Amusing Conversation This Morning

As most of you know, Leah and I are almost 100% dependent on public transportation.  She took this apartment here seven years ago because there is a main line bus stop directly in front of the building.

I have been a user of public transportation for many, many years.  When I lived in Tampa, I didn't drive my car for two years.  The express bus that let out in front of my office stopped two blocks from my house.

When I lived in Atlanta, I was two blocks from a bus stop that would connect with the MARTA subway that would get me to the airport for $1.50.  If you've ever driven Atlanta traffic, you'd understand that anything is better than driving your own vehicle.

Leah has written several articles here describing how screwed up the traffic and bus routes here have been lately because of road construction.  It's still screwed up, but it's getting better.

I was waiting for a bus this morning out in front of the apartment when a driver from Guelph Transit approached me to say that the buses don't stop there any more (they didn't a month ago, but two routes resumed two weeks ago).

He pointed to a sign that said that the bus didn't stop here because of construction, but I had to point out that it was the #54 that the notice was covering.  The #51 and 52 are now stopping in front again, but there is a sign showing that the #10 would stop in front.  It never has and probably never will because it's illogical due to their standard route.

I spent about 10 minutes explaining all of this to the fellow, when the #51 bus appeared (who had changed their sign to read #1).

As we got on the bus, he suggested that I come down to the terminal and apply for a job explaining the new routes to drivers.

On the way downtown, I praised the Guelph Transit as being superior to all of the ones I used extensively in the U.S.  They not only cover the entire city, but the times and rates would make it a no-brainer to me even if I were still driving.