From San Francisco: "Best overheard MUNI conversation ever this week," by Matt Pine

A nicely dressed 40-something woman is riding the MUNI talking into her phone.

“Listen, I’m trying to move blocks around and schedule meetings.”

[…] — that means she listening to words I can’t hear, because that’s how phones work.

“Just how much coffee have you had?”

[…]

(Read the rest here.)

From Phoenix: "When a bus turns into a buss," by Dolores Tropiano for the Arizona Republic

"Find Your Match Month" has special meaning for several Phoenix residents.

The campaign is designed to help bring people together for alternative forms of commuting.

Allie Johnson of Phoenix actually met her husband Ben on Phoenix Bus Route No. 27.

He was driving the bus.

(Read more here.)

From Portland, Oregon: "A Heart of Pharmaceutical Grade Purity," by nicareeno

I swear, the nearly silent battleweariness that fills a Max train in the morning sometimes makes me wish Bob Hope would come back from the grave and do a set for the troops.

But there I was, and there we all were, not a spark of life in the whole car, except for one guy.  The situation was hopeless, the phenomenal sameness, the extraordinary absence of contact among riders.  Except for this one loose deuce.

(Read more here.)

From Edinburgh, Scotland: "Breaking the ice." (Not Reading On the Bus)

I used to occasionally see a woman at my old bus stop who always stood well away, almost around the corner.  She never stood any closer and always looked into the opposite direction, as if she either did not wish to see...or be seen.  She did not look like my idea of a misanthrope (somehow, I expect the signs of misanthropy to be etched upon the features, like suffering), but nor was it ever possible to make eye contact, never mind do that non-committal, half-nod that says, ‘I recognise you but let’s not invade each other’s space’ that we Edinburgh commuters seem to like to affect. (Read more here.)

From Vancouver: "Adventures on the short bus," by Kate Zimmerman

First, let’s acknowledge that the HandyDART is a wonderful invention and, for many, an absolute lifeline.

Then, let’s admit that given our druthers, few of us would choose to be in need of this door-to-door “shared-ride” service.

(Read more here.)

From San Francisco: "Bus Report # 725," by Rachel.

For the past week, my 22 Fillmore driver has greeted me with a cheery, "Good Morning, Ray-chul!"

It was a little jarring the first time - I'd given a couple of my favorite drivers coffee cards for the holidays and while I'd scribbled a "Thanks, Rachel" on the bottom of each card, I didn't think my signature was actually legible. (Read more here.)

From Indianapolis: "Omniscient Driver." (Bus Rider Confessions)

I’ve seen this behavior once before. He was having a seizure.

I yelled, “Bus driver, this man is having a seizure!” (Read the  story here.)