h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Rise and Fall of Transit

Posted Apr 8, 2000

I suspect that there are many aspects of transit systems around the Earth that are abused, but the one that immediately springs to mind in my part of the planet is the Bus Stop.

Perhaps a brief explanation is in order. Bus transit operates a series of bus stops, many of which are covered, or have these nifty little blue shelters standing by. Of course, the stop I normally take does not have one of these handy elements, but the stop on the other side of the road does. As you can probably imagine, this has resulted in a series of encounters where I stand in the rain (who wants to sit on a half demolished wooden bench....) and another individual, haivng taken the time to sort out their karma before heading out, has the covered bus stop....and the presence of mind to bring an umbrella.

Taking this matter one step further, the company that maintains these little blue spots of Utopia has responded to my requests into the matter in the most amusingly depressing manner. They claim that a) the land my cheerful once-green bench inhabits is owned by a person or person(s) with whom they have no legally binding contract and b) there are large trees overhead that should stop, or at least slow the flow of water from the heavens and c) the majority of people heading to work cannot properly read signage or other advertising placed on my side of the road on their path to work.

My question is: What do they see when they come home?

My request for the Deity of the Day is: Send bus soon! (SBS)

Everett

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Latest reply: Apr 8, 2000