Carless in Seattle

Adventures in commuting

Thanks to all of you for your comments on my post last week! It is definitely a very deliberate choice to do without a car, and while I think that for many people, it’s an option that could work with some do-able lifestyle changes, it’s not a choice that would work for everyone. So, that said, it’s great that several of you are working to reduce how much you use a car. Every little bit helps, and I’m excited to hear more about what people are doing to reduce their gas bill and help the planet!

And now, on to a new topic…

I had an experience on the bus this morning that was probably one of the more absurd and hilarious things I’ve encountered in my years of riding the bus. 

I ride the 17 express to and from work, and I get on just a few stops after the beginning of the route, up on Sunset Hill. It’s usually a very quiet and uneventful ride. People listen to their iPods, or read, or stare off into the distance during the roughly 30-minute trip.

From my stop, we head down the hill toward the Locks and are supposed to make a left on Market Street.

The driver this morning, however, was new. His problems began when he didn’t make the left onto Market Street, and was halfway through the intersection before he realized that he’d missed the turn. If he continued to go straight, he’d miss an entire bus stop of people who were standing there waiting, watching the scene unfold.

So, he did what any logical person would do, and started to back up so that he could attempt to make the turn turn.

His next problem was that we were in one of the big articulated buses (bendy buses, I liked to call them as a child) so backing up in a straight line wasn’t exactly a simple task.

But he began to back up, and despite having to contend with the rotation of the back half of the bus, it seemed like he’d be able to make the turn and we’d soon be on our way.

Well, his problems multiplied tenfold when he stopped backing up too soon. It was apparent as soon as he began to turn left that we weren’t going to make the turn.

Which left us stuck in the middle of the intersection, wedged across it in a vee shape and unable to move, with another bus waiting to turn right onto the street we were blocking and cars waiting to turn as well.

The driver of the other bus and the driver of our bus had a pow-wow in the middle of the street, trying to figure out what to do.

Meanwhile, it had been at least five minutes since we tried to back up and we were still sitting there, blocking traffic.

Finally, the driver just motioned to the people waiting at the stop nearby and had them get on while we were in the middle of the intersection. Then he was able to back up a wee bit more, just enough to get the room to turn back the other way so we could keep going straight, and we were able to get on our way.

I felt bad for the driver; clearly he didn’t know the route well. Then when he tried to correct It wasn’t a big deal to me — despite sitting there for quite a while, we still got downtown before 8 a.m. so I wasn’t late. More than anything, it was just a humorous situation, sitting there on the bus and looking out the window at the drivers trying to figure out how to manouever the bus so that we could actually move again without hitting any cars, trees, or buildings.

It made me realize two things: one, I am so glad I am not a bus driver, and two, a mundane morning commute on the bus can become quite an adventure when you least expect it.  

Read more of Kathleen’s writing at http://shinelikestars.blogspot.com.  If you have questions, anecdotes, or topics for “Carless in Seattle,” email kathleen(at)seattlemomblogs(dot)com.