Bus Rider Diary

The travails of a bus passenger in a small market bus system.

[busriderdiary]

Short Trip. 05/07/2026

Going to the airport to get a rental car. Going on a trip to see family. Great to be able to afford this.

[lefireheart]

111 St. Brooklyn, New York.

[queer-as-city-folk]

Why is this so fucking hideous ?

(Design for the 2,300 new subway cars for NYC)

[queer-as-city-folk]

I mean yes, they probably will look better in service than the renders, but I just don't like the livery

[hellooldsmelly]

[busriderdiary]

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BUS RIDER DIARY

[busriderdiary]

A ‘mind-blowing’ trip from Seattle to Portland: 12 hours on buses and trains

Along the way, he said, Simon Sandh found how those small, rural transit systems serve as the "connectors" for so many communities.

The comment section, as usual. The car munches, the idealogues, car MADMAGTS (MAKE AMERICA DRIVE MORE AGAIN) are instructive to the mindset we are dealing with. The convenience mindset, the personal freedom mindset, the obstinate idealogical response to a fun story about the journey, taking time, and seeing the details. This is not a how to guide for regular travel, it's a trip. A trip of possibilities, of connection, of mundane daring.

[petluck]

insane news, today a man in my city stole a bus and just. kept making all the stops.

[petluck]

the Assman rides again

[petluck]

an upstanding citizen of our great city

[busriderdiary]

Bus Ramble.

Returned my rental car to the airport. Decided to take a roundabout route back home. 2 Broadway to the bus dungeon.

Hopped up the stairs to street level in time to catch the 9 State. The bus, #801, was having computer problems. The driver had to open the door by hand. The fare box worked, much to his surprise. We left late, and the reader board had the reboot message on it for the whole trip. Also, no stop announcements for the duration.

I get off at Saxton and Gary Lane. Walkabout for about 1/4 mile to the stop on Gary ln.

Pick up the 21 Cole/Glenwood, which is one of the new North/South routes that was put in on the last schedule change. It goes from Hill Road to Towne Square Mall. The route serves Capital High School, and intersects the Fairview 7, Emerald 5, 4 Franklin, 24 Ustick/ Maple Grove Cole/Victory 28, Overland 29, which is what I’m going to wait for.

A lot of people here at the TSM. This is a hub of sorts. Going to have to pivot to the 5 Franklin, because I can’t connect to 29 Overland for another 45 minutes!

Somehow, I missed the 4 Franklin at 1430. So I’m waiting for the 29 Overland. Hungry. Ready for the odyssey to be over.

Glad to have gotten the overview of the system as it stands. Luckily, other than the trip to the airport to drop off the rental car, I didn’t have a destination or an appointment to keep. Waiting around for an hour is irritating, but sitting in the sun people watching was was pretty great.

On my way home. Bus 711. Leaving a little behind schedule, which means we will move right along getting to my stop. Time for a nap!

[busriderdiary]

https://www.heraldsun.com/news/business/article311504423.html

Here in Idaho there is a feeling amongst certain people that somehow the POORS are getting over somehow by riding public transit. These people are generally in the legislature, and a good portion of them are from rural areas, and all are in thrall to the “freedom” of the personal automobile.

Of course our transit is generally unusable for working people, but Valley Regional Transit is doing their best with the impossible hand they have been dealt. I use it, but it doesn’t come frequently enough on my routes. But it crushes me every time I see my most favored route (20 Orchard) bus go by with no one on board. Makes me want to ride it just to ride it, and pay my fare.

Frequent service is the key here, but soon we may have nowhere to go.

[busriderdiary]

20 Orchard Bus 703

Short ride, no report. Uneventful, but still fun.

I love public transit.

[busriderdiary]

20 Orchard bus 705

Dropped off our car for RJ to drive home after work. I walked to the Emerald/Orchard stop

Such a short ride. I liked my wait at this stop. Watched the cement mixers and dump trucks heading south. So much traffic.

And now I’m home. Fun!

[busriderdiary]

20 Orchard 1638 hrs.

Picked up the bus after wandering around Orchard looking for a piece of furniture, seeing my friend Carissa at Lark & Larder,

Got a couple of books at the Youth Ranch, one of which I borrowed from my friend Ali, so I can return her copy. After 10 years or so.

The Overstory, by Richard Powers.

I started this earlier. Forgot to post it.

[busriderdiary]

20 Orchard, Saturday 1732

Dropped of the car for my wife to drive home after work. Lots of thrift stores to occupy the time until the hourly scheduled bus shows up.

The face of a man who has 1-1/2 months to go until his senior discount.

20 bus is a good route. We need to use it.

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[busriderdiary]

20 Orchard 05/30/2025 1700 hrs

Dropped the vehicle off at my wife’s work. I’m on one of the newer electric buses.

And five minutes later I am back at my house.

[busriderdiary]

Back on Bus 722 20 Orchard 1749

Got all my groceries and fish. I’m the only passenger. So far. May in Motion has been a success for me. And for one day, VRT was usable.

15 minute Vista is the bomb.

[busriderdiary]

Dude makes me feel weak for whining. He’s tougher than I’ll ever be. Respect.

[busriderdiary]

Bus 523 3 Vista 1700 hrs.

Got my TJ order. Going to stop at the Reel Food Fish Market for some Ora Salmon.

I just spent some time roaming around downtown. Walked some stairs, looked at some stuff, saw Kelly Knopp, went to Flying M.. got down to CW Moore and chilled. It was nice.

TJ, now heading up Vista.

[busriderdiary]

Move in May! Bus 722 is now the 3 Vista.

Going downtown to TRADER JOE.

I like being an old person on the bus. Soon I will get paid to be an old person. And ride the bus cheap!

Got my reusable bags. I might try to go Broadway to shop at Albertson. Going to Albertson on Broadway.

There are passengers on this bus. It rules.