Bus Chick’s Manifesto When I
was in the third grade, I started riding the Metro bus alone. At first, I was
only allowed to ride to school, but eventually my parents extended the privilege
to include my favorite childhood haunts: Grandma’s apartment, Pike Place Market
and, in the summer, Seattle Center. 1 It gave me power rare among my eightyear-old peers: the ability to get
around the city without the assistance of an adult. By the time
I turned 16, a new power beckoned:a form of transportation that was available on
demand and did not require an umbrella or an extra pair of gloves like most
young Americans, I believed the auto industry’s propaganda that a car was
necessary for my transition to adulthood. For the next ten years-except for a
short time in college, when I found myself unable to afford a vehicle of my
own-I left the bus behind. 2 During my
commutes, I became more aware of the negative impact of car culture:pollution,
sprawl, isolation and fatalities. I began to question my right to subject my
beloved city to the impact of my choices. So I returned to my roots and began
riding the bus to Work. 3 I sold my
lovely silver coupe in March 2003 and have used the bus as my primary means of
transport ever since. Riding the bus isn’t always fun. I don’t
like riding it on rainy days, when the floor is slippery and the windows are so
fogged up that you can’t see your stop. I don’t like standing when the bus is
crowded. 4 I don’t like practical
hairstyles or sensible shoes. Despite these occasional inconveniences, I will
never go back to driving, because what I believe is this: I
believe in sitting next to my neighbors, in saying "How’re you doing today" and
"Nice weather, isn’t it" 5 I believe
in eavesdropping. I believe in novels you can’t put down. I believe in business
people and teenage lovers, middle-aged gossips and giggling toddlers. I believe
in watching and listening. I believe in naps. I believe in the camaraderie that
develops among riders late at night, when the mouth-voiced driver plays jazz
loud enough for everyone to enjoy. A. I believe that change is
possible-if all of us ride. B. I believe in feeling the sun on
my skin, in breathing fresh air and moving my body. C.
Eventually, I was using my car so rarely that I decided to try living without
one. D. Back then, the bus symbolized independence.
E. I don’t like drivers who ride the brakes. F. But then
I accepted a job at a software company based 15 miles outside the city.