Convenience “Store”

Let’s face it, if you’re an adult or trying to become one, Life gets Hectic. This scenario (or, at least parts of it) may seem familiar:

Every week you survive the brutal rush hour commute squished into SkyTrain cars with people whose hygiene is questionable. The bus line extends around the corner which means your chances of getting a seat are close to zero. You end up standing on the bus next to people who step on your shoes, yell conversations over the phone or hit you with their giant bags.

The worst part of this entire journey back home is that you are hungry. You can smell the wafts of salty, fatty goodness seeping from steamy paper bags containing burger combos with super-sized fries sitting atop the laps of random passengers. The aroma of pepperoni pizzas, greasy Chinese takeout and/or gyros to-go fills the air of a packed and stuffy SkyTrain car. It either leaves you feeling slightly nauseous or gets your stomach rumbling because you are just that hungry.

If you’re like me, at this point in your comute home, all you can think about is dinner because you’re tired, starving and ravenous. It takes so much willpower and determination to walk past restaurants, fast food joints and convenience stores on your way home. Then you start to think about the contents in your fridge: Hmm, everything looked fresh… Two weeks ago…

And, when life gets hectic, the last thing you want to do is go grocery shopping. Personally, I hate it. Enduring the line ups, obnoxious people with 100 items in the express lane, customers requesting price checks over a 30 cent difference and hauling bags of food home is my own personal hell.  All I want to do is eat dinner! The other option is takeout. But, I don’t want to order pizza or sushi for the third consecutive night in a row. Especially, if I intend on having a somewhat healthy diet and a balanced budget. Eating healthy can be such a struggle in a world of high-fat convenience foods and busy schedules. Why would I go out of my way to pick up groceries and cook a meal when I could just as easily call any local eatery that delivers. The very idea of having zero dishes to wash is especially enticing! Don’t get me wrong, I love cooking and often do so (I recently made jerk chicken marinated in a homemade spice mix, courtesy of Jamie Oliver, with a chili-rum-sugar glaze. No one died of salmonella poisoning so, I considered it to be a Success). I just wish that there were more options for convenient, healthy eating in Vancouver to accomodate busy lifestyles.

In South Korea, British grocery chain Tesco has already come up with the amazing idea of bringing a grocery store to tired transit goers. They set up a virtual grocery store in subway stations which allows busy urbanites to order groceries using their SmartPhones during their commute.  The best part?  Your groceries are delivered to your doorstep by the time you arrive home! I know, it sounds too good to be true…

So, let me run this down for you… While you wait for the SkyTrain, you could be buying groceries and paying for them. Think of all the time that would save, along with your patience! You won’t have carry bags of groceries onto the bus or SkyTrain and worry about eggs breaking or bananas bruising. Unfortunately, this doesn’t solve the problem of cooking dinner. Yes, this you will still have to do unless you’re fabulously wealthy and can afford a personal chef. And, until I’m grown up enough to own my own place (preferably a downtown loft space), I won’t have a dishwasher. However, bringing a grocery store to commuters would encourage people to cook for themselves, choosing healthier alternatives instead of fast food and takeout (which would be more cost effective in the long run). A little convenience goes a long way when you’re trying to find balance in a busy life. 

Genesis.

Many believe the origin of The Bus Loop is shrouded in mystery and has been relegated to the realm of folklore, however it was the following incident from whence The Bus Loop was born…

… as written by Danielle (@daniella_163):

It was early Monday morning. I was taking the SkyTrain to New West, like I usually do and this young guy got on at Columbia. He stood in the middle of the train by the doors hanging onto the centre pole. Suddenly, and without warning,  he began to pole dance. 7.30am – I wasn’t nearly caffeinated enough for an early morning show. I continued to watch, as he moved as if possessed by some tawdry 80’s music (Pat Benatar and Tina Turner come to mind). He began talking very loudly about his girlfriend, then the talking turned into singing. The topic of choice? How all girls, including his girlfriend (who was apparently cheating on him) are whores… He went on, but for fear of permanent scarring, I have blocked it from my memory.  It was a Crazy scene! Before exiting at New West Station, he pointed his index finger and thumb into a “pistol” and “aimed” at random passengers. No one took him too seriously, I noticed a few smirks from fellow passengers. Luckily, pole dancer dude was harmless – but also completely nuts.

I noticed he started to walk in the direction of Columbia Station but, didn’t really think anything of it. I was more concerned with seeing my friends as quickly as possible so, I could tell them about yet another crazy SkyTrain story. While I waited for everyone to show up, Sanda texts me to tell me she has a crazy story to tell me, as well… Awesome, my Monday morning just got slightly more entertaining.

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Sanda (@thebusloop) writes:

I’m on the SkyTrain. It’s sometime after 7.30am on a Monday morning and  I can barely keep my eyes open. I start dreaming about what I am going to order at Starbucks (Hmm, An Americano with oat fudge bar…) when suddenly, I get a text from my friend Danielle about some guy being a pole dancer. This is exactly what I need to wake up, a coffee and a crazy story. I can’t wait to hear about it!  I get off the train at Columbia Station and as I am walking down the stairs I hear someone singing at the top of their lungs. I turn the corner to see this seemingly normal-looking guy on the pay phone singing into it and doing the running man, seriously. I’m trying looking nonchalant but, I can’t help myself and I slow down and watch the scene unfold. As I walk towards the Columbia Street exit, I notice that he’s not really talking to anyone on the phone. In fact, there’s probably no one on the other end. He’s singing about how his girlfriend is a stripper, how he knows she’s cheating on him and how all girls are ho’s… All the while, still doing the running man. You wonder how I knew there wasn’t actually anyone on the other end of the phone? Because a phone is a less efficient form of communication when held upside down!  Anyways, the singing eventually turns to shouting, but the subject matter remains the same… Strippers, whores, and cheating girlfriends. He eventually ran off up the stairs, still yelling about his cheating, stripper girlfriend. Now I had a crazy SkyTrain story to share too!  This is going to be good…

…I barely had time to sit down and take a sip of my coffee when Danielle started me telling about pole dancing guy on the SkyTrain and then imitated him singing his song. I recognized the song immediately! Who could forget it? Apparently, pole dancing guy had done a loop, continuing his antics from one station to the next and back. Gotta love this small world we live in!

I figured that all these stories, crazy, funny, strange, would also be appreciated by the normal among us who also frequent transit. And so, The Bus Loop was created…

Field Reports: Crazy Comes Standard, Pt. 1

Story by Danielle Goss, @daniella_163:

Throughout my College and working life, taking transit has become routine for me.  The best part about it is the entertainment from random crazies no matter what time of day you ride the SkyTrain or take the bus.

I have had quite a few colourful interactions throughout my years of using Transit and some pretty scary experiences. I am generally very outgoing and once I’m awake (usually by noon), I enjoy talking to random people which can either make for a good story to tell or requires a restraining order. Unfortunately, I’ve had to find out the hard way! I do try to stay away from the dangerously crazy people but sometimes my chattiness gets the best of me and I don’t succeed…

My friend and I were taking the SkyTrain back from downtown at about 9:30 pm. Yeah, it was a pretty tame night, nothing too crazy. This guy gets on our train, obviously drunk but, not just drunk, Stupid-Drunk. Oh, and did I mention he was bleeding profusely from an open wound on his head?! He staggers over to where my friend and I are sitting and tries to hit on us. Awesome. Slurred speech is so not hot. Neither is being drunk and bloody. All the while he’s drinking a beer, still bleeding from the head and trying to chat us up. Of course, my curiosity got the better of me and I asked him what happened. He said he got into a fight… Well, no kidding! He started swaying closer to us and refused to get off the SkyTrain until we got off. Great, not only was this guy stupid-drunk, bleeding and drinking in public, he was Belligerent! My friend and I decided to get off at the next stop. We used the transit phone to call security. While  I was on the phone with Transit Security, stupid-drunk guy was still trying to have a conversation with us! By this point we were freaking out and I asked the person on the phone if he could see us on the security cameras. He said NO. Sort of scary, because anything could have happened and at that time there weren’t any cameras on the SkyTrain either. Anyways, Translink police eventually came and escorted stupid-drunk guy away so, my friend and I could go home, in peace. In one piece! I’ve noticed the newer trains have cameras which is an added security feature but, the security cameras just record the craziness. When there aren’t any Transit Security officers around, there’s still potential for a lot of crazy stuff to happen without anyone to help. Luckily, police officers came in time and stupid-drunk guy was more of a pain in the ass than a serious threat.

I have more stories, the next is funny, I promise! Anyways, stay tuned…

Field Reports: I Heart Canada Line

This post will be the first in a series about pet peeves on transit. I wanted to know what pisses people off and I thought it would be a great idea to have contributions from fellow transit users. Varying perspectives, funny stories and different opinions to add to the content of TheBusLoop blog… Whether you take transit or not, you will enjoy the laughs from each one these stories. None of this is made up, some people are actually this stupid and inconsiderate!

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I was really excited last year when the Canada Line opened up and took me from Richmond to work with only a couple of short blocks to walk. The way I saw it, it would be quicker, more convenient, and provide me with enough stairs to feel like I’m getting some kind of exercise. For the most part, it’s pretty much everything I wanted it to be. But there are a few things that prolonged ridership has shown to be a pain in the butt.

For starters, at the start of the Line in the mornings, the regular commuters have developed a system of lining up that works quite well. You get there, you go to wherever you like to ride the train, and you wait in the line for the train to arrive then load in an orderly manner. Once in awhile there’s that jerk that shows up, disregards the line system, and pushes their way to the front. Getting a seat is a hit or miss, and we all take the bad days with the good days. Pushing rudely ahead for a seat is just not cool.

Next, is the ride.

There are several different things that annoy me during the ride. Most days are good, but some days there are people who just suck. We’re all crammed in tightly in the mornings, and there’s just no getting away from the closeness. I understand that, and try to keep to my own little space. I dislike the people who cannot do so, and spread themselves out. There just isn’t room for you to be a space hog. This is doubly offensive when they have stinky armpits and/or stinky ass breath. Seriously, try brushing your teeth and wearing deodorant. Bathe regularly. I should mention that I’m short, so I often find people’s armpits next to me. Yuck. Bodily odours should always be kept to oneself, especially if you know you’re going to be in close proximity to others. This includes flatulence.

(Dis)honourable mentions go to people who step on my toes, people who touch my hand holding onto the bar, people who talk too loudly on the phone or to each other (if I can hear you over my ear buds, you’re too loud), people who are pushy, and people with backpacks. Seriously, put your damn bag on the ground between your feet.

Finally we have the dismount.

I know where I’m getting off, so I make my way to the door as we approach my destination. I understand it’s a tight squeeze, but people need to let me through, so why not just squish out of the way? Why stand firm and obstruct the path? That leaves me no choice but to become a rude pusher. I say excuse me and thank you all the way out the door because I do feel sucky if I have to push. But try to make it easier and shift out of the way if possible. If you’re blocking the door and not getting off, you have to get out of the way. If you’re getting off and I am getting off, it’s not necessary to push me off faster. That’s happened and it’s rude! I do not feel bad for calling out that pushy bitch for her ugly panty lines.

I pay for my two-zone bus pass every month. I ride the train and try to be a good and respectful passenger. I have only taken a photo of someone in a hideous outfit once. I do not breathe on people or make anyone inhale my (nonexistent) BO. I take up little space and only push when I have no other choice. We should all follow my lead and be better train riders. After all, you never know when you’re going to get transit karma breathing on you with their stinky bad breath.

Written by Holly

*Holly is a part-time writer and a full-time rider. She is not an ideal human being by any means and all references to her being awesome or perfect should be taken with the grain of salt with which it was meant. Or believed.  For more awesome stories from Holly, check out her blog here.

A better place to stick your gum…

Anyone who takes transit is familiar with monthly passes and Faresavers. In the spirit of these passes, which will be fading into the realm of folklore with the advent of the Compass in 2013, I present to you, the Metrobench!

Recycling everyday items into functional art is a project Stephen Shaheen, artist and resident of New York City, took on for a recent exhibit. He found meaning and purpose in the highly disposable New York City Metrocards and decided to recycle 5 000 of them into an amazingly cool, sculptural bench.

The Metrobench is not only Brilliant, Stylish, and Functional, it’s also Eco-Friendly! This is a fantastic piece of design. I love it’s fluidity and can’t wait to see what else Shaheen has to offer in the future.

Unfortunately a bench made from our existing monthly passes and faresavers would never survive the torrential rainstorms Vancouver is (in)famous for [nearly] year-round. One good downpour and instead of a bench you would find thousands of rectangular-shaped cardboard pieces disintegrated into a soggy mass of putrid pulp, lacking form or function.

Just imagine our new plastic Compass cards morphing into bright blue, rainproof bus shelters.  We all know the lower mainland could definitely benefit from more bus shelters. If only I had the artistic vision, time, and tenacity to follow through with this crazy idea… Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of Compass cards needed for this creative endeavour… Calling all Vancouver artists & Translink…

So Much More Than a Simple Bike Ride…

What does a bike ride mean to you?
Some of you may choose to bike to work, reducing your carbon footprint while getting some much needed exercise. Others may opt for more adrenaline-fueled activities, such as mountain biking in Whistler. For me, biking has always been a fun summer activity. I love renting a bike and riding around the Stanley Park seawall when the weather is warm and sunny, taking in our beautiful city.

But, imagine a bike ride meaning so much more to someone…

For the women of Buhoma, Uganda, a bicycle is not only a mode of transportation, but the opportunity to learn employable skills and find gainful employment. I never thought two wheels and a metal frame could mean so much for an entire community. Ride 4 A Woman (R4W) is a non-profit organization that has set up bike rentals and tours of the Biwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This initiative not only promotes economic development within the region but, has provided women with an opportunity to earn more money to support their families. In addition, R4W provides each woman with her own bicycle, greatly decreasing travel time and the need to walk great distances.

I know I complain about the hassles and stresses of using our public transit system (just read my tweets!). But,  I can’t even entertain the thought of having to walk everywhere – It would literally take me hours to do anything!  Many of us forget that the simple things we take for granted can create postive changes in someone else’s life, many times, in immeasurable ways. If you’re interested in their bike tours or donating to the R4W organization, just visit their website and check it out! This is definitely added to my Bucket List…

Transit GPS App, adjusting expectations everywhere…

As a regular transit user, I can’t think of a more annoying situation than just missing my bus.

The panic starts when I’m on the SkyTrain and the countdown begins… 30 seconds till the SkyTrain leaves the station, 1 more stop, 2 minutes till my bus leaves… Time to channel my inner athlete. The adrenaline sets in and I make my way to the door. Waiting seems too long. All the while I’m obsessively checking the time on my cellphone, only 1 minute till my bus leaves! The SkyTrain stops. Doors open. I rush out in a mad fury, arms flailing, looking dishevelled and panic-stricken. I attempt a 100-metre dash in heels, not the practical kind, and an oversized bag, weighed down with text books, making my gait slightly lopsided. Who am I kidding, I’m no athlete! Such effort, only to see the back of the bus as it drives away, without me. I. Am. Annoyed.

Add rain, snow, sub-zero temperatures and my frustration grows exponentially. I’m freezing, wet, tired, and now I have to wait. I sympathize with those of you who have to wait half an hour for your next bus. It can seem like a lifetime…

Well, there is good news!

The Times-Colonist reports that, 4 UVIC engineering students have identified this need and are developing software that predicts, with accuracy, which buses will come within a specific time frame, catching the attention of  both BC Transit and Translink. My Next Bus software tracks buses and displays results on the web or smartphone. It uses GPS and Google Maps and does not require any added features to buses, keeping the costs low. For transit users, the plan is to make this a free app for phones to support the use of transit and increase ridership. Sounds like something Translink and BC Transit should have thought of a while ago… Thankfully there are university students who keep up with technology!

Check out the entire story here. In the meantime, I’ll still be running, frantically.

Before I Die I Want To…

What would you want to do before you die?

This is the question public installation artist, designer and urban planner, Candy Chang posed to residents in a New Orleans neighbourhood in her latest installation “Before I Die”. Chang transformed an old boarded up building into a giant chalkboard and got local residents to write what on the wall all the things they wanted to do before they die. Everyone thinks of death as a morbid subject but, instead this exercise made me reflect on my goals, dreams and aspirations.

Instead of staring blankly out the window on my bus ride home, listening to random tunes on my iPod to drone out the conversations of loud, obnoxious passengers, and whiny children, I started thinking…

Inspire at least one person to make a positive change in their life … Yes, I’m being realistic, just one…

Visit remote areas of the world that many people wouldn’t think of travelling to… Hmm, camel rides across the desert sound exciting…

Go to Montreal and stay long enough to eat everything on the menu at Chuck Hughes’ restaurant, Garde Manger… Lobster poutine with lobster gravy, delicious! (check it out, I bet you’re salivating right now)

While you’re sitting passively on the bus or the Skytrain, check out Chang’s work and give it some thought. I know it got me thinking.

Bus Pants… Necessary or Necessity?

Recently the state of some of the SkyTrain cars in Vancouver has gotten me seriously considering the concept of “Bus Pants”…

What are Bus Pants you ask?

UrbanDictionary.com defines bus pants as, They are pants one wears over one’s regular pants when one sits on bus seats that other people have previously sat on. Or as seen in the following excerpt  from The Big Bang Theory. Season 4, Episode 12: “The Bus Pants Utilization”

Sheldon: All right, I suppose I’ll go put on my bus pants.

Leonard: What the hell are bus pants?

Sheldon: They are pants one wears over one’s regular pants when one sits on bus seats that other people have previously sat on. But perhaps from your lofty heights atop the corporate ladder, you’ve lost touch with the struggles of the common man.

Seriously though, if you don’t think Bus Pants are all that necessary, just read this article from the NY Times on the Bacteria found on seats of the BART trains! Kinda makes me itchy thinking about it…

Inspired by bus driver…

Today I experienced something on the bus that I had never experienced before… a funny, enjoyable and truly helpful bus driver who actually made the 10 minutes I spent on the bus today a joy.  It inspired me to search the internet looking for stories of other bus drivers who take it upon themselves to make the world a better place for their passengers.  This search led me to a story about Christopher Dolan, an opera-singing bus driver from New York City.

His story has given me an idea that can help save the world. If all bus companies would require the road-safe talents of their bus drivers to be displayed during operation (and train those whose only discernible talent is driving a bus to offer more), it would increase ridership, which would decrease congestion and carbon emissions and lower our reliance on fossil fuels. Wow, look at that, my first post and I have solved the world’s energy problems.

Anyways, you can check out the whole story here or a video of Christopher in action below (albeit, not on a bus).