Public Transit Blockers

In just about every city in every state, public transit is unreliable. Buses and subways are notorious for failing to follow their schedules, and you must rely on them at your own peril. Just about every morning I go through a mental battle...do I wait for the bus or do I walk to school? If I wait, the bus undoubtedly will not come, and then I'll be late for class. If I start walking, the bus will end up passing me before I get to the next stop, and I'll be bitter and angry for the entire one-mile walk, and then I'm all cranky and sweaty when I get to class. Whichever I choose, it's inevitably the wrong choice.

On those rare occasions when you look down the street and see the bus making its way toward you, however, it's the best feeling in the world. It's like the heavens open up and angels start singing. Which is why it is kind of heartbreaking when the bus comes...and it's full. It's like the worst tease ever. But you know what's even WORSE than that??? When there is actually plenty of room, but there are a bunch of jerks huddling near the front, when if they would just move to the back of the bus, you could fit substantially more people in there.

God bless the bus drivers, because they try to yell "move to the back, please." But no one ever listens to them. Because people are selfish. And they would rather stand where they please then let other people get on. If I was a bus driver, I think I would lose my faith in humanity, seeing all those selfish people refusing to make room for others every day like that.

It's the same with the subway. At the end of a long work day, you're tired and starving, and maybe the next train doesn't come for 10 minutes. When it finally arrives and the doors open, there's not enough room for you to squeeze in, even if you stand on your toes and hold your breath. You look longingly at the commuters who get to go home and have dinner. But as the train pulls away, you notice there is all this room in the aisles, but those bastards didn't spread out! Or if you are lucky enough to make it on the train, then you get crammed in the back (because you're courteous enough to move into an open space to make room for someone else) and you try to get off at your stop, and no one will move to let you get out. What is with these people???!! How do they sleep at night???!!

Public transit is supposed to be socially responsible. It keeps cars off the roads and reduces carbon emissions. For many without cars, it is the only way to get to school or work or important appointments. When you are selfish and refuse to make room for others, you deprive others of the ability to conduct their daily affairs. So the next time you see a whole bunch of space in the back of the bus, ask yourself if it's worth making someone late for work. Maybe their tardiness will get them fired, and then on the walk back home they break their ankle, but they can't pay for the medical bills because they lost their insurance, and maybe they have 10 kids at home to feed, and now they'll go hungry...all because you like to stand in the front. Nice job. Jerk.