Ain't Dat Some Bull Stuff: Tales From the Bus

You all know how this writer feels about the bus. This writer will almost always recommend against the bus for various reason. Drivers who are bad and/or unprofessional, passengers who are stupid, schedule-shattering detours, and generally bad upkeep are among the reasons. But this writer knows all too well that sometimes it can't be avoided.

First, let's start with the people who are always there, no matter what; the drivers. Admittedly, the drivers have improved these days. There are still a few scumbags. For example, there's this one driver who just stares at this writer while he's paying his fare. She doesn't say hello like she does to other passengers. Either she doesn't like this writer for some unknown reason, thinks this writer is an alien species masquerading as a human, or she doesn't think this writer can afford the fare. It's annoying and possibly unprofessional on some level.

Then there are the drivers who do nothing to enforce the rules. Once, this writer witnessed two teenagers fighting on the bus. The driver did nothing. He didn't even tell them to stop. The passengers broke it up and threw them off the bus. WTF, driver? At least call security.

Finally, you have the wild drivers. This writer can't count the number of times drivers have almost hit people or completely pass up stops after the being signaled to stop. Sometimes, people have the walk up and tell the driver they pulled the cord half a block ago to get the moron to stop. Garbage. Who is hiring and paying these people?

Passengers aren't always innocent. There will be cussing, eating, and attempting to not pay fare going on.

Next up, detours. As the writer said in his first bus post, you have to be on your toes with those detours or you will miss the bus. Once, this writer was stand at a stop with eleven other people. Then, with no warning, this writer sees the bus turning a corner half a block behind us, completely passing all of us. Apparently it was a detour, which we weren't warned about. The result was twelve people standing there looking stupid as the bus zoomed off. Unacceptable.

Finally, there is the upkeep. Well, this writer will let these pictures do the talking: