From Woodbridge, Virginia: "The Drive To Do Good" (Not Always Right)

(I am a habitual rider of the local transit system that covers DC metro and northern VA. I board the bus to see a rider verbally assaulting the bus driver.)

Rider: “I don’t care about your timeline route. You were supposed to go to [street] to drop me off 45 minutes ago. That last driver missed my stop and your operator assured me I would be home on this bus by 6:25!”

Driver: “Ma’am, I cannot directly deviate from my route until I’m closer to your stop. To deviate now would be to leave any other potential riders along the route stranded in the cold. I am truly sorry that you are having a bad evening due to a coworker, and I’ll do what I can.”

(Read more here.)

From Richmond, Virginia: "Wheels on the Bus," by Karen

Of all the reasons to go to the RVA Street art Festival, and there are many, one of the very best is oral history.

Since this year's event is happening at the former GRTC bus depot, the exhibit is a natural.

(Read more here.)

From Dili, Timor-Leste: "the night bus to Dili," by Asakiyume

Every morning, a bus leaves the market in Dili, Timor-Leste's capital, and six hours later it arrives in Ainaro. Ainaro is only 70 miles away, but the road is rough and mountainous. (Read more here.)

From NYC: "Conversations On The Fifth Avenue Bus," by Susan Willet Bird

It's always interesting to see who you might meet on the bus.  Yesterday I talked with a woman I've nodded to many times as we passed each other jogging around the Central Park reservoir in early mornings.


It took us a minute to recognize each other yesterday, since each of us was dressed for work, not in our usual jogging shorts.  Once we started talking, I realized I had the privilege of making a remarkable new friend who comes from a fascinating family.

(Read more here.)

From Denver: "A Man And His Bird..." by tabdeans

The man was large, looked to be about 30 or so, and paced back and forth behind the bus stop shelter. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, waiting for him to swoop in when the bus pulled up and butt in line.

(Read the whole story here.)