I Don’t Know If I Can Handle This Bus Ride
*** WARNING *** LOOOONG POST- but I had to document this if only for me
Today I had what was a mixture of the bus ride from Hell, and mildly amusing. Today was first time I had put in 8 hours by 3:15 so I leave to bus stop and find about 150 of what I’m pretty sure were 9th graders who had obviously just gotten out of school. The bus stop is in front of a parking lot for 7-Eleven and Baskin-Robbins, so there’s the assorted skateboard antics, shit talking, flat out hitting, and drum playing- more on that.
Whe a bus arrived it stopped 30 feet short of bus stop and a crowd swarmed there but many didn’t, including me. The 720 line runs about every 6 min so I decided to wait thinking I could be at front of pack and get a seat. Didn’t happen- kids pushed so much it was like a mosh pit. I really should have just taken control and pushed my way on, but I would have felt like an ass.
The 720 Rapid is an articulated bus meaning it basically 2 buses put together with a hinge in the middle. There appears to be no shock abosbers on any of them, but they can haul ass and 2 out 3 drivers had so far. I was sitting down and had to hold on the headrest in front of me to avoid falling into the aisle.
However, today was the slow(er) driver. I had to stand up 80% of way, and was in awkward position to hold anything so I kind of had to assume a surfing stance so I did fly into someone.
Unfortunately I was standing in the middle of 6 little punk Koreans that were fun-fighting back and forth around me. “Little Drummer Boy” with his drumsticks was alternately hitting his friends backpack and pretending he could play by hitting the steel supports.
About 10 feet back, there is a young couple sitting on ground by door and making out- for about 30 minutes.
At about the 45 minute mark in the ride, I ask one of the kids what school they go to- it must be a great private school. He says University High School and that its public and they let out at 3:04. Wow was I shocked- this is real “busing” for sure (and I’m going to rethink my exit time).
It’s funny how the bus empties out as you first hit Koreatown and then Alvarado St.- honestly, by the time we were crossing the 110 freeway I could have layed across 3 seats it was so empty.
Faxing over some numchucks and pepper spray for your ride home!
October 1st, 2009 at 8:56 amwe took the 720 home from the LA Times Festival of Books and were standing most of the way.. they really do haul!! I thought my knees were going to give out.. got serious air time!
October 1st, 2009 at 9:03 amLOL Rich- the “drummer boy” and his posse got on my bus GOING to work- it turns out school hours are about same as my work hours- damn it! Tonite I waited until 3:45 to leave work and actually got a seat on the bus. Too bad it is hot college students
Pamela- those 720s FLY- seriously I couldn’t drive much faster as traffic is bad both ways. I hope you are SeanYoda are doing well…
October 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pmWelcome to my world! ;->
When you think you’re up for it, try sitting in on my 5th period World History class with 38 fifteen year old kids coming in out of their lunch break.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 amHey Dennis, not 15 year olds- now if you were teaching college I’d come in and be a guest lecturer
Honestly, I’m considering a vasectomy after the past few days.
Seriously though, is there really “busing” in LAUSD? There has to be public schools near Koreatown. Riding a bus 45+ min to go to a public school seems terrible.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 pmParents often game the system to send their children to particular schools by giving the address of a family member that actually lives in the desired school’s attendance zone. These kid’s parents are aware of University High School’s reputation for being a strong public high school and probably played the game in order to send them past Los Angeles High School(where mid-city students normally attend) in order to send them to an LAUSD campus on the West Side.
Technically speaking, its not “school busing” if the kids are not riding in a yellow school bus provided by the school district. LAUSD does bus some students, like those in Magnet and Special Education programs but those teenagers you are riding with are just city kids who take public transit to school. MTA offers a monthly pass at a discounted price to students to encourage this usage.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pmThanks for your knowledgable answer, as usual, Dennis.
Oh, I know people that use different addresses to get kids in better public school (or colleges which I experienced- so you can pay in-state when you are not).
But I swear there are about 150 kids at bus stop at 3:15pm in 7-Eleven parking lot- I guess that’s probably only 5% of school but WOW it screws up public transit for about 30 minutes.
I’m lucky in a.m. because when I get on at 5th and Broadway I can usually find a seat- coming home it sucks standing up elbow-to-ass for 1 hour on a rocking bus.
This morning I took the “wrong” 720- I didn’t know but there are two- one ends at Westwood and one goes to Santa Monica. So I get kicked off at Westwood and wait for next 720- it’s packed with kids but I think bus driver felt sorry for “the guy with the tie” and let me on and stand right by windshield. He left many people behind. I guess I should be happy these kids are putting up with a commute I hate just to get a good HIGH SCHOOL education.
I almost miss my 4:30am commute but I can’t get to this gig that early.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 pm