconnected, they're no longer interested in you as an audience.
lyeinyoureye
10-08-06, 05:04 PM
fu man, we're peeple too.
Roody
10-08-06, 05:30 PM
My approach to encouraging others to leave me alone on the bus is to wear headphones. You don't even have to have them on. When people that want to drag you into their drama observe that you've disconnected, they're no longer interested in you as an audience.
Reading a book can serve the same purpose.
So what about these intimidating conversations you mentioned earlier? I hate them too, but they don't scare me. Is that different when you're a woman? Headphones (turned on) might help here too?
It depends on the mood I'm in. Often I want to be left alone, but sometimes it's more fun to join in on the conversations--even the stupid ones.
Cyclepath
10-08-06, 06:50 PM
Much depends on where you live. I live in a small city ensconced in a rural area. I've never had any problem with other people on the local bus. My problem with the local bus is that it runs late, takes a long time getting to where its going, & no shelter is provided while you wait for it. So i avoid using it. There is a dial-up shuttle bus that works better.
There is a commuter bus into Hartford with tickets purchased cheap by the book. Serious commuters use it. Outside of those hours there's Bonanza, but one has to be more affluent to ride that nowadays.
Dahon.Steve
10-09-06, 08:05 AM
Also, sometimes you just have to take the bad with the good. If a bus is a convenient and economical choice for you, then take the bus. Observing "different" behavior is part of the price you sometimes pay in order to avoid that monthly car payment. To me, it's a small price to pay.
Very well said.
What's more dangerous? A bus with a passanger talking loud or driving on the interstate at 70mph during rush hour?
I've ridden the interstate in NJ during rush hour and felt like a dare devel. This morning, there was a four car pileup about 30 miles from where I live resulting in an extensive police investigation (Someone was killed). Tomorrow there will be another and then another and another......
Dahon.Steve
10-09-06, 08:13 AM
Much depends on where you live. I live in a small city ensconced in a rural area. I've never had any problem with other people on the local bus. My problem with the local bus is that it runs late, takes a long time getting to where its going, & no shelter is provided while you wait for it. So i avoid using it. There is a dial-up shuttle bus that works better.
Good point.
I also might want to add that many of these negative experience also depend on what mode of public transportation. I've traveled on costly MetroNorth, Long Island Rail road, Amtrak other commuter lines without any problems. I guess high price of the fare box makes these mode of transit safer than the bus.
I also think lightrail is safer than the bus. The bus is much more enclosed with less room and there's something about this that makes people more crazier.
Artkansas
10-09-06, 10:50 AM
If you teleported 25 random motorists out of their cars and observed them for an hour, I wonder if they would all appear to be entirely normal.
Hang on, teleportation is under development. Beam Me Up (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3811785.stm)
Dahon.Steve
10-09-06, 02:52 PM
Hang on, teleportation is under development. Beam Me Up (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3811785.stm)
Good article. It sounds expensive and I doubt anyone on this forum will be alive when it happens.
chephy
10-09-06, 07:26 PM
Toronto's public transit system is one of the most successful and popular ones in North America, so it is not "skewed towards the desperately poor". Taking the bus is just considered... normal. I've had bad experiences with other passengers, but those were annoyances (loud, smelly etc.) - not threats.
So what about these intimidating conversations you mentioned earlier? I hate them too, but they don't scare me. Is that different when you're a woman? That may be true for some women... but I'm a woman and I certainly don't go around constantly trying to "avoid bad scenes". I just... live my life, you know. A bus is about the last place where I'd be scared of bad types. There is a driver there and other passengers, for God's sake!
That doesn't mean I would go walk around Harlem in the middle of the night, but I wouldn't do that if I were a guy either. Gender has little to do with it.
I think a lot of women are conditioned into fearing for their safety all the time... sort of like the general North American public is conditioned to drive a car everywhere cause it's the only "safe" way to travel. I can see a lot of similarities here.
Roody
10-09-06, 08:47 PM
It seems that several personality traits influence the type of transportaton that people select. I've talked to women who feel very safe in their cars, but are frightened in other transit situations. A car has doors that lock and it's also a good weapon. Security is very important to some people, especially women (I think).
Some people are kind of introverted or even shy (I'm one). Loud noises, close physical contact, rapid movements, even bright colors can overstimulate them and make them uncomfortable. These people will probably be unhappy on a bus, and prefer the peaceful isolation of a car or bike.
Other people have firm opinions about the type of conduct that's acceptable in public. Loudness, nosy questions, and smelliness will offend them or even disgust them. They will hate the bus, but they might be unhappy with a bike or car too, and prone to road rage. They probably entertain at home a lot, or only go to church.
Chris L
10-09-06, 09:21 PM
I've had bad experiences with other passengers, but those were annoyances (loud, smelly etc.) - not threats.
Not only that, but these can experience can also be avoided -- to a point. Last weekend I used a bus to get to and from a dental appointment (wasn't sure I'd feel like riding if they drilled holes in my teeth). At the bus stop heading back there were dozens of idiots pushing and shoving to try to get in the door. I, realising that it would take a while to get all those people on the bus anyway, decided to go and sit in the shade while all the idiots struggled in the heat.
I think a lot of women are conditioned into fearing for their safety all the time... sort of like the general North American public is conditioned to drive a car everywhere cause it's the only "safe" way to travel. I can see a lot of similarities here.
... And somehow overlooking the number of people killed in car crashes every year.
My biggest problem with bus travel has nothing to do with "safety" concerns, but reliability concerns. The bus on the way to the dentist last weekend didn't show up at all, which seems to be a recurring pattern everytime I try to get a bus in this city (which is, admittedly, rare). It only takes one or two instances of having to make emergency arrangements when a bus doesn't show (which usually means paying for a taxi) before a person gets well and truly fed up with bus travel.
mrkott3r
10-09-06, 09:42 PM
Well, at least your travels in the bus wern't as entertaining as our. Last October we had business in Los Angeles. We hate driving there. So we took the train, subway , bus up to LA. So on the bus going our Wilshire, there errupts an old fashioned fist fight. No apparent weapons. The bus driver does not seem too rattled. Just stops the bus at the next stop and out go the brawlers onto the street. I was afraid some of the punches might miss and hit a passenger. Glad they were a couple rows behind us. I'd prefer the bike to buses, but Trains and subways might get me off my bike.
Wow you have outdone me. That would have been an interesting ride. Well at least funny afterwards.
My best (or worst ride) was when I was at school and I had to get a different bus once a week. We went past this sheltered workshop (read: workplace for crazies) and this real crazy would get on. He would sit on the seat that faced backwards and sit there the entire ride saying loudly (like very audible up the back) the three names of the maximum security jails in my state, then, oh no you dont want to go there. The funny thing was one of them had just recently been closed down. I never had the courage to yell out that, that jail was closed. Apparently no-one else did either.
Weird and scary.
mrkott3r
10-09-06, 09:44 PM
My biggest problem with bus travel has nothing to do with "safety" concerns, but reliability concerns. The bus on the way to the dentist last weekend didn't show up at all, which seems to be a recurring pattern everytime I try to get a bus in this city (which is, admittedly, rare). It only takes one or two instances of having to make emergency arrangements when a bus doesn't show (which usually means paying for a taxi) before a person gets well and truly fed up with bus travel.
Ahahaha you live in Australia and expect a bus to run on time? Or even show up? I gave up on the bus (when I do catch it) that is scheduled to get me to uni on time and get the bus before it. Early beats being late I guess.
Chris L
10-09-06, 09:56 PM
Ahahaha you live in Australia and expect a bus to run on time? Or even show up? I gave up on the bus (when I do catch it) that is scheduled to get me to uni on time and get the bus before it. Early beats being late I guess.
I'd probably only use a bus once or twice a year. I sometimes forget just how hopeless the network is.
smurfy
10-09-06, 10:43 PM
A couple of months ago when my wife and I were returning from the grocery store the bus picked up some guy in front of a group home. He looked like Tim Allen of the TV show "Home Improvement" except younger and even his voice was alot like his. He started asking the other passengers if they watched soaps on TV and taped soaps and what thier favorite soap was. Then he would ask if they painted thier toenails and some other wierd things. Some of the passengers would try to humor him and answered his questions. This guy was really wierd but not in a creepy way or anything like that. Harmless but irritating!
My wife was starting to get pissed at him, especially after she sneezed and he said "bless you" real loud and then would keep saying that after she wouldn't respond. After about ten minutes of this kind of crap (which seemed like forever) we finally got to our stop and then he said to us "have a nice day and don't forget to tape soaps!" I guess it was kind of funny looking back on it but my wife rides the bus alot more than I so she sees more of this kind of stuff.
chephy
10-10-06, 12:01 AM
Not only that, but these can experience can also be avoided -- to a point. Last weekend I used a bus to get to and from a dental appointment (wasn't sure I'd feel like riding if they drilled holes in my teeth). At the bus stop heading back there were dozens of idiots pushing and shoving to try to get in the door. I, realising that it would take a while to get all those people on the bus anyway, decided to go and sit in the shade while all the idiots struggled in the heat. I like line-ups at stops - very civilized. When I was a university student, I'd often take public transit to and from uni (the times I didn't bike in :D). There is a subway line going from right near my house to a few kms away from campus - and then there is a very frequent express bus between the campus and the subway station (runs every 2-3 minutes in rush hour). At peak times, the lines for this bus can be several hundred people long; boarding would be impossible if everybody decided to just fight his/her way in. Unfortunately, there are always sneaky line-jumpers, but they are a tiny minority and merely confronting them usually is enough to get them to go to the end of the line (and earn a dirty look from them and cheers from the rest of the passengers :D).
My biggest problem with bus travel has nothing to do with "safety" concerns, but reliability concerns. The bus on the way to the dentist last weekend didn't show up at all, which seems to be a recurring pattern everytime I try to get a bus in this city (which is, admittedly, rare). It only takes one or two instances of having to make emergency arrangements when a bus doesn't show (which usually means paying for a taxi) before a person gets well and truly fed up with bus travel. Yep, there is bad public transit for ya. Really - if bus service is that unreliable, it might as well not exist.
bike2math
10-10-06, 05:34 AM
My biggest problem with bus travel has nothing to do with "safety" concerns, but reliability concerns. The bus on the way to the dentist last weekend didn't show up at all, which seems to be a recurring pattern everytime I try to get a bus in this city (which is, admittedly, rare). It only takes one or two instances of having to make emergency arrangements when a bus doesn't show (which usually means paying for a taxi) before a person gets well and truly fed up with bus travel.
Yup. It seems like every time I ride the bus it breaks down and we have to get off and wait for the next one. My wife commutes by bus and she says that every other week it breaks. Or the driver goes right by her at the stop without stopping.
As for wierdos: The worst experience I had was a man in the seat behind me peeing on the floor. It was disgusting sounding and smelled horrible.
mister
10-10-06, 10:45 AM
I wouldn't try to convince her the bus is safe. I'd just tell her to hustle more at work since it will be her cash going to fill up the tank and not mine. Life was fine pre-minivan and it will be fine post-minivan.
Roody
10-10-06, 11:22 AM
Reading the posts here, I've realized that we must have a pretty good bus line (CATA) here in Lansing. For security they have friendly but firm drivers, backed up by onboard security cams, and guards on some runs, so you feel safe and don't see too many "weirdos". The buses are clean and new "green machines" that rarely break down on you. Buses are almost always within 5 minutes of the scheduled times.
The only problems? They don't run as frequently as they should--they are 20 to 60 minutes apart on most weekday schedules, even less frequent in the evening and on weekends. They also need to have late-night or 24 hour service. I get off work at 11:30 PM and taking a bus home is not an option for me. Of course, I ride (bike) to work 99 % of the time, and walk the other 1 %. But I would probably take the bus more often if they had convenient schedules.
jamesdenver
10-10-06, 11:30 PM
On the bus or flying, I always have earplugs and books with me. Walgreens has a whole box of them for under $5. They drastically cut down on sound, including high pitched cell phone conversations. Perfect for relaxing in your own world. And I always read, passes time much quicker than staring out the window annoyed at how slllooooowwww people get on and off the bus.
jeff-o
10-11-06, 07:24 AM
I think the worst encounter I've ever had on the bus was having to listen to some weirdo show off his plastic dinosaur collection to an unfortunate female passenger. Completely harmless, but really annoying. Lucky for me, most places I need to go in the city are more quickly reached by bike than by bus. I imagine there will be a few times in the winter when I'll skip riding and take the bus instead, but I hope to avoid the $4.50 round trip as much as possible.
Roody
10-11-06, 07:55 AM
Keep in mind that some of the "weirdos" on the bus are mentally retarded or mentally ill. They really can't help it that they don't quite get the social conventions. They are probably going to work or school just like you are. Either ignore them (smile and nod, then look away), or look at the plastic dinosaurs and tell them what a nice collection they have. You might even make a new friend.
jeff-o
10-11-06, 08:35 AM
Keep in mind that some of the "weirdos" on the bus are mentally retarded or mentally ill. They really can't help it that they don't quite get the social conventions. They are probably going to work or school just like you are. Either ignore them (smile and nod, then look away), or look at the plastic dinosaurs and tell them what a nice collection they have. You might even make a new friend.
I've no doubt that some people on the bus are mentally challeneged, and that's OK. It's just that some people feel uneasy around them. The girl on that bus certainly was. After a long day at work or school, most people just want to be left alone. I know I do. That's probably one reason why people choose to drive alone.
Rowan
10-11-06, 09:03 AM
They drastically cut down on sound, including high pitched cell phone conversations.
Oh yes... the inimitable cell phone conversations in which people might just as well not use the device because THEY ARE SHOUTING SO LOUDLY EVERYONE IN A 100KM RADIUS CAN HEAR THEM!!!
And have you noticed just how inane or dumb phone conversations really are?
Roody
10-11-06, 09:06 AM
I've no doubt that some people on the bus are mentally challeneged, and that's OK. It's just that some people feel uneasy around them. The girl on that bus certainly was. After a long day at work or school, most people just want to be left alone. I know I do. That's probably one reason why people choose to drive alone.
Yes. Since you can't usually change the behavior of people around you, you must either change your mental attitude, or stay away from them. Your choice. If the bus is something that would otherwise be convenient for you, I guess you have to change your attitude in order to ride on it.
EDIT: (I asolutely don't mean you personally, jeff-o. I mean "you" in the generic sense. Sorry about the vague wording. :))
chephy
10-11-06, 03:34 PM
Oh yes... the inimitable cell phone conversations in which people might just as well not use the device because THEY ARE SHOUTING SO LOUDLY EVERYONE IN A 100KM RADIUS CAN HEAR THEM!!!
And have you noticed just how inane or dumb phone conversations really are? Yep. Most of them are something like this:
"Hello. How are you? Good, I'm ok. So whuzzup? Really? O my God! Yeah, I was just there and he was like 'You know, I don't think I even like it!' And I'm like 'Hello? You, like, ASKED for it'. And he's like whatever, right? And I'm like totally pissed and he like goes 'Oh, what's wrong?' And I'm like wow, man, it's like totally dumb! And so I'm like whatever, like see ya later, and he's like... and I'm like... and she like goes..."...
I think the use of the word "like", when not used as a verb, should be outlawed in public places... :D
Chris L
10-11-06, 09:22 PM
Oh yes... the inimitable cell phone conversations in which people might just as well not use the device because THEY ARE SHOUTING SO LOUDLY EVERYONE IN A 100KM RADIUS CAN HEAR THEM!!!
And have you noticed just how inane or dumb phone conversations really are?
The only thing that separates cell phone users from the certifiably insane is the assumption that someone on the other end is listening to them.
My mother, who regularly rides on public transport, says an IPOD was the best investment she ever made.
SkyeC
10-11-06, 10:12 PM
Buses suck. I hated them in Seattle and I hate them in the Bay Area. Mass-rail like BART and others I've been on in other cities is fine but damn if it seems every bus system I've ever been on has just been an irritant-fest. Got your weirdos, homeless, can't-pay-the-fare-crackheads, and blah blah, I just don't have the patience for that **** anymore. I rode a bus for years in school and I'd rather bike 7 miles to work than take a bus, that's for damn sure. It's just too bad I work at 4am, that's way too early to wake up and ride a bicycle, for me anyway. Good thing I have an Audi. Oh wait, no car, that's right... erm.