Comments on: Fair Fare

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:21:23 +0000

I have a love/hate relationship with the bus/light rail system. I love that I get to read to and from work. I love sharing the commute. I love that I’m one less car on the road (not to mention saving all that $$ on gas). I love the people watching. I hate when it breaks down and you miss your connection, and it takes 2 hours to get home. I hate when I’ve had a hard day and the humanity is overwhelming. I hate how downright dirty some buses/trains are. But, overall, it’s a great option for me and I love how I know the system. It’s so nice to know that we can survive with one car, or even no car, if needed.

By: rohanknitter

rohanknitter — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:40:34 +0000

Good for you for mixing it up! Other than when I was at school at the U of I, I’ve never lived anywhere that a bus system was available. (and I didn’t use it much then because everything I needed was walking distance) Years ago (pre-children) we took a trip with my French professor and some other students to Quebec and we took the metro or the bus all over the city. I thought it was such a great way to get around and so much less stressful, no trying to find your way while driving, parking, etc.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:20:54 +0000

One bad thing about living in the sticks is you can’t walk or take a bus anywhere :O( I used to take the bus when I was a kid all the way across town, and changed buses at the mall even. I still can’t believe my mom let me do that. All to get to Girl Scouts lol.

By: rositta

rositta — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:20:25 +0000

Is that a plastic bottle I see…if it has a number 7 on the bottom you really should toss it. Bisphenol A has now been banned in Canada, seems it causes serious health problems including fertility problems. I’m preaching, sorry but I’m quite passionate about this stuff…ciao

By: Dee

Dee — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:25:12 +0000

You rock! (I too am victim of those morning caffeine cravings!)

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:07:51 +0000

I don’t miss riding the bus (in Boston) because I can’t handle the fumes, but I guess the new electric ones should be better, right? But I do miss riding the commuter train, watching all the business people meet up with their friends after work and discuss vacations, kids, etc. It was great to have that enforced down time when I could read the newspaper or knit.

By: jt

jt — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:26:36 +0000

I took the bus for the last few months I worked at Freescale. Due to some kind of county/industry program, Freescale would *give* anyone a all-rides-are-free bus pass if they rode the bus to work. Free is a very attractive price, so I rode my bike to the bus stop and rode the bus to work (4 whole miles). It was a relaxing and entertaining way to get to and from work.

Hope I didn’t scare you two this morning on the canal. I didn’t recognize you until I was past. I’d wondered how long it would be before I saw you out and about around the Y.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:25:15 +0000

I love those types of uncomfortable situations too! We moved to this neighborhood in July that is definitely a change from the suburbs I grew up in. I feel slightly uncomfortable every time I take the dogs on a walk. But there are so many opportunities for making a difference in this city.

By: michelle

michelle — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:13:28 +0000

That is so cool that you got to take the bus. Yesterday I made sure I didn’t drive if it wasn’t absolutely necessary(picking up the kids was my only outing). We did a lot of recycling at the house including cleaning out a bunch of stuff and getting it on craigslist. Not sure that that is Earth Day worthy, but man did it feel good to clear out junk.

By: laeroport

laeroport — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:10:14 +0000

I just bought a new 4 cup coffee pot on sale at Tarjay for $15. Can I send you an insulated mug?
I used to LOVE taking the bus and the subway in India and England. The people watching was so great – and the listening to all the different languages and accents.
I keep thinking once I have two kids at the same school I might manage to take the bus to work. With gas nearing $4/gal. a $2.50 bus pass sounds like a bargain.

By: April

April — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:44:35 +0000

We are such a small town we don’t even have a bus system. YAY for you for making changes.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:28:31 +0000

Back in October when my Saturn finally died and I was carless, Jordan and I took the bus frequently for about two weeks. It sucked [for me] at first only because I didn’t know what to expect–I was completely out of my comfort zone, but once we got the gist (jist?) of it down, it was actually fun. Jordan LOVED it. He had always seen these big city busses zipping past us here in Tampa and his natural ‘little kid curiosity’ made him in awe of these things. So to actually ride on one–he was in heaven. And it was nice for me to actually be able to ride around and look/observe life from a passenger’s view point. I am NEVER the passenger since Jordan and I are here by ourselves…no one to take us anywhere, etc. I really enjoyed not having to pay attention!!! LOL

XOOXOXOX

By: Patrice

Patrice — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:36:53 +0000

riding the bus is THE best people watching EVER!!

By: katie

katie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:26:35 +0000

I really admire you for taking the bus! Now that we live in the “burbs” we are a little further from the metro and have to take the bus (or drive) there. I did it once and it was an awful experience. We got yelled at for holding up the line and not having the strolled folded up. It was kind of crazy.

By: Geggie

Geggie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:49:48 +0000

Fabulous! I do a “public transit day” twice or more a month when I’m working in DC. It’s a whole other sense of calm about commuting, isn’t it?

I hope that you can do it again.

(AND, I just found out that I’m moving to Chicago, so I’m looking forward to using public transit as my main mode of transportation for my personal life. AND getting to see Kacey.)