Reflections from the road

I have been toying with new routes into and out of Oakland for the past several weeks. Today I think I hit a toal of 4 buses total for the round trip from Munhal.

Started the day as usual on the 53F and jumped off at Grant St., even in this cold, and ran/walked to Market Square for a Stabucks. Hot and tasty as it was, it did little to thaw me out. I was running a little late and hoped to make it to 5th Ave. to catch the 61C into Oakland. If I hit it just right, I get one of the pluch bendy buses that run that way from town in the mornings. These are the 3150 series of buses I think. The seats are more comfortable than a Greyhound bus and even have the individual lights and air vents for each rider. I consider them the limousines of the PAT fleet. Will certainly miss them when the strike happens.

On the way out of Oakland, I had hoped to grab a 61F on Forbes Ave. but realized I’d miss it. Instead, I got adventurous, or cocky, and hoped a 61C into town on Fifth Ave. One of the smaller buses though. None off the limos run in the afternoon I noticed. My goal was to get to the stop at 622 Second Ave. and get a seat on the 53F. If I wait for that to get into Oakland, the seats are gone, and I figured I had time.

Wrong again. I was about 5 minutes late and did not feel like waiting for the next one (about 25 minutes out). I noticed a 56E Greenfield and remembered they went through The Waterfront. I found my way onto the bus and was able to make it to The Waterfront early enough to enjoy another Starbucks before getting a ride home from there.

Not sure this record will hold for long. I can see different scenarios that would have me on 5 or more some days. Monthly passes rock. They do give a sense of freedom I did not have driving in and out of town before. I am not looking forward to the madness we’ll all face (bus riders and auto commuters on the congested roadways) come December …

So, after a rather trying evening at The Waterfront, I figure there is no choice to get home but to take a bus from 8th Avenue in Homestead to Homestead Park where I live. My son and I just missed the 7:05 p.m. 53F so we had about 45 minutes to kill on the avenue.

After spending a little time at 8th & Amity, we walked toward the Homestead Grays Bridge to catch the bus as soon as it enters Homestead. There is another bus in front of the 53F, maybe a 64A, and it is blocking the bus stop area, and the 53F, still blocking the intersection, opens its doors to drop of an anxious rider. As the 64A pulls away, I begin casually waving at the 53F, figuring the driver sees me and will stop at the actual stop since the other bus is gone. He sees me, I yell as it appears he is not going to stop, and damned if he does not.

Not wanting to wait another 50 minutes, my son and I head off for the 8th & Amity stop where we started our wait. Luckily the 64A once again delayed the bus and we were able to get on. I walk right up to the driver and ask if had seen me waving him down. “The doors were open” he said. I am almost speechless in the presence of his arrogance and smugness. I almost never see drivers pass riders who are anywhere near stops, and most of the time they will stop almost anywhere in between if someone is flagging them down.

“Do you have a name?” is my next question. He smiles knowing it will not matter how much I complain to anyone I might be fortunate to get on the phone at PAT. “Ed,” he says, the smugness dripping from his lips. “Got a number?” Without skipping a beat, as if he gets asked this a lot, and I am sure he does, “Yeah, 9611” he smiles pointing to the embroidery on his shirt.

Unpleasantries were exchanged at the stop in Homestead Park where I called his customer service skills into question. I am convinced that if I did not have my son with me I would be sitting in the county lockup right now on assault charges for bouncing Ed’s smug face off the steering wheel. I was able to leave a comment about the incident on the PAT website (no answer at their customer service line this late at night). Will I hear back from them? Will Ed be reprimanded? I doubt it, but I will follow up if I hear anything. Keep an eye out for Ed. Look for old 9611 and flip him the bird for me if you get a chance. I’d do it for you