When public transit is mentioned in casual conversation, I truly can’t hold back the flood of memories that come rushing back from the thirty-five years when it was a part of my daily life.
For more than half of my life, encompassing high school, university, part-time jobs, and my full-time career, our bus service was my main way to get around. Regrettably, that stopped when my office relocated, making my bus commute longer and more logistically complex. Getting a parking pass and driving to work became the more convenient option. Just the same, it came without guilt, as I was certain I had done my fair share for the environment and in reducing traffic.
When I look back over those years, there are situations that still make me smile because as a retiree who no longer commutes, those experiences don’t happen anymore. Some situations were funny, some were odd, but in the grand scheme of things, they were just part of the package deal of commuting.
Passengers with massive amounts of luggage
There were times when getting seated comfortably was a challenge, when the only available seat was next to someone with multiple pieces of luggage, leaving no legroom. While I think we’ve all been there at one time or another, carrying more than we planned, there were a few for whom this was a regular occurrence. In those moments when I was bracing myself for fear of falling into the aisle, I couldn’t help wondering what they needed to carry, day in and day out. I guess we’ll never know.
Snack time
While I was no stranger to having a quick bite on the bus on the way home after a full day, I was always mystified by the people who would sit next to me and enjoy a full three-course meal. Naturally, some of the yummy meal options had me salivating and my tummy growling to the point of having to hold myself back from asking, “Can I have a bite?”
Broad shoulders guy
I vividly recall one time when a very fit-looking young gentleman sat next to me (back when I was also a fit young gentleman who worked out regularly). Our shoulders made contact every time the bus hit a bump in the road. To me, it was a great reminder of the results from my consistent attention to my workout routine.
The newspapers
Long before you could pull out your phone to find out what was happening in the world, newspapers were a given on most bus rides. It was one thing when someone would sit down next to you and pull out a tabloid-style newspaper to get caught up on the news of the day. It was something else entirely when someone would pull out a full-sized newspaper and have their arms stretched out completely to read, resulting in either squishing me against the wall or almost falling out of our seat.
The fights over windows
Then there were the times when, if the bus was hot or humid, someone would crack open a window to let some fresh air in. Shortly thereafter, there would be someone objecting, whether they didn’t like drafts on the back of their necks or they didn’t want their hair messed up first thing in the morning. I sympathized with both sides, but when a crowded bus (before air conditioning was a standard) left me feeling like I needed another shower before starting my workday, I tended to side with the people who preferred the window open.
Fellow passengers falling asleep
Every now and then, people would doze off during bus rides. I’d see their heads bobbing up and down as they’d almost fall asleep but wake up just before their head made contact with any of the surrounding hard surfaces. As a light sleeper who still hasn’t successfully fallen asleep on a plane, train, or bus, I admire the people for whom this was a regular part of commuting.
Getting to know my neighbours
When seeing the same people at the bus stop every day, it seemed perfectly natural at first to acknowledge them with a nod and a smile. After a few days, that gesture might grow into a “Good morning,” eventually turning into talks about the weather, where we worked, and neighbourhood news. When the conversation clicked, we might find ourselves sitting together on the bus, chatting to pass the time. The best part was that I’d often get to know my neighbours better this way than through random sightings in the suburb.
Over the span of thirty-five years, public transit enabled me to spend time with classmates, friends and neighbours, chatting, getting to know each other better and getting to where we needed to go.
When I look back, I can’t help but feel that in sharing this daily experience with the same people every day, transit not only got us to our destinations, but it helped foster a great sense of community along the way.
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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André
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