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Bus and train
Nov. 28th, 2006 02:05 pmStrange, strange mood on public transportation this morning. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
qbear and I were on the bus down the hill to the Glen Park BART station when someone on the street (between stops) tried to wave the bus down.
“Stop the bus, driver,” a passenger called out, helpfully.
“I CAN’T STOP ON A DIME!” the driver exploded, as she slowed the bus down. “Don’t tell me how to do my job! I don’t tell you how to do yours! Man alive!”
The entire ridership was quiet for a few seconds. “Welcome to MUNI customer service,” the passenger behind us muttered.
Five minutes later, we boarded the downtown BART train. The train didn’t move, and after a minute the conductor made an announcement.
“SOMEONE TRIED TO OPEN A DOOR WHILE IT WAS CLOSING AND HAS JAMMED IT,” the voice said, obviously irked. “Will the person who jammed the door please close that door and refrain from jamming open the doors. If that door is not closed, this train will have to be taken out of service.”
A minute later, the voice spoke again: “The door is still open. If the person who jammed the door does not close it, this train will be taken out of service.”
A minute passed before the voice came over the loudspeaker again, this time with a trace of smugness: “This train is out of service. Please depart and wait for the next train.”
Hundreds of commuters shuffled listlessly back onto the platform. The doors closed. The train sat there for five minutes. Jack and I rolled our eyes and scanned the platform for signs of passengers beating up the one who jammed the door. The lights of other trains were visible in the tunnel, showing that trains were backing up. Finally, the doors opened again, and the commuters plodded back inside.
“In the future, please refrain from jamming open the doors,” the conductor announced one last time, with ice in his voice.
At the next stop, two guys got on and sat behind Jack and me. One of them wondered aloud, “I wonder why the trains are all backed up …”
“Well!” Jack said, turning around, his eyes gleaming. “Let me tell you!” And he did.
* * *
Going againstbigjohnsf’s predictions, Business 2.0 calls San Francisco a "bubble-proof housing market.”
qbear and I were on the bus down the hill to the Glen Park BART station when someone on the street (between stops) tried to wave the bus down.“Stop the bus, driver,” a passenger called out, helpfully.
“I CAN’T STOP ON A DIME!” the driver exploded, as she slowed the bus down. “Don’t tell me how to do my job! I don’t tell you how to do yours! Man alive!”
The entire ridership was quiet for a few seconds. “Welcome to MUNI customer service,” the passenger behind us muttered.
Five minutes later, we boarded the downtown BART train. The train didn’t move, and after a minute the conductor made an announcement.
“SOMEONE TRIED TO OPEN A DOOR WHILE IT WAS CLOSING AND HAS JAMMED IT,” the voice said, obviously irked. “Will the person who jammed the door please close that door and refrain from jamming open the doors. If that door is not closed, this train will have to be taken out of service.”
A minute later, the voice spoke again: “The door is still open. If the person who jammed the door does not close it, this train will be taken out of service.”
A minute passed before the voice came over the loudspeaker again, this time with a trace of smugness: “This train is out of service. Please depart and wait for the next train.”
Hundreds of commuters shuffled listlessly back onto the platform. The doors closed. The train sat there for five minutes. Jack and I rolled our eyes and scanned the platform for signs of passengers beating up the one who jammed the door. The lights of other trains were visible in the tunnel, showing that trains were backing up. Finally, the doors opened again, and the commuters plodded back inside.
“In the future, please refrain from jamming open the doors,” the conductor announced one last time, with ice in his voice.
At the next stop, two guys got on and sat behind Jack and me. One of them wondered aloud, “I wonder why the trains are all backed up …”
“Well!” Jack said, turning around, his eyes gleaming. “Let me tell you!” And he did.
* * *
Going against
bigjohnsf’s predictions, Business 2.0 calls San Francisco a "bubble-proof housing market.”
