With A Little Help
OPEN: JANUS FILE #0215
As I have mentioned more than a few times, I use TARC, Louisville's bus system, to get around town. I also ride a bike, mainly to get to places that aren't immediately on the bus routes.
It works a lot better than you might think. All of TARC's buses are equipped with bike racks. Usually, it only takes about 10 to 15 seconds for me to put my bike on the rack, and probably less to take it off once I reach my destination. If there are other people waiting for the bus, I can have my bike on the rack before most of them have boarded.
There are a couple of drawbacks. The main one is that most of the racks can carry only two bikes. There are a few that can carry three, but not enough. And if the bus you need already has bikes in both slots, you are just out of luck. It hasn't happened to me all that often, but it has happened often enough that I really get pissed off when it does.
Last night was almost one of those times. I was waiting in front of the Highlands Kroger for the 23 bus to Breckinridge Plaza, which goes right in front of where I live. While I wouldn't call it cold, it was cool, damp, and rainy, and I really wanted to get home.
The bus pulls up to the stop, more or less on time -- and it already has bikes in both slots on the rack. While I didn't say them, I know I thought a couple of the words that George Carlin said you can't say on TV. And with good reason; the next bus wouldn't come for another hour, and suffice it to say that I was not looking forward to the wait.
The bus driver recognized me, because I have ridden her bus a number of times. She saw the less-than-pleased look on my face, and motioned for me to bring my bike on the bus. I did, thanking her profusely in the process.
Fortunately, the bus wasn't crowded. More importantly, it was empty at the front, which is where I stood, holding on to my bike with one hand, and the handrail with the other. When I reached my stopped, I thanked her again as I walked off the bus.
Normally, I would call TARC to say all sorts of nice things about the driver. Unfortunately, what she did is against TARC policy, so I would probably be getting her in trouble by saying those nice things about her. And I'm not going to get her into trouble, especially when she did something really nice on a cold and rainy evening.
CLOSE: JANUS FILE #0215
As I have mentioned more than a few times, I use TARC, Louisville's bus system, to get around town. I also ride a bike, mainly to get to places that aren't immediately on the bus routes.
It works a lot better than you might think. All of TARC's buses are equipped with bike racks. Usually, it only takes about 10 to 15 seconds for me to put my bike on the rack, and probably less to take it off once I reach my destination. If there are other people waiting for the bus, I can have my bike on the rack before most of them have boarded.
There are a couple of drawbacks. The main one is that most of the racks can carry only two bikes. There are a few that can carry three, but not enough. And if the bus you need already has bikes in both slots, you are just out of luck. It hasn't happened to me all that often, but it has happened often enough that I really get pissed off when it does.
Last night was almost one of those times. I was waiting in front of the Highlands Kroger for the 23 bus to Breckinridge Plaza, which goes right in front of where I live. While I wouldn't call it cold, it was cool, damp, and rainy, and I really wanted to get home.
The bus pulls up to the stop, more or less on time -- and it already has bikes in both slots on the rack. While I didn't say them, I know I thought a couple of the words that George Carlin said you can't say on TV. And with good reason; the next bus wouldn't come for another hour, and suffice it to say that I was not looking forward to the wait.
The bus driver recognized me, because I have ridden her bus a number of times. She saw the less-than-pleased look on my face, and motioned for me to bring my bike on the bus. I did, thanking her profusely in the process.
Fortunately, the bus wasn't crowded. More importantly, it was empty at the front, which is where I stood, holding on to my bike with one hand, and the handrail with the other. When I reached my stopped, I thanked her again as I walked off the bus.
Normally, I would call TARC to say all sorts of nice things about the driver. Unfortunately, what she did is against TARC policy, so I would probably be getting her in trouble by saying those nice things about her. And I'm not going to get her into trouble, especially when she did something really nice on a cold and rainy evening.
CLOSE: JANUS FILE #0215