The Joys of Mass Transit

Categorized | Chastidy Craig, culture

Tags | dfw, mass transit, public transit, riding trains, trains

The Joys of Mass Transit

Posted on 03 May 2008 by Chastidy Craig

Once upon a time I had a car and I drove it a lot. I mean- A LOT. I used to drive out to the mailbox to get the mail, I would drive the quarter of a mile it took to get me to the gas station to get my taquito, I drove basically everywhere. Then I lost my job, lost my ability to put gas in the car, and lost the car. Since a girl needs to eat, I’ve been utilizing the Dallas rail/bus system for about a year and a half. This time has been an eye opening experience- from being offered a shot of vodka in front of Park Lane station to being proposed to about once a week, it’s certainly been interesting.

The best part about riding the bus has always been the fact that I can usually distract myself until I get where I need to go. I can read a book, listen to headphones and generally satisfy my ADD. However, the people watching is simply amazing. I’ve seen some of the funniest things on the train. For example, this one time there was a woman who was yelling loudly into the phone at her child about stealing pot from her stash- it had all the anger my mother would rage upon me- and yet, I wasn’t the one in trouble.

Listening to other people’s parents yelling at them is downright exhilarating (despite being a fully grown woman, my mother still yells at me. Maybe it’s the rampant alcoholism or the lack of a grandchild. I’ll never know.) Also, there are all the drunk people. Like the guy who insisted a blind woman was only walking her dog and that there was no way it was a seeing eye dog. He was very angry that he couldn’t move the dog over so that he could take a seat, which to people who drive cars sounds completely ludicrous- but not so much in the world of mass transit.

Of course, I usually claim to be a rampant environmentalist so that they don’t smell the poverty, but I’m not even very good at that. I use plastic bags (paper is too hard to carry) and use single serving everything. Still, I can’t help but feel a twinge of happiness when I don’t have to spend money on insurance, gas or maintenance. The only time it’s really inconvenient is if I want to leave the city or go somewhere very late at night or on a holiday.

Also, I don’t appear to be good dating material when people ask me on dates and I have to explain why they need to come and pick me up. Not that I get asked out on that many dates- but the homeless guys on the bus love me. There is a weird aspect of sitting next to someone and having a small conversation that is appealing, because if it gets really uncomfortable you can always just get off the train. Not that I’ve ever dated anyone I met on mass transit, but I’ve made a few friends that I only see on the bus, and I’ve even received relatively good advice from them. I never followed it, but that’s just because I’m hard headed and don’t take advice well.

All in all, the bus works for me because it is cheap and easy. Do I sometimes wish I had a vehicle? Yes. Will I one day have one? Almost certainly so. In the meantime, I really do enjoy all that mass transit offers.

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5 Comments For This Post

monogodo Says:
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I haven’t owned a car since 2002. I live downtown, and work across the street. It’s great being able to walk to work. At the end of July, I’ll be moving two blocks further from work, so I’ll be doubling my commute. I’ll still walk it, though.

I also love riding DART trains. I don’t like riding the buses so much. The trains are cool, though.

The best thing I ever saw on the trains was when the car was full, and a group of young black kids got on and sat down. At the next stop, an older white couple got on, but there were no seats. All of us white passengers ignored them. The young, black, thug-looking kids got up and offered the older couple their seats. The rest of us felt like the judgmental bastards we were.
Chastidy Craig Says:
May 4th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Walking to work would be ideal- you’re lucky to live that close to your job! I have been considering the move to Downtown for a while now, but it’s still not cost effective. In response to the other thing- I think mass transit also teaches you manners. Like to give your seat to someone who looks like they need it and to not have annoyingly loud conversations on your cell phone. Or, you don’t learn and look like you have no manners.
Sarah Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Did you go to Red Oak HS? Your name sounds really familiar, sorry.
Chastidy Craig Says:
May 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Actually, yes. If you’d like to discuss that further, I can contact you via email. No offense, it just has nothing to do with the article.
Dr. Danger Says:
May 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
If anybody would like to ride the bus and discuss what high school I went to, I’ll be riding the DART bus from Valley Ranch to the Trinity Railway Express on Sunday, May 25th @ approximately 11am.