I've been taking the 72 bus downtown for three years and just assumed everyone else also just guessed which stop to pull the cord. This guy explained he always rides a new route once on his day off so he knows exactly where the transfer points are, which honestly never even crossed my mind. Am I the only one who just wings it and hopes for the best?
I thought taking the 7:15 express from the Park & Ride on Route 9 would save time. Turns out the bus driver took a detour through a residential street to beat traffic every single morning, weaving around parked cars and school zones. By day three I was 20 minutes late and queasy in a way my morning coffee didn't help. Has anyone else had a driver with a "creative" route that backfired?
I was stuck on the 146 bus for 45 minutes due to construction and the driver, a older guy named Frank, started talking about how he used to own a vending machine route before driving. He said the secret to any job is figuring out what problems people hate dealing with and solving those. Has anyone else had a random commute conversation that actually changed how you think about something?
Last week some passenger told me I was blocking the doors by standing too close before my stop. I always thought I was being ready but now I wait back until the train actually stops, and it's way smoother for everyone. Has anyone else gotten feedback that changed their whole boarding routine?
I dropped $50 on some random noise-canceling earbuds off Amazon hoping to drown out the guy who takes work calls at full volume on the 7 AM train. First day they cut out every time the train hit a curve, and by day three the left bud stopped charging. Now I'm back to cheap wired earplugs and my blood pressure is climbing again. Anyone found a pair under $30 that actually hold up on a clunky rail line?
I always thought the train was faster downtown, but after three days of traffic jams I tried the 42 bus instead and it cuts through a side street that skips the whole bottleneck near the stadium, has anyone else found a hidden faster route?
I always grab a seat on the 42 bus downtown. Last Tuesday I decided to stand the whole 25 minute ride. My legs felt more awake when I got off. But my back was killing me from the sudden stops and swaying. Anyone else get a different experience with standing versus sitting on a long bus ride?
I dropped $80 on a monthly pass for the 42 express bus in Austin, and 5 days later the city announced they're cancelling the route due to budget cuts. Now I'm stuck either taking a 45-minute detour on two local buses or eating the cost. Has anyone else fought the transit authority for a refund on an unused pass?
I was digging through the transit authority's PDF schedule last night and noticed the 7:15 AM bus skips four stops after the shopping center. I tried it this morning and shaved 12 minutes off my ride to the downtown hub. Has anyone else found secret shortcuts by actually reading those schedules?
She said the left side by the window is for people getting off at the first 3 stops, so I switched to the right side and now I save about 8 minutes a day since the doors open on that side first. Has anyone else had a driver give them a route tip like that?
Every morning I'd get on the 7:15 express downtown and end up standing because all the seats were taken. Tried getting on earlier, later, even different doors. Nothing worked for like 3 weeks. Then I realized the back row seats on the right side are always empty because people think it's bumpy back there. I scooted to that spot yesterday and got a seat the whole 40 minute ride. Now I just lean my bag against the window to keep it from sliding. Anyone else have a weird seat trick on their bus route?
I was standing near the doors on the Boston Green Line around 8:15 AM, minding my own business. This guy on a folding bike shoves past me and his pedal catches the strap of my tote bag, ripping it a little. He didn't even stop or say sorry, just rolled off like nothing happened. Has anyone else had close calls with bikes on crowded trains?
Back in January I caught a lucky streak where I got a seat every morning on the 7:15 express bus into downtown Portland for three days straight. Even got to read half a book I had been working on for months. Then on Thursday the bus showed up 20 minutes late with a broken heater and someone's smelly lunch spilled all over the aisle. Made me wonder if those perfect days were just making me soft for the real commute grind. Anyone else notice how a few good trips in a row make the bad ones hit way harder?
I usually roll into the Park & Ride lot at 7:15 and grab a spot near the front. Today I got there at 7:10 and the whole lot was full. Circled for 20 minutes. Nothing. Ended up parking in the overflow gravel lot way in the back, which added a 10 minute walk to the platform. Then the train was delayed 15 minutes because of track work near Union Station. Has anyone else seen the lot fill up that early lately?
I ride the 7 train into Manhattan every morning. 42nd Street is my stop. Twice now I got so into a Discover Weekly playlist I just sat there. Missed the stop completely. Anyone else zone out with headphones and blow past their station?
I always crammed my backpack on the seat next to me during rush hour. Some dude in a suit yelled "that's a person spot not a bag spot" and now I hold it on my lap. Has anyone else had a stranger call them out and actually improve your commute?
The express was right on time but packed like sardines, and the local was late but almost empty. I gambled on the local because I had a coffee in hand and didn't want to wear it, and ended up standing for 20 extra minutes when the driver hit every single red light on Broadway. Has anyone else picked the wrong bus and regretted it immediately?
I take the 42 bus from downtown Portland every day. The 7:15 AM crowd is all zombies with coffee cups and headphones, nobody talks to each other. But the 5:45 PM bus home? Same route, same driver even, but people are laughing, sharing snacks, one guy even brought a ukulele last week. This has been going on for about 6 months since I switched jobs. My theory is the morning people haven't woken up yet and the evening people are just relieved the day is over. Has anyone else noticed their bus vibe changes that much between morning and evening?
This morning on the 43 downtown, the driver shut the doors before I was fully in. My backpack got stuck and I had to jog alongside the bus for like 3 blocks until someone inside yelled "hit the button!" Has anyone else had their bag or clothing caught in the bus doors like that?
I used to catch the 7:15 am bus on route 42 in Portland, and this one driver, Frank, somehow memorized that I needed off at stop 18 on Hawthorne. He'd call it out before I even stood up, even on rainy days when he couldn't see me. One morning I overslept and he actually pulled over and shouted back 'You missin' your stop, kid?' - never had another bus driver care that much. Anyone else have a driver who went out of their way like that?
I’ve been taking the 42 bus downtown for 18 months and I started tracking every ride in my phone to see if I could save time. Turns out I’ve spent over 200 hours on that bus, which is basically a whole week of my life gone. Anyone else ever add up their commute time and get a shock from the total?
Last Tuesday I was on the 7:15 bus to downtown. A guy in a suit started screaming at the driver for sitting at a red light for 45 seconds. He said the driver should have run it. The driver just sat there quiet until the light changed. Has anyone else had someone lose it over something that small on public transit?
I used to stand on whatever side felt crowded. Didn't think about it. Then last week at Grand Central Terminal, this guy tapped my shoulder and said "left side is for walking, ma'am." I felt like an idiot. All these years I've been blocking people in a rush. Now I stick to the right like everyone else. Do people actually learn this rule or is it one of those things you just pick up after enough dirty looks?