entertain

Sometimes, there’s just that need to get away from the stuffy insides of our humble (or perhaps sometimes, not so humble) abodes in which we live. Our homes,  houses, pads, whatever you prefer to mention them as, they’re a sanctuary for all of us. But there are times when when we need to get out and about as well – go places, visit a friend – whatever it may be there are always places to go and people to see. But what with gas prices being so high, and traffic being as unpleasant as it sometimes is, you can’t always just jump in the car and drive to where you want to go. And that’s when you call on the glories of the public transit system.

Now, what do you think of when you think of when you hear the term “Public Transit”? Unsanitary? Loud? Raucous teenagers tagging the back of your seat with orange paint-pens when the driver isn’t looking? Maybe there are some other things you think of as well, but regardless of where your mind may wander off to, you’re probably right. Buses are dirty, and there are some kids who think that defacing public property with their cheap logos is their duty; however at the same time there’s a slight thrill that comes with riding certain bus lines through the streets of San Francisco, and I’ll tell you why:

In our everyday lives, there are bound to be a few interesting characters out there to see and mingle with. Sometimes you have to go looking for them, and sometimes they just stumble through our lives like movie scenes we can watch when our eyes are wide enough to see. When you get on one of San Francisco’s bus lines, the odds of viewing some interesting characters are upped by at least 90%. Whether you’re riding the 24 Divisidero inbound through the Castro or the 43 Masonic through the Haight, there are sights to see and things to hear that aren’t on your SF Travel Guide.

Bus rides start off as seeming uneventful and boring. The initial thought when learning that the bus is the only available mode of transportation does not warrant a jump for joy (at least not for me). But once you get yourself settled in the hard, plastic, less than inviting or comfortable seats, there’s a sense of slight relaxation: ok, so I’ve made it to the vehicle safely, what now? Think about it: tales from the bus are always easy stories to crack out at parties or gatherings, or just when you need to fill an awkward gap with some kind of conversation. “Oh, one time I was on the bus… and this old crazy guy started singing Chris Brown songs really loudly in the seat next to mine!” or, perhaps, “You’ll never believe what happened to me on the bus today! So, there was this lady, and she was carrying around a dead cat in her bag…” See? It’s never really boring and there’s always some kind of story to take away.

So next time you’re on a bus don’t think of it as a drag! Take it as an opportunity to observe some new people and maybe see a new side of the community we live in.