Sunday, March 20, 2011

From Dayton, Ohio: "Police: Ohio man robs bank, is caught on city bus" (Associated Press via Dayton Daily News)


This Associated Press story originally appeared in the Dayton Daily News at this address: http://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyle/police-ohio-man-robs-bank-is-caught-on-city-bus-1109436.html. This link no longer works. A copy of the original story appears below.


Police in Ohio say a man robbed a bank and then tried to flee on board a public bus, where officers eventually caught up with him.

Dayton police Sgt. Moe Perez tells the Dayton Daily News the suspect got away with cash from a downtown KeyBank branch at around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Police were told by witnesses that they saw the man catch a bus about two blocks away. Officers followed the route of the bus and pulled it over less than a mile away, near the campus of Sinclair Community College. Perez says the suspect was arrested without incident and the money was recovered. Police haven't said how much was stolen.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

From Rogaland county, Norway: "4000 Bus Stops that Tweet, Record Stories and Provide the Time of the Next Bus via QRCodes" (digitalurban.org)


Today sees the launch of our latest collaboration via the Tales of Things project - this time with a Norwegian transport company, Kolumbus. Tales of Things has been utilising Kolumbus’ already existing QR codes to allow passengers to leave stories for one another. When a passenger visits one of Kolumbus’ more than 4,000 bus stops they will find a QR code which when scanned with the free Tales of Things’ app on with the iPhone or Android it will not only link them to timetable information, but also allow them to leave a message on the bus stop. (Read more here.)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

From Chicago: "City Stories: Bus Chic," by Adrienne


This story originally appeared on Adrienne Writes at this address: http://adriennewrites.net/2011/02/08/city-stories-bus-chic/. This website no longer exists. A copy of the original story appears below.


I live in Chicago. I love fashion. It’s winter.

I also love being warm.

All that said, it’s a bit difficult to be ultra fashionable when its 10 below zero and I have to take the bus to work. (Translation: standing outside in sub zero temps, sometimes for up to 45 minutes and always in snow, rain, high wind, sleet or all of the above.)

I have a style I like to call Chicago winter chic, or “bus chic.” Everyone else here has it too. It usually involves fur boots or fur-lined Timberlands. (No Uggs here. Our boots need to be water-proof.) It always involves a puffy, Michelin Man-esque coat or a fur coat. In my case, depending upon the temperature, the fur coat is usually pulled out when it’s going to be a below zero day. Fur in Chicago isn’t exactly a status symbol. It’s just a good idea. Because frankly, I don’t get cold when I wear my fur coat. (Most of the people I know – no matter their monetary income – own a fur coat or two. Leather is cute, but it aint doing ISH in this kind of harsh weather.)

Chicago winter chic also involves several scarves (so you can switch out week after week) and if you’re lucky, they’re pretty or have a vibrant design. Said scarf must cover the whole head, neck and nose. Then the gloves must be thick , with a leather palm – like ski gloves. Thinsulate is a must. During blizzard days when I’m waiting on the bus, I’ve taken to wearing my husband’s fur-lined hunter’s cap. It aint pretty, but in 30-mph wind, it keeps the ears cozy.

If you wear skirts, like moi, then colorful tights and leg warmers are a must because frost bite sets it quickly in a Chicago winter. Plus, most of us have a “coat sweater,” that sweater you only wear as a second layer with your puffy coat. This sweater is never worn for any other reason than to be a layer of wool around your body under your main coat for those times when the wait at the bus stop will be long and wet.

The guys gets to wear their boots all day. But the ladies usually bring a pair of shoes to switch out. Then, once you get to the office, you peel out of all those layers to reveal a cute DVF dress, bright tights and high heels.

Now, I do know people who are dressed to the nines no matter the weather – or the mode of transportation. God bless those gals! Their feet apparently never get cold. They also seem to be OK with salt and sleet getting on their Louboutin’s…

I, on the other hand, get a chill even in the summer. Plus, I don’t wear expensive shoes in the snow.

‘Course, this style of dressing makes it difficult to be cute for after work drinks. But everyone at the bar knows that beneath all those layers lies potential. No one judges.

But come summer? Watch out.