Voices of the People: Intro

I think it important to note that I am a long-time purveyor of the public transportation system. At first it was a matter of necessity, and it later became a matter of preference. To me, there's something comforting about starting your morning with a stress-free commute to work and ending the day with the sort of mindless reflection that comes to a person when they're in transit and not worrying about the drive.

But beyond that daily time of personal reflection, there is another honorable and priceless benefit to the usage of public transportation: the public. Public transportation gives the astute traveler the opportunity to mingle with a diverse variety of the common folk, those everyday Joes. And I absolutely loved it.

Side rant. Of course it may be easier to drive yourself to and from your busy life. Windows down, radio blaring, maybe a cell phone to your ear. Surrounded by people just like you and never having to look them in the eye. Certainly symbolic of our society today. Tune in the radio and tune out the world; we have our own problems and don't have time to care about the others.

This simply isn't the case for the average PT traveler. I mean, sure, you can plug into your iPod for the duration and be left alone. But if so, you're missing out on so much. Think about it. Humans are inherently social animals, yet every major invention we use on a daily basis makes it a point to isolate you. We are hermits adrift in a sea of hermits; forever surrounded yet always alone.

Is this seriously how we want to live?

I used to spend about 20 minutes on the bus every morning and about 45 every evening (I lived on an admittedly inefficient route). That's a full hour per day of golden time. Time to meditate and to learn. This is the time you are thrust in a small area with people you would never, ever be with otherwise. And if you're smart enough to grab the bull by the horns, this is the greatest hour of your day.

Businesspeople concerned about the environment or energy prices; single mothers hurrying to work; retired men going to meet their ilk at the coffee shop; the homeless that are simply looking for some air conditioning on a hot July afternoon; college students; high school dropouts; salaried managers; minimum wage junkies; your best friend; your worst enemy...and all crammed together in a moving room on a daily basis.

I've met grandmothers working because they couldn't afford not to, and they've changed my world views on life and death. I've met teenage lesbian couples hiding on the bus because they're not accepted elsewhere, and they've taught me that the world is still intolerant and unaccepting. I've met black single mothers that took the bus because they chose Christmas for their kids over a used car, and they've taught me that the love of a family can conquer all.

And I like to think that maybe, just maybe, the young white male that smiled and listened to their stories helped lift their burdens, helped make the world a better place for them.

From the first week that I used the PT system, I always wanted to share the insights and stories I picked up along the way. Hopefully I can do that here. My "Voices of the People" posts will be just that. I plan to recollect the experiences of the last few years and share the inevitable new ones that come along.

It's a big world with a lot of people all struggling just to be. We should all yearn to learn from one another. Take the bus, even if you have nowhere to go. Learn to smile and listen and share yourself.

You'll learn something.