Newbies!!!

Week 1 of the 2 week closure of the West Bound I90 Bridge Lanes is almost done. The overall commute hasn’t been all that bad – the bus ride in takes about 20 or 30 minutes longer but the bus ride home is only 5 minutes longer. I drove in to work on Tuesday and I actually got in faster than the bus did on Monday. So the drive time hasn’t been that bad –a little extra time in the morning to read and get my brain working. It hasn’t been all smooth sailing though. There is one group that has been driving me insane – I call them the Newbies!

This is the group of people that are riding the bus for the first time because they don’t want to drive during the construction. They are at the bus stops looking around like clueless freshman on the first day of school. They don’t know what to do, haven’t done any research or learning off of the web, and the senior riders are too scary to them so they don’t ask any questions. I think that first time riders should be given a handbook that details what they are supposed to do and the proper bus riding etiquette. Here is what is should contain:

1. Stand in an orderly line at the Park and Ride while you wait for the bus. This is not festival seating at a rock concert where you rush ahead of everyone to grab the best seat. You don’t hang out at the Bus Sign pretending to look at the schedule and then cut in front of everyone when the bus pulls up. You stand in line with everyone else. If you want to get your favorite seat then get to the Park and Ride earlier.
2. Have your bus fare ready. This does not mean have it in your wallet or pocket. It means have it in your hand and ready to pay. You do not climb the stairs and then block the way of everyone else while you dig around for correct change – NO, the bus driver cannot give you change back for your $5 or $10 – exact change only. Please look on the internet before arriving at the Park and Ride to find out how much it will be. There is also a sign – right by where you were standing so you could sneak in front of everyone – that tells you how much the fare will be.
3. Loud conversations on your cell phone are discouraged. I have enough drama going on in my own life – I don’t need to hear about yours!
4. When the bus is pulling in to the Park & Ride at the end of the evening trip please don’t rush up to the front of the bus from the back before it stops just so you can be the first one off – especially if you don’t have your fare ready – remember when going In to Seattle you pay when going in to the bus – when heading out of Seattle you pay when getting out of the bus.
5. The Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride has 5 parking levels and only 2 exits. Those that have parked here for awhile know the etiquette – each car already in line at the exit needs to let 1 car from the upper levels pull in to the exit lane. You Newbies are very selfish and either don’t let anyone in or you try to get in as the 2nd car. Not very friendly!

De