Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for September 05, 2020

The Transit Authority promised to keep Ballard Street riders in check, but they are failing miserably.

But it is the only reason Manfred rides the bus.

Many who have taken public transportation have seen things as bad or worse. It often depends on the neighborhoods and the type of riders they attract.

Manfred Platnozzel ISNT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT! Bettie must have left the door unlocked again, sigh.

I wish this is the worst of what one sees on Ballard buses. It’s those west Ballardians causing trouble again.

Of all days to have to have taken the car to the shop.

It could be worse: Manfred could have unbuttoned his raincoat.

Ugliest undies you’ve ever seen – if you are lucky.

Seriously… it’s a problem in Ballard County… but truly, in the whole of the U.S. …

probably other countries, too… but I think, especially the U.S.

Land of wide-open spaces… independence… the American Dream.

It took way longer for the idea of small cars to get a toehold here.

We prized cheap gas, spontaneity, the freedom to go anywhere at our own pace.

When I was a military child, it seemed to me that other countries were proud of their efficient, fuel-saving, trains and buses.

while Americans were proud of their huge Cadillacs … and of not having to take the bus.

Gas is expensive now; cars are smaller…

but it’s still hard to break Americans of the idea that buses, and even trains, are for other people,

Less fortunate people… who, whether due to poverty, disability, lifestyle choices or some other cruel fate, must take a bus.

For various reasons, I didn’t want to drive a car in young adulthood. I took city and county buses, and I took the Greyhound.

I noticed that over the years, fewer and fewer ordinary working people, housewives, etc rode with me.

and more and more of those who MUST.

Some people actually poked fun at me… as though there were a stigma to riding a bus.

I gave in at 40… but only because I moved somewhere with insufficient bus service.

I thought I’d still take one sometimes instead of driving, but I don’t.

We SAY we want to decrease fossil fuel use… develop mass transit…

But we let the buses get old and dirty.

Nobody in power really cares whether they run on schedule because nobody powerful takes them.

When they lose money we decrease schedules and increase fares.

It’s the wrong direction to take…. but how do we reverse it?

Ballard County may have nuttier people than some other places…

But still… wherever only crazy people TAKE the bus… there are only crazy people ON the bus.

On the subway once on a visit to NYC, I asked a nearby woman a question about the subway system. She had a really shocked look on her face and basically said “you’re not from around here are you? People don’t speak to each other on the subway.”

For some reason, the first thing that came to mind was oogity boogity boogity!

Pretty soon, Dorsey is gonna be out the doorsy… ☺

Me too.. I hate when that happens.

J’aime le metro.

Manfred is just trying to be friendly. He’s trying to come out of his shell.