My first day on the bus

I'm trying to do my part to help the earth so I am taking the city bus now. It is quite convenient and perhaps more people in this country would get out of their cars if cities really made it cheap and easy to ride public transportation. Denver has the EcoPass and Metro State College has the bus pass paid for in the student fees. So, I paid for it being a student, so I am going to use it.

Alas, with public transportation also comes some interesting experiences and exposure to a lot in our city that one in their giant SUV speeding along would not see. As I was on the bus for the 4th trip before noon today, it became apparent that bus riding is a whole world on to itself! So I've decided to journal my city bus riding experience and blog so all can share.

The first trip this morning was just crowded but uneventful. I was a little nervous with the schedule and being a newbie bus rider but I managed. There were all types of people from the students to the business people and one wheel chair rider. I like the way the bus is for everyone and how the seats lift up for the chair and the steps go down so the person can wheel up. I liked how people moved out of the way and offered their seats to others who needed to sit after vacating for the wheel chair. I wondered where the wheel chair person was going. Another was assisting her and handed her a cigarette as they got off. Were they off to a medical appointment? Didn't seem like they were 'going shopping' Downtown Denver isn't a real shopping place at 8:30 am. You wonder 'what is their story?' as they descend.


On the way home there was a number of elderly people getting on. One old man, stooped over, carried an oxygen tank(handbag size) but only rode for a few blocks. Once again, where was he going? What's his story? What are you doing at 9:30 am? An old woman got on with a walker. She did quite well getting up the stairs with it. She was a little off her rocker. Talking about doing laundry and going on and on about it. Does she live alone? She got off a few blocks later too with her purse looped over the walker. I watched her descend, hope her purse is secure. I got off with a blind woman. She wasn't fully blind but she did carry the white cane. I started across the street and she was still standing there so I backed up to tell her it said "walk". She said thank you and we crossed together. She wore thick glasses so she thankfully still able to see pretty well- she still was independent.

I keep a pedometer on my hip and so far, before 10:00, I'm up to over 7000 steps. I grab my art work, let Mushu outside and I'm off to walk to the bus once again. This time, however, I missed by 30 seconds the bus and waved but he drove off anyway. I did try running but I figured I'd lose my purse contents if I kept that up. I did call him a name but swearing is a habit-I can't help it..Oh well, I waited only 7 minutes.

The bus gets more crowded as you move on down Colfax. As I got on there was a woman yelling(truly)about taking out tongues and religious crap. On and on...Thankfully the fan/heater went on in the back so it wasn't so loud. She eventually got off with another woman...is she all there? Does that other person take care of her? Why is the bus driver letting this woman yell? It does say no yelling on the posters on the bus. Do these other people around me think this is ridiculous? I need a book. I managed to pick up off the floor a local merchant paper to distract myself. The guy across the aisle from me is dozing off. Young business type. Why is he tired? No briefcase though? Where is he going? He's sitting upright and only slightly nodding off to the right. Why are we always such a tired people? Do we not eat right?

I lost my mitten. I really like these mittens too and now I don't have a pair. They match my denim I like to wear everyday. I HATE losing stuff. It wasn't in the lunch place I went to so I walked to the bus stop for the second time and had to wait.

By this fourth trip and all the walking, I was just exhausted and wanted to go home. It was not as eventful. We did have a guy singing up front- although he did distract the baby boy that started tantruming. The singing did its job but irritated the driver who told him to sing to himself. The guy got up and moved to the back of the bus. I don't think he was running on all cylinders either but he seemed harmless. As we got to Colorado Blvd. the driver got up and went to the back to wake this guy up and told him this was Colorado Blvd. Was he kicking him off or did he know the guy? He did a lot of talking to himself and got off to go and sit on the bus stop benches. Must be transferring to another bus. Or will he just fall asleep there?

Is this my stop? When do I pull the cord? Okay, looks like my stop...I'm off to walk, once again, home.