new, free bus service in Baltimore...and how much I hate people who take the bus

[badstar]

For anyone who doesn't know...

http://www.charmcitycirculator.com/

It's a very limited area, and it just launched yesterday. Only running one route currently with two more on the way (no date given yet though). There are also two free water taxi connections.

It's free to use and the buses are supposed to be quiet and put out only half of the emissions produced by other buses. I'll be checking this out as soon as I can.


Speaking of public transportation...on a less happy note, I was kicked on a bus today. On the way to an appointment, I hopped on a 22 that was full of high school kids screaming, jumping around and wrestling in the aisles. There was one empty seat and a girl was sitting with her legs and feet all over tow seats, I asked if she'd mind moving so I could sit. She did, and immediately proceeded to start turning around, jumping on her seat, and in the process kicked me. She gave a very unapologetic "my bad" and I got up and moved towards the front of the bus, but I was still close enough to hear her commenting to the girls behind her that she "doesn't understand what that bitch's problem was". The screaming, of course continued even as I turned up my ipod loud enough that if I had left it too long, I would have damaged my hearing, the screaming of these high school idiots was still far, far louder- when I've got music that loud in my ears, and can barely hear it over the screaming of passengers, something is really, seriously fucking wrong.

You fucking kicked me, you inconsiderate little brat. You appear to be at least fourteen or fifteen- well beyond old enough to know that the fucking bus isn't a jungle gym.

Maybe next time, I'll just kick back.

When I got off the bus, I asked the driver why he let this all go on. His answer? A shrug and "Doesn't bother me." When I said that one of the jumping asstards kicked me, his reply was a too-unconcerned-to-qualiy-for-apathetic "Oh. Sorry about that."

I hate people. I hate the people in this fucking city. I hate the rampant lack of any shred of consideration for anyone. I hate the fact that asking someone not to scream in your ear or getting pissed off because someone just kicked you because they couldn't be bothered to sit in their gods-damned fucking seat is enough to warrant being called bitch, racist or any number of other names because no one can take a little responsibility for themselves or be bothered to give half a second's thought to the fact that they are not the only person on the fucking bus, and the world doesn't revolve around them and have a little courtesy for other people.

And everyone else just sits back and takes it. The next person to sit down beside that girl was a rather frail-looking older lady. She got kicked too, but as far as I could see, she didn't even flinch.

Rules are posted, but never enforced. Why do they bother? I mean seriously, why don't they put the ink and paper to better use? The rules of conduct are obviously meaningless and really just for show.

This is one of those things that makes me absolutely murderous. I can't tell you how close I was to punching someone. Yet another case of it being a really good thing that I have as much self-control as I do when it comes to my temper because if I didn't....bodies would be hurt and I'd probably be in jail.

Comments

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

I've said before, they need to either start making people enforce the rules (whether they like to or not) or just take them down and stop pretending we have any.

I don't have a ton of hope for the new free bus service, if anything it could be even more asshole infested. But, at least we're not paying for the privilege of being annoyed. :-)

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I've said before, they need to either start making people enforce the rules (whether they like to or not) or just take them down and stop pretending we have any.

You are so right. *sigh*

[erl-queen.livejournal.com]

I'm always just flabbergasted reading this stuff about life in that city. That would *never* happen here. I've seen bus drivers reprimand people for talking a bit too loud on their cell phones or having their headphones loud enough for someone else to hear. Yeah, occasionally there are annoying teenagers, but never to that degree. They'd be kicked off the bus.

Sometimes I think I'm getting weirdly sheltered, living here, I forget what it can be like in the rest of the country. But then, I'm glad, because otherwise I might be in jail for a killing spree or something.

[pinkpolarity.livejournal.com]

From what I see posted on Childfree comms, it's pretty common and definitely not just Baltimore.

I haven't seen anything quite that bad in DC, but I did back in college in Syracuse in the '80s. Screaming, kicking *pregnant* teens in that case, no less.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

From what I see posted on Childfree comms, it's pretty common and definitely not just Baltimore.

I've only lived a couple other places (Lancsater, PA and Dallas) but I've traveled a decent bit around the country (mostly east of the Missisippi and particularly from Maryland on up, for what it's worth)and have never seen the level of obnoxiousness anywhere else that I do here. It just boggles the mind.

By the way, out of curiosity...is there any point to childfree communities besides bitching about kids and talking about how happy you are not to have them? Serious question because I've glanced at a few in the past and that's all I really saw. That, and on at least one, it seemed like they lived to ridicule anyone who seemed to have any sort of liking of any kids at all. I couldn't tell you which ones they were anymore, it was a few years ago, but being childfree with then intent of remaining so, I had thought it would be interesting to check out. I quickly ran away when I thought I would be in danger of being shredded if I mentioned that I was an aunt and that I actually like my nieces.

Just curious, largely because I can't really think of what other topics one would talk about having to do directly with not having kids.

[pinkpolarity.livejournal.com]

Some people post alerts to threats against reproductive rights (very useful, those) and childfree-friendly doctors, along with experiences of getting Essure and vasectomies done. There's also lots of advice and commiseration for people being "bingoed" by friends/family/co-workers. The problem is that the people who are most obnoxious in CF comms are usually children (teenagers) themselves-- I really wish they'd institute an 18+ only rule. childfree is a lot more friendly about people who like kids (lots of people in there who spoil their nieces/nephews) but don't want them than cf_hardcore is. The only thing I don't like about the former comm is that people seem to be okay with the idea of being both CF and pro-life, which I think is a load of horseshit. If you're into restricting other people's reproductive rights, you have no place in a CF comm IMO, and if you're pro-life for yourself but don't try to restrict what others do, you're simply mislabeling yourself (support others' choices=pro-choice, definitionally, you know?).

[upasaka.livejournal.com]

Riding the bus is the surest way to develop misanthropy in Baltimore. The Light Rail and Metro are slightly better, but not when schools are letting out.

What really gets me is the eating and drinking on the bus when there is a sign on every vehicle saying that this is not allowed. My idea of hell: a crowded, overheated bus with the person behind me listening to "music" so loudly that I can hear every thump of it and the person next to me eating greasy fried chicken with that stinky vinegary sauce people seem to like around here, while two people sitting yards away from each other are having a personal conversation loud enough to drown out any possibility of hearing one's own thoughts. A very typical Baltimore bus ride.

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

What really gets me is the eating and drinking on the bus when there is a sign on every vehicle saying that this is not allowed.

What gets me is the way that people can only seem to eat and drink on the bus like the way a one year old will eat spaghetti. I admit I've eaten on the Light Rail before when I've been really hungry, but I don't make a gigantic mess and I take my wrappers with me until I find a waste basket. You would think that's the sort of behavior that would be ingrained in you long before you hit adulthood, but I guess not, huh?

[fuego.livejournal.com]

Riding the bus is the surest way to develop misanthropy in Baltimore.

It's even more fun when you can't stand people to begin with!

The Light Rail and Metro are slightly better, but not when schools are letting out.

I've never had a problem on the metro, but the light rail...uhg. Have you ever caught my posts about the early-morning people from the methadone clinic up in Lutherville?

I think I've been fortunate enough to have not smelled the vinegary sauce you speak of. And the "music" thing...don't get me started on people playing "music" in this city.

[bluedolfyn.livejournal.com]

*shudder* Baltimore could be Philly, I swear. One more reason I love it here. Here, people get scolded if they *swear* on the bus. It's absurdly quaint, really.

I can't wait for you guys to be here, and more for your own sake than for any selfish reason of my own.

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

Just for swearing? Just swearing at all, not necessarily yelling it? That's a little extreme. That's a pet peeve of mine there, the offended maiden aunt types butting into your conversation to scold you on your language.

One thing I do kind of like around here is that swearing is really not a big deal, nobody bats an eye at it. I've always swore like a sailor anyway, and I've become a lot less conscious about it in the last three years. It always makes my mother freak out a little when I go back for a visit. Of course no one else ever seems to care, and it may very well be she's the only one who does.

[bluedolfyn.livejournal.com]

Usually they only butt in when one is loud. Normal talking volume isn't that bad. I will warn you, though, people are *weird* here about swearing. Just the other day Beth burned her hand at the bagel shop on coffee and uttered a happy "fuck" and *everyone* looked at her. And it wasn't her freaking out, just a loud, obviously pain-triggered oath. I tend to not notice too much but then I'm very liberal with my fucks, too. But, yes, people will say things here. It's the one thing I dislike about this place. No proper personal-bubble respect.

Heh. I can't say fuck in front of my mother. The boys can, but I can't. I had an ex who used it more than I did -- it was his 'um' -- and he'd switch it off without thinking around his grandmother. It was funny.

[chironcentaur.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that is obnoxious. I've never seen what the big deal was myself, they are just words and only really have an offensive weight behind them if you choose to put it there (of course just talking about random expletives, not calling someone a name or anything), and there really isn't any reason to get your shorts in a wad over it. So that is one thing I do appreciate this area, one thing anyway.

I've been annoyed enough by the few people who have told me to watch my language while I'm talking to them (if you don't like the way I talk, don't talk to them then, always my first reaction). But butting into someone else's conversation to complain? That's beyond obnoxious, if I'm not talking to you and I'm not being that loud, mind your damn business. (I can see myself developing a reputation for being rude - oh well, I'll live :-))

My mother likes to act offended, but I learned a good deal of swearing from her, my father as well. My grandmother was as bad as I am. My step grandparents are the only people I'll curb it around, that and someone else's children, unless I see they're exposed to it enough from their parents then I don't worry so much.

[bluedolfyn.livejournal.com]

I tend to ignore people if they're just random people trying to quiet me down or butting in to edit me. But then, I don't talk *loud* so it's really not a problem. It's usually the loud that is the part that gets the attention. Had a woman try to get me to whisper in a bookstore once -- that went over real well, lemme tell you. ;o) That was back in philly, though, not here.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I've never lived in Philly, but I think I've spent more time there than I have in pretty much any other place where I haven't actually lived, and I've never seen even a fraction of the obnoxiousness there that I have here. Maybe it's because I pretty much never took public transportation there, other than a few brief rides on the Market-Frankford line and one short, horribly crowded but blissfully quiet trolley ride.

I don't know where you lived in the city, or spent most of your time, but most of my time there has been in University City, Center City and in northern/northeastern Philly where my mother's family is from.

Trust me, we can't wait to get out there too.

[bluedolfyn.livejournal.com]

We were just on the outskirts of Kensington. We were also near a few schools. We were also one of the few token white folks living in mostly not-white areas, and that seemed to make a difference, too -- which was a bizarre and yet valuable experience, in it's own way. I'm not by on stereotypes, but our area was, unfortunately, low-income or off the books income with a lot of people who did not work, abused the system, and thought they were entitled to everything. Doesn't help that I worked in retail, in a drug store, by the El, a bulk of my rudeness I witnessed at work. Even factoring the more social than in New England parts of it (though, gods, not nearly as bad as *here*) it was still louder, dirtier, and ruder than I was used to.

Center City isn't so bad -- mostly it's people intent on their own business. I've never been to University City. Cherry Hill and Old City aren't that bad. It's when you're out and about on public transportation in some of the worse neighborhoods (yippy!) with the teenagers, and then it's especially loud and obnoxious and fun.

[iamjanjan.livejournal.com]

im sorry. it boggles the mind.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

It really does, I just don't get it. How is it that this just doesn't compute for so many people?

[pinkpolarity.livejournal.com]

That sucks! I look forward to living there, but I'm glad that I can't really take public transportation. Although there's a definite advantage to having a cane and letting it... slip. :)

[fuego.livejournal.com]

I look forward to living there, but I'm glad that I can't really take public transportation.

Heh...well, so you know- I don't have a car, so I never really pay any attention, but from what I'm told, parking is a nightmare in a lot of areas.

[pinkpolarity.livejournal.com]

That'll be fun. Bet garages are cheaper than DC, though.

Guess I really ought to learn to parallel park. Too spoilt by giant suburban parking lots.