Public Transit: What an Experience

The Bus Lady had no intention of waiting for us




Nobody looked at the people next to them, instead they busied themselves in their electronics.

The Bus Station After the Ride
The City Bus; a popular means of transportation for all walks of life, including the observing students of the Iarc second years. With two weeks of schooling thus far, we were assigned the task of studying and documenting the bus environment, as well as the resulting emotions provoked. Additionally, we had to read the text, Civilities and Civil Rights; reading it before or after the bus ride was up to us. I opted for reading beforehand, to get it out of the way, and I am glad that I chose this order.
Sure I remember reading about desegregation, sit ins, and various other acts that pertained to the civil rights movements. What I didn’t recall was that such a large phenomenon hit so close to home, with the early Greensboro sit ins. By reading this first, I knew that my view and interpretations of the bus ride would be completely different than if I had read later.
As recommended, I went with a group of people, as to compare experiences and opinions. As the bus approached the stop, Ben turned towards us and explained how we should give the allusion of veteran bus riders. Now, I have been on public transportation before, but when the doors swung open, there might as well have been a large, neon sign that flashed, “inexperienced riders,” above our heads. Immediately, the bus driver barked at us to get on the bus, because she apparently had no time to actually stop. She then proceeded to mumble about our incompetence when it came to swiping our first cards. As we sat down, Heather, Ben, Leah, Anna, and myself included, I started observing the bus atmosphere fully.
Busses are never overly friendly environments, in my opinion. People keep to themselves or the others whom they know. Eye contact is scarce and conversation is hushed, so the stranger across the aisle can’t eavesdrop. People resort to looking in the window to scope out the refection of the individual sitting across from them. I found myself looking only at the people that I knew. Also, the strangers around me made sure not to look at any of us; it was exceedingly uncomfortable. When I did scan the bus in observation, I noticed that, in keeping with the secluded theme, each person sitting alone was tuned in to his or her own electronic world. A woman fumbled with her ipod as the man next to her texted on his cell phone. They had something to do to feel more relaxed about sitting next to a stranger. Since I wanted to avoid looking directly at people, I opted for looking at the bus itself.
Up at the front of the bus was a small plaque that said, “Rosa Parks, In Honor of Her Sitting.” Out of the group I was in, I was the only person who read before hand, and I was the only one to notice the tribute. Small enough to go unnoticed, the plaque instantly made me reflect on the reading, once I glanced over to it.
As we neared the station, the occupants started to stand and cluster close to the door, clearly aggravated that the bus ran behind schedule. When the bus stopped, our group started to make our way towards the exits, only to be lambasted by the bus driver to, “Exit In The Back!” I found myself thinking about a flow chart and way finding; perhaps there could have been more distinction of where one gets on and off the bus, something besides the scolding of a frustrated bus driver. Then again, it might be common knowledge, and we are too inexperienced in city transportation to understand.