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Bus Riding 101: Getting Started

Are you tired of pouring your paycheck into the gas tank? Do you resent supporting the oil companies and pay high insurance rates? If rush hour on Highway 101 is not your idea of a nice drive and car-pooling diminishes your sense of independence, maybe you are ready for a new level of independence. More and more working adults with good driving records are choosing a level of freedom that those who are shackled to their cars will never appreciate. Enjoying this freedom requires planning.

Making a plan

The most important item to plan is how and when you are getting home. This may seem elementary, but if you are accustomed to driving your own vehicle, it is easy to focus on getting there and end up missing the last bus home. That is okay if you can afford a taxi. I prefer to do a bit of advance planning. If I am depending on the last bus, I set the alarm on my cell phone to be sure I am at the bus stop in plenty of time. If I am going to a party or meeting that may run late, I ask around to find someone who will be going my way. It is important to not inconvenience those who offer rides and be prepared to give them gas money. Many people will refuse. That doesn't mean you don't offer.

Traveling Kit

The next item of preparation is your traveling kit. Regular bus riders prepare themselves for the most common challenges. You will notice that most adults, men and women alike, who ride busses, are carrying a bag of some sort that is not completely full. Backpacks, briefcases and large purses are the norm for us. Someone with back problems will usually have something on wheels. These items are not fashion statements. They are tools that a seasoned traveler learns to carry with them.

Regardless of whether we drive or ride public transportation, we often stop at the grocery store on the way home from work. Occasionally you will need to bring home items that you had not planned on, whether it is a book that a friend is ready to return or groceries. I don't like to ask others to make special trips for me. It erodes my self-confidence. I also don't want to get caught carrying something heavy in a flimsy plastic bag with handles that cut into my skin. I usually carry a cloth bag with soft handles in my purse or backpack with extra room. Any bag that is easy to carry and holds your essentials with room to spare is good.

Carry your essentials in your bag. Feeling free means traveling light, not empty handed. Running home to pick up something you need might not be an option and could cost you the opportunity to enjoy chance encounters. Each of us has "must have's" in our travel kit. You "must have" the following to use public transportation efficiently.

• Change purse. These sound old-fashioned but bus drivers do not carry change and you will feel pretty foolish trying to get change for a twenty from other riders. Keep the change purse stocked with enough for a round trip.
• Bus Passes are much more convenient than cash and will save you money if you ride regularly.
  I.D. If you are a full-time student, disabled or over 65, you are entitled to a discount but you will need the appropriate I.D.
• Bus schedule. Unless you have a photographic memory, carry it with you. It allows you to change your plans at the last minute.
• Personal essentials. This is different for each person. Mine includes my wallet, a small pill box, dental floss and a pocket knife.
• Environmental protection. A light jacket, a hat, an umbrella. What do you need this time of year?
• Something to sit with. I like paperback books. Other people prefer iPods, gameboys or journals.
  It is well worth the time it takes to assemble a travel kit that is light, compact and well thought out. Remember that being car-free means you don't have a glove compartment or a trunk.

Being car-free also means that you must know exactly where you are going before you get there. Keep a good street map of your traveling area. Highlighting the bus routes on your street map is more efficient than trying to read the maps on the schedules (especially in Sonoma County.) Learn where the nearest bus stops are to your destination (in each direction) before you get off the bus. If you need to ask the driver where the nearest stop is, ask when boarding.

Flag the bus

Now you are ready to ride. Sonoma County and Santa Rosa City busses may only stop at designated stops within city limits. Make sure you are standing under the appropriate sign. County busses may not stop at City bus stops and vise versa. ALWAYS flag the bus, especially in poor light. If the driver is late or distracted or thinks you want the bus behind him, he may not stop. Be obvious. If it is not your bus, step back and shake your head. Please don't make the driver stop and ask. No one likes unnecessary stops.

Boarding the bus

When you board the bus, have your fare (exact change) in your right hand so you are facing the available seats and other passengers while paying your fare. If you will be transferring to another bus, get the transfer when boarding. Scope out the other passengers and choose your seat accordingly. Closer to the driver is safer but if you sit in a wheelchair restraint area you may be forced to move. If you have an empty seat next to you and the bus is likely to get full, "choose" your seat mate by smiling and making eye contact with a boarding passenger that you will feel comfortable sitting next to. Bus riders are generally more polite than people who drive cars although they are often nosier. For that reason, I like to have a book to stick my nose into. It discourages unwanted conversations and helps me keep my nose out of other people's business. It is easy to put away if an enjoyable conversation arises.

Well, those are the basics. Now relax, dream about how you will spend the money you are saving and don't miss your stop.

~ AnnaLisa Wiley