One of the best things about Chicago is its public transit.
Until I lived here, I wasn’t too keen on buses or trains. My experience had been that they were late, dirty, and not user friendly. Of course, the only real experience I had had with public transportation (with a few exceptions) was in cities that hadn’t invested the time or money to really get it right, so of course it was awful.
Chicago, though, wow. The bus / train system is so interconnected, I can get anywhere in the city. When delays happen, it is announced (via a transit app) and is usually fixed relatively quickly. I have also found that the system is pretty easy to figure out, with lots of “help” (maps, apps, and so forth).
Thousands upon thousands of people use public transit every day here, so, yes, everything isn’t always spit shined all the time. Overall, though, I haven’t found public transit to be dirty beyond the normal wear and tear expected throughout any given day. And, yes, occasionally, the people on public transit are a bit sketchy (like the lady who squatted between trains to pee that one time, or the guy across from me that that one day who proceeded to roll joints). Overall, however, I’m quite amazed at how cordial people are.
Yesterday, this very elderly mixed-race couple hobbled onto the bus I was riding. It was mid-day, and there were lots of empty seats. Near the front of the bus are priority seating for elderly, wheelchair, injured, and pregnant passengers. The seats had been folded up for a wheelchair passenger that had exited the bus a stop earlier. A young guy of yet another race, jumped up and lowered the seat for the elderly couple.
I see this every day on public transit in Chicago. People, no matter their race, will give up their seats, rearrange their bags, and helpfully make way for others.
In my Facebook feed and on the news, I see a pretty regular diet of people being divided by race in this country. It makes me worried, and more than a little sad. Yet every ride on public transit here in Chicago shows me a different side … people being polite and helpful to others, regardless of race. Are their exceptions? People who are rude? Sure. But that’s the minority. Mostly, people are nice, and every time I see people helping each other out, trying to do right by others on public transit, a little bit of my faith in humanity is restored.
We need more of that, everywhere, in this country.
And, of course, the people on public transit gives me lots of ideas for my stories. An added bonus to the restored faith in humanity.
Go forth and write!
Until I lived here, I wasn’t too keen on buses or trains. My experience had been that they were late, dirty, and not user friendly. Of course, the only real experience I had had with public transportation (with a few exceptions) was in cities that hadn’t invested the time or money to really get it right, so of course it was awful.
Chicago, though, wow. The bus / train system is so interconnected, I can get anywhere in the city. When delays happen, it is announced (via a transit app) and is usually fixed relatively quickly. I have also found that the system is pretty easy to figure out, with lots of “help” (maps, apps, and so forth).
Thousands upon thousands of people use public transit every day here, so, yes, everything isn’t always spit shined all the time. Overall, though, I haven’t found public transit to be dirty beyond the normal wear and tear expected throughout any given day. And, yes, occasionally, the people on public transit are a bit sketchy (like the lady who squatted between trains to pee that one time, or the guy across from me that that one day who proceeded to roll joints). Overall, however, I’m quite amazed at how cordial people are.
Yesterday, this very elderly mixed-race couple hobbled onto the bus I was riding. It was mid-day, and there were lots of empty seats. Near the front of the bus are priority seating for elderly, wheelchair, injured, and pregnant passengers. The seats had been folded up for a wheelchair passenger that had exited the bus a stop earlier. A young guy of yet another race, jumped up and lowered the seat for the elderly couple.
I see this every day on public transit in Chicago. People, no matter their race, will give up their seats, rearrange their bags, and helpfully make way for others.
In my Facebook feed and on the news, I see a pretty regular diet of people being divided by race in this country. It makes me worried, and more than a little sad. Yet every ride on public transit here in Chicago shows me a different side … people being polite and helpful to others, regardless of race. Are their exceptions? People who are rude? Sure. But that’s the minority. Mostly, people are nice, and every time I see people helping each other out, trying to do right by others on public transit, a little bit of my faith in humanity is restored.
We need more of that, everywhere, in this country.
And, of course, the people on public transit gives me lots of ideas for my stories. An added bonus to the restored faith in humanity.
Go forth and write!