I was reminded today of a couple of the advantages of a public transit commute. As I strolled home from a stop on Jefferson Boulevard, enjoying the mild sun and the moderate breeze, walking past storefronts and watching people mill about, the stress of the workday evaporated. Walking is therapeutic -- even three-fifths of a mile of it.
Earlier, on the #76 bus, I was perusing a magazine when a sudden blast of the horn startled me. The bus had stopped on the curb to pick up a passenger at an intersection, and a car had tried to wheel around it on the left, cut in front of it, and turn right just as the bus driver was pulling away from the stop. Nobody hit anybody, but it was close.
On Monday I had to drive to work for an extra-early day, starting at 6:30 a.m. People who drive at that time of the morning are, as a rule, extremely aggressive. I figure they're mad they have to be up that early. I wasn't happy about it. I was the recipient of angry honking twice, both times when I attempted to change lanes to maneuver around parked cars but almost didn't see motorists in my blind spot. My fault, totally. I wasn't really in danger of hitting anyone, just made that slight movement toward the next lane and got an earful for it. Driving can be fun, but it can also be a real drag as part of the daily routine, and I'm happy to let the bus driver deal with the anxiety while I read.
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