On the Bus

One of the things I adore about my hometown is the public transportation system. One of the best in the country, it is efficient, consistent, and cheap. For those of us who don't have a car due to philosophical or financial reasons, it's an excellent system, though it does have its kinks.

In the suburbs, an area tailor-made for soccer moms and SUVs, not having a car can be a suffocating thing. Even if there is bus system, much of travel will be punctuated by walking and almost getting run over in parking lots. The prospect of not owning a car becomes depressing as you trudge through fields of tar-smelling asphalt. But in the city, a public transportation system is invaluable. With rising gas prices, impossible-to-find parking, and traffic of nightmarish proportions, why would anyone even bother with a car?

Many a day when I'm running late I remember specifically why, but for the most part, I enjoy the bus. You can absorb local color (read: get yelled at by the mentally ill) and observe the sights of the city all while never having to pay for gas or worrying about obeying traffic laws. Also, if there's a wreck, who's going to walk away? That pissant sports car or the downtown metro?

They say the American Dream is the open highway, being able to just jump into your car and go anywhere. Buses only run to specific places at specific times, and maybe to some that's a hindrance. But a car can leave you wrecked and stranded in the middle of nowhere. When you take a bus somewhere, there's always a bus back if you get lost. Drivers are helpful if you get on the wrong line or you don't know exactly where you're supposed to get off. I find this extremely comforting, and this, aside from the fact that I do not own a car, is why I do 99% of my traveling by bus.