Today we're going to talk about a relatively unfamiliar subject. Public Transportation. The BUS. Not the subway, which is cool in it's own big-city way, but the Commuter Bus.
Now, don't get me wrong, the bus is o.k. It's just not my preferred method of commuting. For one thing, that whole schedule thing sucks. There are only a few buses that head into the city from my bus stop (which, to be fair, is located across the street from my house). Two, really, that are viable - a 6:50 am and a 7:25 am. As far as the return trip goes, the last express bus out of the city for me is around 8:30 pm.
But the kicker - the final nail in the commuter bus coffin - is sharing a seat. There's nothing worse than spending an hour on a bus with someone crammed up next to you. Sometimes they're smelly, sometimes they spill into your side of the seat, sometimes they just talk on the phone too loudly or, god forbid - snore. You never know what you're going to get saddled with when you take that seat.
So you get on the bus, find an empty seat and pile your bags on the seat closest to the window. You sit in the outer seat, and quickly pull out your book. Pump up the volume on your iPod, and avoid eye contact with everyone who is still filing on. Praying that you've made yourself as unappealing as possible. Each person who passes you by evokes a silent sigh of relief. Maybe, just maybe, you'll make it this time. The bus has plenty of room, lots of open seats....it just might happen. And then, wham! Someone asks, politely, to sit down. Damn. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other people who emerge unscathed, comfortable in their own double-seat.
Dumb luck, or smart planning?
Is there a "right" place to sit on the bus in order to dissuade seatmates? Sitting in the very back is iffy - many people pass up available seats closer to the front in the hopes of finding an empty one further back. When that doesn't pan out, they see you there with your empty window seat - and that's the end of that.
What about the very front of the bus? Also iffy, as there are people who don't care about getting their own seat and will just grab the first available one they come upon.
Which brings us to the mid-section. I believe that there must be a sweet spot. Neither too far back, nor too close to the front. That invisible space that people just glide right by, or never reach. Heaven on multiple-axles.
I'll be searching for it this afternoon. Wish me luck.
Now, don't get me wrong, the bus is o.k. It's just not my preferred method of commuting. For one thing, that whole schedule thing sucks. There are only a few buses that head into the city from my bus stop (which, to be fair, is located across the street from my house). Two, really, that are viable - a 6:50 am and a 7:25 am. As far as the return trip goes, the last express bus out of the city for me is around 8:30 pm.
But the kicker - the final nail in the commuter bus coffin - is sharing a seat. There's nothing worse than spending an hour on a bus with someone crammed up next to you. Sometimes they're smelly, sometimes they spill into your side of the seat, sometimes they just talk on the phone too loudly or, god forbid - snore. You never know what you're going to get saddled with when you take that seat.
So you get on the bus, find an empty seat and pile your bags on the seat closest to the window. You sit in the outer seat, and quickly pull out your book. Pump up the volume on your iPod, and avoid eye contact with everyone who is still filing on. Praying that you've made yourself as unappealing as possible. Each person who passes you by evokes a silent sigh of relief. Maybe, just maybe, you'll make it this time. The bus has plenty of room, lots of open seats....it just might happen. And then, wham! Someone asks, politely, to sit down. Damn. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other people who emerge unscathed, comfortable in their own double-seat.
Dumb luck, or smart planning?
Is there a "right" place to sit on the bus in order to dissuade seatmates? Sitting in the very back is iffy - many people pass up available seats closer to the front in the hopes of finding an empty one further back. When that doesn't pan out, they see you there with your empty window seat - and that's the end of that.
What about the very front of the bus? Also iffy, as there are people who don't care about getting their own seat and will just grab the first available one they come upon.
Which brings us to the mid-section. I believe that there must be a sweet spot. Neither too far back, nor too close to the front. That invisible space that people just glide right by, or never reach. Heaven on multiple-axles.
I'll be searching for it this afternoon. Wish me luck.
1 comment:
Hey, it's Olive from the boards. Cute blog :) I find that sitting in the window seat and putting your bags to your left and then doing as you do - ipod, avert eyes - works better than sitting on the outside seat. Makes you less approachable, maybe? Pretending to be asleep works really well too.
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