Bus Tales http://virb.com/bustales BusTales.com is the personal project of Rett Martin, a web designer currently living in Minnesota. The inspiration came from the "Overheard in" series and countless days riding the bus. If you ride the bus then chances are you've got a tale to tell. Submit one now.]]> Virb 2.0 (@bustales) en I've got problems and more gloves http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/1067596 Sometimes I like to ride the transit bus. It gives me some down time, time to evaluate myself and my problems. I've got problems and riding the bus gives me time to try to find, and ask for, solutions. I rarely talk to the other bus people but sometimes someone wants to tell a story, so I allow them if the story is interesting enough. After all, in the end its all about the stories. (more...)

]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:33:33 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/1067596 "I just like to have FUN" guy http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/1024522 So the other day I was riding the 11. It was rush hour, probably around 5 p.m., so as you can imagine, the bus was fairly full. We were nearing the MIA when a man got on the bus. At first I thought he was vision impaired because he had on sunglasses and I could see he was carrying some sort of stick. Upon further investigation I realized the sunglasses were throw backs from the 80's (sort of visor like and really cheap) and the "stick" was actually a broom and dust pan combo. (more...)

]]> Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:33:12 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/1024522 If you're that unwell http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/998582 If you've ever been pregnant, you know how in the last few weeks you start to move slower and slower and slower. The six blocks between my house and the University and Snelling bus stop increase from a five minute walk to a 15 minute walk in the weeks before my son was born. (more...)

]]> Wed, 24 Dec 2008 08:18:07 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/998582 Casualty of a Hit and "Propped Up" http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/988122 I saw the poor thing on the side of the road near a bus stop, casualty of an over night hit by a car I assumed. About 2 hours later, on another pass down this street on my route, it was "propped up" on the bench. I saw it, and did a double take. I had to pull over and check this one out again. Not only had it been picked up from the road (eww-gross ) who ever did it, stuck a cigarette in its mouth, and a crumpled pack in its paw. [Warning: Contains Pictures] (more...)

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:33:32 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/988122 Now show me yours http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/980682 I was heading South on Chicago Ave on the number 5E. It was a pretty full bus, but it looked like the typical crowd from the neighborhood. I was sitting near the front of bus. I needed to unwind after a long day at the office, so I began work on my Sudoku puzzle taken from the local paper. (more...)

]]> Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:31:00 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/980682 I Had too pee too! http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/947520 Sometimes, when you have to go....you have to go. And sometimes, it matters little where you are and whom you are around. Such was the case late Tuesday night between the City College and 47th Avenue Stations. (more...)

]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:15:56 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/947520 Enjoying the bar on the bus http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/914024 On the bus in the middle seat, on the rotating part, there's two seats separated by a metal bar. As it just so happens, a very large man sat down in BOTH seats, with the middle bar wedged in his crotch. He seemed to be enjoying himself very much!

]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:46:22 -0800 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/914024 For Madmen Only http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/898145 The 74 bus pulled up to the curb and opened its doors in welcome. A few steps took me inside to the warmth and familiarity of the same short trip, made many days at the same hour to pick up my kids at school. I paid my fare with a plastic card and took my seat in the isolation that marked my time alone and loafing for the day, with nothing to do but ride. (more...)

]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:58:32 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/898145 Campaign or conference call? http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/874130 This morning, a nice lady got on the (standing room only) bus and was on her cellphone. She said what I assume was her first name "Ginger" and then proceeded to say "Hope" about 50 times, getting louder with each repetition. I imagined two possible scenarios: (more...)

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:30:12 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/874130 Increased fares and frowns on the faces http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/854905 Bus fares went up today, putting frowns on the faces of the ridership. There is something that might save money for some and I don't think its widely known. It is possible to buy an Event Pass for $3.50, which is good for six hours and can be used on express buses without incurring the express surcharge. There is also a Day Pass, costing $6.00, which is good for 24 hours from the time it is issued. (more...)

]]> Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:58:26 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/854905 Freeze pops and cell phones http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/821919 Well last night I was on my way home from work. I was riding the 4 from downtown to the lyn lake area. The bus was going along smoothly until we were near MCTC. A woman was running trying to catch the bus. Lucky for her someone stopped the bus driver, informing him that the woman was attempting to make it. He stops, she gets on, all is well. (more...)

]]> Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:34:17 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/821919 Bad-back woman http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/810104 I'll just paste the entire email I sent to customer service @ SW Transit this morning as my bus tale. Maybe I'm the one out of line, you decide. (more...)

]]> Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:59:39 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/810104 20 cigarettes before the bus http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/791255 With ipod in tow, I sat next to the window, shut my eyes and put trust in the driver to get me to work. A little Tripping Billies from DMB Crash album got me to humming a bit. While I did not realize I was a humming, a sharp bump from the bus, opened my eyes to find the two in front of me and the woman next to me staring at me. (more...)

]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:09:56 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/791255 Help, I need somebody http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/777655 I looked up from my magazine at the noises of consternation erupting throughout the bus . We'd taken a wrong turn. As we looped through a grocery store parking lot, the driver apologized and joked with the people in the front of the bus. Momentarily united, they spontaneously, unbelievably, began to sing: "Help, you know I need somebody, help, not just anybody..."

]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:22:15 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/777655 Blazing blue sparkles and an intricate braided hairstyle http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/745698 If it were not for her saying "Hey Driver!" like the cutest kid could, I would not be writing about how much she made me smile....and how her mother led me to question my faith in humanity. (more...)

]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:30:13 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/745698 Drivers think you're a jerk http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/726666 This happened at Snelling Garage about fifteen years ago. Each garage has several dispatchers who assign the buses to the drivers and make sure that the work gets covered when a driver gets sick, oversleeps or doesn't make it to work for whatever reason. (more...)

]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:09:36 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/726666 Cell phone sin http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/700034 My question is less a tale to tell and more a question to pose for busriders. What, if any, are the "bus cell phone rules?"

I'm guessing most of us have encountered a loud bus cellphone talker at some point. The person who blabs on and on in what seems to be an unnecessarily loud voice. Do they have any courtesy? Any shame? (more...)

]]> Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:55:19 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/700034 Words of wisdom http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/697717 This morning I got on the 6 going downtown. The bus was slightly more crowded than usual, and I was standing for a little while. When we hit Loring Park, the bus was (obviously) more full, with more glum-looking commuters in the aisle. (more...)

]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:56:01 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/697717 Kittens in a Backpack - a Bus Haiku http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/690045 Tough boy with shaved head
Holds a backpack on his lap.
The pack is not still.

Two kittens peek out.
He kisses one's head softly,
Then closes the pack.
(more...)

]]> Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:26:16 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/690045 Other people's crazy http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/686395 I was on the 74 the other day, on my way to downtown STP. A woman got on the bus at W 7th and sat in the first seat, opposite the driver. She began to loudly yell at the bus driver to stop jerking the bus around. (more...)

]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:51:50 -0700 http://virb.com/bustales/posts/text/686395