The Regular Riders

The bus regulars tend to form bonds and friendships especially if they have ridden together for years in this shared environment. I too have formed bonds with various regular riders; you chat about different subjects, joke, laugh, listened and experience the ambiance of the bus experience. It's interesting to me that you can put total strangers together for an extended period of time and they will form friendships. Some people just click together depending on their personality. I suppose it's like school and the classmates you have throughout the entire 13+/- years but a little less static. People come and go depending on what their situation is, of course. I have formed some friendships that have developed over the years with folks on the bus. I would consider these regular bus buddies to be more like a work buddy than an acquaintance.

This morning I finally got my lazy butt out of bed at a decent hour and was able to catch the last limited run downtown and was greeted by an eager bus buddy in the back waving wildly that there was a seat in the rear with the "limited gang". They are loud but fun - kind of like me! I felt like I was allowed to be in with the popular morning bus crowd - I had arrived! (I'm laughing at myself). It's nice and I was able to keep up with the ongoing banter and contribute. I even teased one with the others chiming in to razz him. It also makes the bus ride more enjoyable and not such a boring ride.
bus rides = entertainment.

Knocked Around This Morning

This morning was rollicking fun. I boarded the bus and away we went and so did I. I caught my balance and inadvertently stepped on a ladies foot and apologized and fell into a seat. I didn't put all my force on her foot and she was real nice about it. I was in the front seat that sits sideways and she and a guy were in the first seat next to me. The stop requested chain was pulled and the guy that was sitting next to me was clearing getting up to prepare his exit and the brakes came on and he fell on me all the while holding a grocery bag. What can you do? You know it isn't any one's fault when the driver is overly brake happy. I was a little disappointed that he neglected to apologize for laying on me. Maybe he was embarrassed or had no voice. Or maybe he was real sleepy or on drugs - oh well, not that big of a deal. The lady I stepped on did comment that every one's equilibrium was off this morning - nice way to put it.
bus rides = entertainment.

Bombarded With Noise

Last evening on the way home I was bombarded by a young man's electronic device. I turned around and asked nicely if he could turn it down and his reply was, "If I turn it down I won't be able to hear it." He didn't turn it down so I stopped trying to trudge through my magazine article and turned around to watch what we were all subjected to. I stated that since I had to hear I may as well watch. A fellow regular rider asked what I was watching and the young man responded, "ESPN." I didn't stay turned around for long. All I could think of was that young man needs to invest in some ear buds and to learn when someone is being sarcastic. I know it's not allowed on the bus but I was willing to cut him so slack but alas he didn't compromise. Very intrusive. This morning a regular rider caught my attention as I was folding my umbrella and said she liked my handling of the situation and was thankful that I said something. if more people would say something I wouldn't feel like the bad ass all the time. Oh well.
bus rides = entertainment

Front Door Only

The bus driver decided that she no longer wanted the passengers to use the back door and made an announcement that everyone had to come up to the front of the bus. Her announcing voice needs work – major breath support work. Only half the bus heard her and subsequently had to tell several exiting passengers at the rear of the bus to exit the front. I stood up for them by yelling that the announcement was not heard at the back of the bus. She took exception to it but the truth is it’s stupid to not let passengers exit from the back. It just seemed like it was a decision made on a whim. SMART has postings in the overhead advertisement space that we should keep the bus moving by exiting the rear door.
Bus rides = entertainment

Happy bus rider

Waiting and Waiting

Wow! when the streets in Detroit shut down it takes a long time for the traffic to move. Waited 30 minutes for a bus. Good thing I had a novel to read and the weather was nice. I also got to chat with a fellow rider who obviously has noticed where I board and exit the bus in Eastpointe. I've always had patience. It's all good - events are good for the city and it's people.
bus rides = entertainment

OMG! It's the Schoenherr BUS!!!

Picked up a couple of passengers this morning who were quite enthused about the bus. The man in particular. He gets on and in a loud voice exclaims "OMG!! ITS THE SCHOENHERR BUS!! I'VE NEVER SEEN THE SCHOENHERR BUS!!" All of us regulars were chuckling under our breath. Honestly, I thought the guy was going to try to hug the driver or something.

We continued for about a mile and they got off. Everyone had a good laugh. The driver said he never had anyone express their happiness at seeing him quite that much. "He was quite animated." Quite the understatement.