[muzicgrl]

A crazy homeless guy was on the BART train this morning when I got on. He proceeded to yell out that we were all crazy working for money, that he was too pretty to work for money and he would rather sleep on the streets or deal drugs than work for some fing money over and over again (with more swearing involved). I have never been so happy to switch trains in my life.<br><br>
My other favorite BART story is the day when the little teenager dressed like a hoodlum gets on in front of me and his pants were so baggy that they fell down shile he was getting on the train. Didnt phase him on bit as he grabbed them with one hand (other hand was engaged with a cell phone) and kept walking.<br><br>
Any good public transportaton stories?

 

[runningINnyc]

Rarely does a day go by when there isn't some entertaining act on the subway.<br><br>
I loved when the kids of varying ages stopped their PR campaign to buy candy from them "to support their various sports teams" and started up a new marketing strategy "we're selling the candy to make an honest living, give ourselves some spending cash, stay on the up and up". I guess it was the 35 yr. old looking dudes that ruined the school sports program gig. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[Sputnik]

Not any real good stories.<br><br>
In a similar vein though, Sunday at church a homeless & crazy man who usually begs outside came inside. He proceeds to wander down the main aisle during mass, takes his hat off, & begins to sing at the top of his lungs. The ushers took him out. I was puzzled by the fact that he had the mental wherewithal to know that he should take his hat off.

 

[sistergoldenhair]

In grad school I rode the Metro into DC every day. There was one man who would spend the morning commute going from car to car and singing hymns at the top of his lungs. He was known among riders.<br><br>
It surprised me how polite everyone was to him while he "performed." Most people pretended to ignore him.

 

[Complete Pete]

Just after high school, I had gone out on a pretty serious bender the night before. Took the bus to work (not hung over because I was still drunk) the next morning and vomited all over the place while on the bus.

 

[Buxtehude]

I sat in front of a couple one day on the bus, having an argument.<br><br>
They must've had a weird and dramatic relationship. I can't even describe the conversation. But I walked away pretty sure the woman was unstable/controlling. The man was pretty quiet. She freaked me out. Disturbing.

 

[mmoonptdeux]

I could probably write a book on the carpool stories I've had, but since I'm still riding in those cars, I probably should wait on that <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>
As far as BART, people seem to think I'm just a guy they can just tell their life stories to for some reason. The funniest one was some guy who came to me and gave me his ups and downs of being a ticket scalper at the Oakland Coliseum for the last thirty years or so.<br><br>
Another favorite one was the old lady and the teenager having this discussion. One person that did all the talking had blue streaked hair, cussed up a storm, and talked about all the wild things they were doing, while the other one sat in their spectacles, hands folded on their lap, and just politely listening.<br><br>
Maybe only in this area of the world, but the former was the old lady and the latter was the teenager.

 

[Lintu]

When I was in college, I took the T a lot in Boston. There was always this nice nun there at the station near where I worked, and I'd give her my spare change.<br><br>
Then, early one school year, my mom came for a visit. We went shopping down by where I worked. We go down into the subway and the nun points at me (I was wearing a 1-sleeve tank top...not particularly revealing, but showing all of one shoulder) and screamed "You're the reason our boys are dying in Iraq!" My mom got all up in her face..."don't talk to my daughter that way"...it was hysterical!

 

[wipaddler]

I was riding the RTD to school one hot August day and of course most of the windows were closed because the air conditioning was on damnit.... Any way this lady came on stinking of beer, BO and something else that was gag worthy and was wearing one of those wife beater tank tops with the very open long arm holes, no bra no undies and white cut off... very shortly I may add.... jogging pants that were about 4 sizes to small. Basically there was nothing left to the imagination and she was realativly covered.

 

[runrchk]

No but I wouldn't mind taking public transportation to work. I spend a fortune in gas each month<img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif">

 

[Alternative School Grrl]

Once there was a mentally challenged guy that got on the train in his McDonald's uniform. He told me very slowly several times that it was "Quality, not quantity."<br><br>
And then there was the mentally challenged Jewish rapper kid named Moshe. I still get e-mail from him.<br><br>
Then the last time I rode the train, there was a drunk black lady who was trying to convince an unstable man that he was not insane, he just enjoyed doing his own thing.

 

[runrchk]

You gave him your email address??

 

[muzicgrl]

I spend a fortune in both. Public transportation costs me about $8 a day (and requires 8 miles of bike riding) and takes me almost 2 hours to get home so I dont do it every day.

 

[maccabeth]

$8?? How much is a ticket?? Ours is $1.75 each way here in Atlanta.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

Also,<br>
UNless they changed it since I rode it, you can buy monthly passes too for like $40.<br><br>
It still takes a couple hours for what takes less than half an hour by car in a lot of cases though, if you have to leave the train system to get to your destination

 

[maccabeth]

Yes you can still get monthly passes. It's good if you are going during high traffic times to somewhere that is next to (or only a few blocks away from) the station. Such as the hockey games! Or a concert! It's annoying to have to drive 20+ mins to the closest station, though.

 

[bethebunny]

I used to take the San Diego trolley to Downtown for work. Early on, there was one ride home where a guy sitting across from me started up a conversation, which led to him touching my knee (I was wearing a skirt - my knees were bare), which led to him leaning towards me and putting his cup behind my back and telling me not to move. Then the trolley cop walked by - after he was gone, the dude retrieved his cup and explained it was vodka.<br><br>
Last time I wore a skirt on the trolley.

 

[muzicgrl]

Its based upon how far you go. If I get off 4 stops early and ride my bike further (which I sometimes do) its cheaper.

 

[witchypoo]

i was a regular on the MBTA red line for years and years, and got to know the people who rode from one end to the other... we never spoke, but we all recognized each other.<br><br>
i have a hungarian field officer's coat from the early 60s... it's a brownish olive drab, worsted wool, winter coat. with red and gold epaulets, red collar patches, and gold piping. it's not necessarily the most attractive jacket, but it's very warm, and very long, and very comfy on a cold fuckin' day.<br><br>
some guy on the last train of the evening sat down across from me, and stared at me in my coat. i had on a red watch cap, and big mittens, along with a pair of doc martens... which apparently really irked this guy, 'cause he started muttering under his breath, staring at me, making obscene gestures, growing more and more agitated... until he stood up and blasted me in the face with "you fuckin' nazi! in your fuckin' nazi jacket!"<br><br>
emboldened by the fact that a) i'd already had my day's fill of horseshit from the people at the library, b) i knew everyone on the train, and c) he was obviously terrified of me... i stood up, leaned directly into his face, just touching the tip of his nose with mine, and said, "it's not a fuckin' nazi jacket. it's a fuckin' commie jacket."<br><br>
he fled. he ran to the opposite end of the train, and jetted from the thing the minute we got to the next station.<br><br>
much to the amusement of everyone sitting nearby.

 

[maccabeth]

That's a great story!<br><br>
Weirdest thing that ever happened to me on public transport was in Paris last year. Early on a Sunday morning (like 6?) in my running gear- spandex shorts/tech shirt- goign to the park by myself. I'm very very familiar with Paris and the metro so I don't get scared. However, the train was sorta empty and a (non French foreigner) guy sat next to me in my row. He had a jacket across his lap. OK, weird, but whatever, right?<br>
Heh, about 2 mins later, I realized he was slowly moving his right hand across his lap and moving his hand towards my inner thigh! I felt it and just smacked him, punched him in the shoulder and slammed my fist down on his arm! I got up and moved, without either of us saying a word. I didn't move trains (since I knew I could kick his ass regardless) and he got off the next stop! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">