The magic of the bus shelter

[gsdx]

I rode the city bus yesterday to go buy my new copy of Stargate: The Ark of Truth and, as I went to the shelter near the store to await the next bus which would take me back downtown, there was already an older woman in there. She was smoking a cigarette. (Bus shelters here are no-smoking zones.) It was windy and cold and snow was blowing about, so I know why she was smoking inside the shelter.)

Now, this was one of those glass shelters with an open doorway, and there was only one bench inside which would seat 2 people. As I approached with my treasured DVD (the last copy of it in the store!) she lifted her shopping off the bench so I could sit.

She asked if I minded her smoking and I said 'No', and then we began talking about how I'd quit last year and how she'd tried to quit many times. A younger girl came to the shelter and joined the conversation. I relinquished my place on the bench but she wouldn't sit down. I remained standing anyway. Finally, one other older woman came in as well. We all chatted about all the snow and the weather and smoking and shopping and such. . . just like old friends.

At one point, the smoker stood up to go out of the shelter to have another cigarette and the rest of us sheltered her against the wind so she could light it. It was pretty funny, actually.

When the bus came, 3 of us got on (the late-comer was waiting for a different bus) and I sat directly behind the younger woman and across the aisle from the first woman who had been smoking. The camaraderie ended the moment we boarded. We were friends in the bus shelter, but we politely became strangers again on the bus.

 

[cocktales]

I have a horrible fear of the "fearless-bus-shelters"!

It seems that lately here in La$ Vega$, vehicles have gone out of control and hit the shelters with people inside and you can imagine the results..........if you even saw the vehicle coming, you'd may be too slow to react and you'd be toast....

Scary thought, isn't it?

 

[gabriel1]

I rode the city bus yesterday to go buy my new copy of Stargate: The Ark of Truth and, as I went to the shelter near the store to await the next bus which would take me back downtown, there was already an older woman in there. She was smoking a cigarette. (Bus shelters here are no-smoking zones.) It was windy and cold and snow was blowing about, so I know why she was smoking inside the shelter.)

Now, this was one of those glass shelters with an open doorway, and there was only one bench inside which would seat 2 people. As I approached with my treasured DVD (the last copy of it in the store!) she lifted her shopping off the bench so I could sit.

She asked if I minded her smoking and I said 'No', and then we began talking about how I'd quit last year and how she'd tried to quit many times. A younger girl came to the shelter and joined the conversation. I relinquished my place on the bench but she wouldn't sit down. I remained standing anyway. Finally, one other older woman came in as well. We all chatted about all the snow and the weather and smoking and shopping and such. . . just like old friends.

At one point, the smoker stood up to go out of the shelter to have another cigarette and the rest of us sheltered her against the wind so she could light it. It was pretty funny, actually.

When the bus came, 3 of us got on (the late-comer was waiting for a different bus) and I sat directly behind the younger woman and across the aisle from the first woman who had been smoking. The camaraderie ended the moment we boarded. We were friends in the bus shelter, but we politely became strangers again on the bus.

That is so typical too. I witness it when riding the bus myself, which isn't too often, but at the bus stop usually people are having little snippets of conversation and then become strangers on the bus. I think it has something to do with the "personal air space" we all have around us.

 

[Singularity]

Oooh, the DVD is out already? I'm still pondering whether to get the 10th season or spend more on the complete series pack. I have a knack for complete things.

As for the shelter thingy, we only have them on train stations and only those puny little open shelters at bus stations. And even there, waiting for the bus in the cold, we wouldn't talk. Were I come from, we prefer to be shy with strangers everywhere; only in situations when we are the only of our kind or if the situation calls for it we'd strike up a conversation, as if we've known each other for years.

Also, have you noticed how people will only fill up a bus in a chessboard manner? Meaning they prefer to sit down on free benches and always offset within a row; the same with trams and trains. I find that fascinating...

 

[G-Lexington]

The only "magic" I experience at bus shelters is the anger I get from panhandlers when I won't give them money. All of them are really hard workers, and are just down on their luck, and why the fuck won't I give them a dollar so they can get to Castle Rock? It IS kinda magical if you think about it.

I did get to witness an entire conversation between a prostitute and her pimp regarding my suitability as a client (and my potential homosexuality) on a bus once, but that's sort of a different story. Yours is much more interesting and life-affirming. Next time, add "and then the sex happened" at the end - I'm sure you'll get a lot more compliments.

Lex

 

[gsdx]

Also, have you noticed how people will only fill up a bus in a chessboard manner? Meaning they prefer to sit down on free benches and always offset within a row; the same with trams and trains. I find that fascinating...

It's human nature and that 'personal space' thing you mentioned, and your personal space decreases each time someone else boards the vehicle.

If you climbed aboard a bus where that person was the only other passenger and sat in the same seat, he would probably go nutso and, in the very least, move to another seat. His personal space went from the entire bus to half of it, but you invaded his space by sitting beside him. Yet, if the bus were full and there was standing room only, he would easily tolerate personal contact if you were crammed together because, at that point, his personal space had been reduced to his clothing.

 

[evil_danger]

I had a moment like that not too long ago. I was waiting for my cousin and her boyfriend to bring their baby out (I wasn't allowed in even to help collect her things) So I was sat in the waiting room.

A woman came along with her newborn baby, she was sat there waiting for her husband.

"Its a bit warm in here!" I said... the next thing I know where talking about babies, families, home life.

My cousins boyfriend handed me some bags to take out to my car, I passed her and her husband on my walk back to the waiting room but we didn't even acknowledge each other. We were 'friends of the moment' nothing more.

I used to get that all the time working in a pub.

"Pint of lager please... so, busy today" and while you were serving them you could have been their best friend, but the moment money exchanges hands you have nothing more to do with them.

 

[PhoenixRising]

I don't talk to strangers in bus shelters. There are lots of weird people in Sudbury.

 

[evil_danger]

I don't talk to strangers in bus shelters. There are lots of weird people in Sudbury.

hehe, my next town over is called Sodbury, and thats full of weird people, I did a double take then thinking "wow, you live close"

 

[Shepherd 2]

gsdx,

First,congratulations for using public transportation! A lot of people talk green and then do personal cars. Bus shelters are for only a handful of people, and most buses have a regular riders who dominate any conversation, plus the way seats are arranged it is hard to hear and to converse face to face unless you are side by side.

Inner city people do not usually start conversations casually, but people who live in suburbs will do that. But buses are a special thing. I have many stories that I tell from years of riding, and the last time I told one, I got several people disclaiming what I wrote, so I no longer tell the stories.

Thanks for a nice post gsdx and I hope you continue to use public transportation. Well done.

Shep+

 

[gsdx]

gsdx,

First,congratulations for using public transportation! A lot of people talk green and then do personal cars.

I hope you continue to use public transportation. Well done.

Shep+

I haven't owned a car since 1984. I haven't really had much choice.