Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals

Bus Riding

Transit, bus, LRT, sky train, subway, the loser crusier.... In the last 6 months I have ridden public tranist in 6 major Canadian cities and it is always interesting to watch the people who take public tranist with you.

… I firmly believe riding transit is a wonderful experience. Maybe not when it is -10c or when you watch the bus pull up and you are still a block away from the stop.

But most of the time it is not to be missed – especially during mornings on work days.

Not as much where I live now in Saskatoon, but definitely in Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary or Toronto riding public transit is like watching a miniature society.

There are the well-dressed power business people, the ones carrying briefcases, newspapers and computers. Most often seen first thing in the morning and usually they are balancing an exotic Starbucks drink: a half caf, low foam, sugar free, extra hot, caramel macchiato with no whip. They are also the ones clustered together as far away from those who bus ridding is a necessity. You see these commuters have shiny black BMWs, Humvees, and Lincoln Navigators – bus riding to them is a choice. Save money on parking – buy another Starbucks.

The people the business commuters are trying to avoid are the ones dressed in black, with big spiky silver jewelry, piercing and blue hair. Their look says I “don’t give a fuck” as they read their book or magazine and listen to heavy metal (or grunge) on their ipods. What they don’t want you to know is the book is probably a sappy romance novel, or at least that’s what the girl in front of me was reading. They are the ones traveling across the city because they’ve been tossed out of the high-schools close to where they live. They will have their feet-up on the seat in front of them and will glare at anyone who suggests they move them.

University students are always easy to spot. They are listening to ipods, backpacks stuffed full on their laps and are staring listlessly out the windows. They are usually on the bus before you get on, and will keep riding it after you get off – they are usually commuting for long distances from wherever they could find cheap housing. They are usually more polite than high-school students, generally are dressed for the weather and will likely offer their seats to the elderly or people with small children.

There are also the people who don’t have cars, or those that can no longer drive. You see grandparents on their way to get groceries and single moms toting small children off to school or a doctor’s appointment. The elderly will probably make a day off it – meet friends for coffee at Tim Horton’s, get their hair done at the mall, and find a new outfit before taking the bus back. The single parents dropping of children often wear a frazzled look on their faces. They will be riding the bus more today than any other group: dropping the kids at daycare, going to work, picking up groceries, back to the daycare and back home. Insert small note here about the importance of low cost bus passes and frequent service.

And depending on the route and what city you are in will depend on the nationality you will see most frequently. The Number one (Forrest Lawn/Bowness) in Calgary is usually full of Sudanese immigrants (and me on my way to work). In Vancouver the 414 runs through Richmond, thus it has a large Asian component. The Toronto metro is full of white people at the Union Station and black people towards Jane & Finch.
It’s beautiful and I love it! So take public transit, you’ll end up walking more for good exercise, polluting the environment less and learning lots about your community.

posted by Angela @ 7:44 a.m.