A bunch of useless crap
Published on February 27, 2010 By MasonM In Blogging

After the garage told me this morning that my truck would "probably" be ready on Tuesday I decided that I should go and pick up some groceries to tide me over and save a few bucks. I had noticed there was a bus stop across the highway from my hotel so I got online and checked the bus routes and schedules. That line runs by a Wally World and has a stop there.

Now, I must confess here that I have never ridden on a city bus in my life. I have always driven or taken a taxi. Taking a bus was a new experience for me.

I have to give my thanks to the bus driver for his patience and excellent customer service. When I stepped onto the bus I had no clue as to how I was supposed to pay my $2 fare. I saw this sort of kiosk and finally figured out that it had a slot for the bills. The driver could see I was out of my element and asked me where I was going.

When the bus stopped at a bus stop across the highway from the Wally World I got up to exit but the driver stopped me and told me he would be going around the block and would stop so as one didn't have to cross the highway. I sat down again.

I got to Wally World no problem. The real adventure started when I left there. The bus driver had told me that the return bus stopped at the same place and had the same number (57). Well, I thought that made it pretty easy.

After  my shopping I returned to the bus stop and waited. When a bus with the number 57 on it pulled up I happily got on and paid my fare. When it reached the intersection I noticed that it turned south instead of north. Hmmmm.

After about 45 minutes and several stops we reached a mall. When the last of the passengers had piled off the bus the driver looked at me and asked me where I was going. I told him and he informed me that I had caught the wrong bus and should have waited for the 57 that came 20 minutes after the one I was on. How the hell was I supposed to know that?

Well, after I explained that I was from out of town (no way I was going to say this was my first city bus ride), he agreed to let me  take the ride back north again without charging me again.

I got a real nice  tour of the area here. I also got to meet some very, ummm, interesting people. Here I was in khakis, dark blue shirt, yellow and blue paisley bow tie, gray silk sport coat, and brown Homburg hat riding on a city bus with some people who gave me the hairy eyeball the instant they stepped on the bus and looked like they shopped in downtown dumpsters. Hell, most of them didn't even speak English.

One  woman of obvious questionable sanity stared at me the entire time she was on the bus. I swear I expected her to whip out a butcher knife at any moment.

Somehow I don't think I'll be riding a bus again any time in the future. Just not my thing and I'll stick to taxis thank you very much.


Comments
on Feb 27, 2010

Yeah I have an aversion to buses as well. It seems that they always attract lets just say the most interesting people. Unfortunently as a college student without a car if I ever need to go off campus they are pretty much my only option unless I can mooch off of my roommate and borrow his car. 

on Mar 01, 2010

What idiot planner numbers 2 different bus routes with the same bus number?

Geez!

Unlike you, I have availed myself of city transporation on several occassions.  Just none in the last 30 years.  But I was also in some great areas for it (San fran and Frankfurt).  I am not thrilled with it, but if I have to again, I hope I can find my way around.  At least in this city,they number buses going different places with different numbers.

on Mar 01, 2010

Leinad0033
Yeah I have an aversion to buses as well. It seems that they always attract lets just say the most interesting people. Unfortunently as a college student without a car if I ever need to go off campus they are pretty much my only option unless I can mooch off of my roommate and borrow his car. 

They are good for people who need them.

on Mar 01, 2010

Dr Guy
What idiot planner numbers 2 different bus routes with the same bus number?

Geez!

Unlike you, I have availed myself of city transporation on several occassions.  Just none in the last 30 years.  But I was also in some great areas for it (San fran and Frankfurt).  I am not thrilled with it, but if I have to again, I hope I can find my way around.  At least in this city,they number buses going different places with different numbers.

Well I figured it out. The bus route, in this case 57, has two buses running it. At any given time one is going north while the other is going south. I can see why they do this as it cuts the waiting time in half. Normally it wouldn't be an issue as one is standing on the side of the street you're going, either northbound or southbound. The problem happened at the stop behind the Wal-Mart. It's a side street, basically a loop, and the buses going in both directions use the exac same stop. Also several of the other bus route numbers stop there as well.

It seems one is supposed to know the schedule so as to know the time the north or south bound 57 comes around so you know which to catch depending upon which direction you're traveling.

Their signs are electronic and it seems to me it would be quite easy to simply denote the number 57-N or 57-S depending on which way the bus is traveling at the time. WOuld have saved me and possibly other folks from out of town and much longer than needed ride.

on Mar 01, 2010

I like city buses. Public transport is really  well organized where I live, and even in remote areas. But, admittedly, cities here aren't usually structured the way they are in the US, baring some exceptions of course.

on Mar 01, 2010

Their signs are electronic and it seems to me it would be quite easy to simply denote the number 57-N or 57-S depending on which way the bus is traveling at the time. WOuld have saved me and possibly other folks from out of town and much longer than needed ride.

Exactly!  With digital signs these days, it seems stupid to have the same designation on 2 different directions.  Your solution is obvious, logical, and sane.  And probably why government workers cant figure it out.