Greetings to all my lovely suburban car owners... drivers... and passengers.
I know what you’re thinking, oh, the bus? Is she for real?
And oh yes, she is for real.
Trust me, I know I am the last person to be speaking about the dos and don'ts of our morning routines and societal norms, but as usual, I'm going to tell you exactly how I feel and exactly what I want to say.
So let's cut to the chase:
This summer, I’m working in downtown Hartford. And I could drive and park downtown... if I wanted to say goodbye to my paycheck.
I’m also 19, and driving in rush-hour traffic isn't necessarily my favorite pastime at 8 o'clock in the morning. Besides, as the ~young adult~ that I am, it is a known fact that I need to look at my phone at least once every thirty seconds.
So, given my strong desire for money and my heavy but obviously healthy dependence on my phone, it only makes sense for me to take the bus.
And trust me, I know the bus has a negative connotation.
“Oh… you take the bus? How’s that been?” Are not two questions that I have yet to be asked.
And I tell them, it’s good. Because it really has been.
Taking the bus...
Saves money.
Sure, Hartford is only 15 minutes away! But that parking garage?! 5 times a week? Watch your gas tank disintegrate, along with your bank account.
Puts yourself in other people's shoes.
Wait, where’s the man with the blue hat? He’s usually holding a coffee and the newspaper… Maybe he’s just running late? And the woman with the cute baby and the red purse? We’re at their stop! Where are they?! Will I ever see them again?! Aw, bye, new friends.
Puts your own life in perspective.
Ugh. Another Monday, another day of work. Let me complain about my hardships to the eleven year old girl that has been wearing the same uniform all week and rides the bus alone to her middle school... Because I’m sure she’d really love to listen.
Allows you to meet hardworking, genuine people that go ~under the radar.~
“Good morning, miss! How are you? Back to work again?” The bus driver says to me with a smile as I swipe my bus pass. Morning or evening, the bus drivers are always in high spirits, and are the masters of small talk. They remind me to be charismatic about my own job.
Is one of the best places for people watching.
Who are all these people? What are they doing? Where are they going? Where are they from? Do they have any kids? Are they a kid? You know what they say, curiosity killed the nineteen year old bus rider.
Makes you grow up a bit.
Get on. Sit down. Keep your belongings to yourself. Put your headphones in. Stay quiet. Be polite. Get off. The comfort of your own car or a parent or sibling driving you is a thing of the past. The time to become comfortable with the uncomfortable is now, and that includes having a lot of strangers around you, and experiencing unfamiliar circumstances on the daily.
Gives you more of an understanding about the challenges government officials face.
Taking the bus gives its passengers a glimpse into the areas of the city that are the best, and are not the best. Millions of people live in cities similar to or even larger than Hartford across the nation, and as you daydream and look out the window, it's hard not to wonder how different your life would be if you grew up in the city instead of 15 minutes away?
Let's you learn more about the inner city.
Wow, look at all these small shops! The Capitol building is right there? And wait, the river runs through the city? And all these office buildings are connected? Where have I been my entire life?! (Quick side note: Yup, I've lived 15 minutes away from Hartford for 19 years and it's taken all 19 years to answer each of these questions. Did I just win the Guinness Book of World Records award for Most Sheltered? Unfortunately, you bet I did.)
Makes you become more independent and open minded.
You see new people. You see new places. Everyone is on the go, doing different things. You are on your own. The more you observe, the more you will learn. The city is yours.
So let’s drop the negativity associated with the bus, because whether you take one ride or two hundred rides, you will start to recognize the positives.
And just like my 4:45pm bus ride home, it’s an experience you don't want to miss.
*Little disclaimer:* My statements above are not to praise me, a suburban young woman, for ~courageously~ riding the bus. They are meant to have us suburbans wake up, and recognize the cities that we so easily escape from - even though they are only a bus ride away.
*Big shout out:* To my friends and parents who were patient enough and were willing to brainstorm and edit this article numerous times with me, thank you for making me sound better than I really am.