I enjoyed your (Eddy Gilmore) commentary in the Budgeteer 1-10-09. It reminded me of my last bus ride and for some reason want to share it with you.
I too had a similar experience while taking a rare bus ride. It was last fall on a rainy afternoon. My wife and I planned on seeing a 3:30 movie at Lakes 10 on a Saturday. The plan was to meet her downtown near a bus stop and walk to the movie. She had taken one of our two vehicles to work downtown so why have both vehicles down there when I can take the bus. Also gas was in the high 3 dollar range.
I thought taking the bus would be fun and I had the time so what the heck. I checked the schedule on-line and also reviewed the "Precision Real-Time Bus Monitor” system and found that I could make it downtown at the same time the movie started so it was worth a shot. Who knows maybe it would be early, how full could a bus in Duluth be on a Saturday anyway? If we made it in time great, if not, we could find something else to do.
It was raining while I stood waiting for the bus to pick me up at 3:05 on Grand in the Smithville area. 3:05 came and past with no bus in view, so much for real time or near time. It showed up 10 or 15 minutes late so I am thinking the movie is a bust but the trip turned out better than any movie I had seen all year for the very reasons you mentioned, community.
The bus was about 1/4 full when I came on board but would soon be full. At one stop, we picked up a guy who was riding a bike. He had a hard time getting the bike rack to work so the female bus driver waited a bit then went out and assisted the rider. As we were slowing down for the next stop, people in front of me sitting on the seats near the front where they face each other got up and moved. One of the riders asked the driver "which side". I was confused by the question until I saw who we were picking up next. It was a lady with a baby in a wheelchair (it is raining). The bus driver lifts the bench on the side she mentioned in her response the riders questions. The lady in the wheelchair then negotiates her chair into position so the driver can attach a four point fastening system to the chair and the bus. The driver kneels down on the floor to install the straps; this takes a bit to complete safely. No one makes a fuss on how long it is taking or the fact that we are late by at least 15 minutes.
I sat in my seat and enjoyed seeing the neighborhood from a bus’s view much like you mention also with the expectation that the bus would be empty on a Saturday afternoon. This bus was packed by the time we hit 57th West and Grand Ave. This bus driver did a great job and I was amazed at all she had to do.
The conversations that were taking place were fun to eavesdrop on which wasn't hard as one guy I think wanted to share what he had to say with anyone who was near.
I had not seen my neighborhood or the city from this view for some time and I had the similar epiphany (my feeling) you expressed in your commentary. I wish I had away with words that I could describe what I saw and how I felt. In a couple words it was just a wonderful feeling to be on this ride. I am more fortunate in a monetary way then most on that bus I would guess but I have less of a connection with my community then the other riders. I am not sure which is better but I suspect that having both might be or then again maybe not. You often hear about the Midwest being apart of the “fly over” portion of the USA, one could say when we drive around town that we practice a similar deal that could be called a “drive by” or “drive over”.
I love public transit for the reasons you mention, I can only wish that others would slow down a bit and take a ride so the perception of public transit would change from the "have-nots" only ride the bus and switch to “why-not-ride-the-bus”. I got a strange feeling that the world might be better place if we see others by being in the same space with them rather then hearing and seeing about it from the media.
Now, if I could only get a job on a bus route.
Thanks again for your commentary,
Mike
PS
I enjoyed your description of “waiting for the bus”.
I too had a similar experience while taking a rare bus ride. It was last fall on a rainy afternoon. My wife and I planned on seeing a 3:30 movie at Lakes 10 on a Saturday. The plan was to meet her downtown near a bus stop and walk to the movie. She had taken one of our two vehicles to work downtown so why have both vehicles down there when I can take the bus. Also gas was in the high 3 dollar range.
I thought taking the bus would be fun and I had the time so what the heck. I checked the schedule on-line and also reviewed the "Precision Real-Time Bus Monitor” system and found that I could make it downtown at the same time the movie started so it was worth a shot. Who knows maybe it would be early, how full could a bus in Duluth be on a Saturday anyway? If we made it in time great, if not, we could find something else to do.
It was raining while I stood waiting for the bus to pick me up at 3:05 on Grand in the Smithville area. 3:05 came and past with no bus in view, so much for real time or near time. It showed up 10 or 15 minutes late so I am thinking the movie is a bust but the trip turned out better than any movie I had seen all year for the very reasons you mentioned, community.
The bus was about 1/4 full when I came on board but would soon be full. At one stop, we picked up a guy who was riding a bike. He had a hard time getting the bike rack to work so the female bus driver waited a bit then went out and assisted the rider. As we were slowing down for the next stop, people in front of me sitting on the seats near the front where they face each other got up and moved. One of the riders asked the driver "which side". I was confused by the question until I saw who we were picking up next. It was a lady with a baby in a wheelchair (it is raining). The bus driver lifts the bench on the side she mentioned in her response the riders questions. The lady in the wheelchair then negotiates her chair into position so the driver can attach a four point fastening system to the chair and the bus. The driver kneels down on the floor to install the straps; this takes a bit to complete safely. No one makes a fuss on how long it is taking or the fact that we are late by at least 15 minutes.
I sat in my seat and enjoyed seeing the neighborhood from a bus’s view much like you mention also with the expectation that the bus would be empty on a Saturday afternoon. This bus was packed by the time we hit 57th West and Grand Ave. This bus driver did a great job and I was amazed at all she had to do.
The conversations that were taking place were fun to eavesdrop on which wasn't hard as one guy I think wanted to share what he had to say with anyone who was near.
I had not seen my neighborhood or the city from this view for some time and I had the similar epiphany (my feeling) you expressed in your commentary. I wish I had away with words that I could describe what I saw and how I felt. In a couple words it was just a wonderful feeling to be on this ride. I am more fortunate in a monetary way then most on that bus I would guess but I have less of a connection with my community then the other riders. I am not sure which is better but I suspect that having both might be or then again maybe not. You often hear about the Midwest being apart of the “fly over” portion of the USA, one could say when we drive around town that we practice a similar deal that could be called a “drive by” or “drive over”.
I love public transit for the reasons you mention, I can only wish that others would slow down a bit and take a ride so the perception of public transit would change from the "have-nots" only ride the bus and switch to “why-not-ride-the-bus”. I got a strange feeling that the world might be better place if we see others by being in the same space with them rather then hearing and seeing about it from the media.
Now, if I could only get a job on a bus route.
Thanks again for your commentary,
Mike
PS
I enjoyed your description of “waiting for the bus”.
