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plunkybugI haven't really talked too much about my car or my transportation situation much in the last year, and from time to time I have thought about writing a post about it, and my experiences...but I never got around to doing it. So, here it is, a much overdue post.
As you all may or may not recall, I got a car last year, early summer. I had a car before then, but the transmission and master cylinder went out, and it was far more expensive to fix in my opinion, so as I was now working so close to home, the bus was just fine. The car last year was sort of a fluke, and I admit I felt pressure from a lot of sources to get it, so I worked out a deal with a friend to get it because I did not have the resources to pay the whole thing all at once. Anyhow, longer story not as long, the timing belt went out on it, taking the pins and valves with it, slightly less than 2 months after I bought it. The repair was $2000. Remember that I only paid $1200 for the car to begin with. I was already sick of the car by then, because of my history with cars. I just did not want to deal with it, and I have been taking the bus pretty much since about a week after I bought the car.
I have been taking it to work fairly regularly since late summer of 2005...August maybe? It took a lot of courage for me to start taking the bus, because in this town, cars rule. The public transportation system, outside of downtown Orlando, is a bit lackluster by comparison to the busses I have taken in other cities...LA, NYC, London, and Vancouver. For starters, many of the routes only run once an hour, and the bus is rarely full. More often than not, I am the only person at my stop. Having ridden in those other cities, there is quite a difference. Also, I am very concerned about my personal safety. I know this comes as no surprise, but I am a very petite person, and I feel scared walking around the busy streets, standing at the stop on my own, and waiting there for the bus. Being on the bus doesn't scare me as much as being a target on the side of the road does. I have to say that I regularly get honks, hoots, and hollers. On the one hand, this is flattering to someone who feels a little self conscious about their current figure as I do, but...it is also a bit creepy to me as well. This is the primary reason I want to pursue some form of martial arts. I want to be able to kick some ass. :P
Over the last year, I have become more familiar with the bus, and have found that I am more comfortable taking it more places. But I am picky about that. I have no problem taking the #9 up to work, the #1 up to my doctor of the mall, or the #39 up to see Kristen and the urchins. :p On a few occasions, I have taken the bus to other places, like to get my hair cut or to Old Navy or what not. But again, I *am* picky. I have to be in, or going to, an area that I deem is safe, or fairly safe, and I almost always need to be out in daylight. Being outside alone, or walking outside alone at night can give me the willies. I am even doing more walking as a result. I have walked to and from the plaza with the Copper Rocket Pub, the Winter Park Village and the Kmart plaza, each of which are about 10-15 minute walks. I have also done longer walks, going closer to 20 or 30 minutes. So that is good, I think.
Now, up til the last week and a half, I have only taken the bus to work, and gotten rides home from Chas, or other co-workers as needed. The area I work in is sort of bordered by a poorer area, and having campaigned there with Chas and others in that area a few years ago, I was warned not to be on my own around there. So naturally, the area, and the darkness, were both put offs for me taking the bus home after work, as I get off work about 7:30pm each night. It used to be 9:30pm, so Daylight Savings Time did not really affect it. I was VERY scared to stand out there. But it IS still somewhat light outside now. So, I sucked it up, and tried taking the bus home. And...I survived. So far.
Tonight was scary. See, the the bus stop I take in the morning is on the side of a major highway, and I can stand on the sidewalk. The stop I get off at has a sidewalk with a nice little tree lined path even if it is not on a major highway. However, the stop to go home "on the other side of the road" is not nearly as nice or as comfortable. There is no sidewalk there, and the curb slopes down into a ravine. Really, there is not much standing room. A little further up the road there is an apartment complex entrance which is paved and flat, and goes a little way off the road. I think, after tonight's harrowing adventure, I am going to wait there from now on. So, back to tonight, at long last.
It is dusk, the twilight hour, whatever you want to call it. It is light enough for me to feel comfortable out there, but just barely. I see the bus coming down the road, and it is going so fast, it looks like it is going to pass me. But it doesn't. Well, it does, but not completely. Instead, it slows down very quickly and swerves a little and overshoots me, stopping partly on the grass. The. Same. Grass. I. Am. Standing. On. As it went by me, getting closer to the grass from the road, I swear it was no more than a few inches, maybe 6 at the most. I felt the wind of this mammoth vehicle pushing me backwards, and I frantically grasped for the pole with the bus logo and route info so I wouldn't fall back into the ravine. I ran up to the front of the bus, kind of frazzled, and the bus driver is this old guy, who has the nerve to ask ME to flail my arms or something next time so he can see me.
Anyhow, I am still a little freaked out by this incident. I guess I will have to wait at the area just a little further up, but I feel it is demeaning for me to wave my arms or something. That stop is just so not safe.
But after it all, shaken not stirred, here I am.
As you all may or may not recall, I got a car last year, early summer. I had a car before then, but the transmission and master cylinder went out, and it was far more expensive to fix in my opinion, so as I was now working so close to home, the bus was just fine. The car last year was sort of a fluke, and I admit I felt pressure from a lot of sources to get it, so I worked out a deal with a friend to get it because I did not have the resources to pay the whole thing all at once. Anyhow, longer story not as long, the timing belt went out on it, taking the pins and valves with it, slightly less than 2 months after I bought it. The repair was $2000. Remember that I only paid $1200 for the car to begin with. I was already sick of the car by then, because of my history with cars. I just did not want to deal with it, and I have been taking the bus pretty much since about a week after I bought the car.
I have been taking it to work fairly regularly since late summer of 2005...August maybe? It took a lot of courage for me to start taking the bus, because in this town, cars rule. The public transportation system, outside of downtown Orlando, is a bit lackluster by comparison to the busses I have taken in other cities...LA, NYC, London, and Vancouver. For starters, many of the routes only run once an hour, and the bus is rarely full. More often than not, I am the only person at my stop. Having ridden in those other cities, there is quite a difference. Also, I am very concerned about my personal safety. I know this comes as no surprise, but I am a very petite person, and I feel scared walking around the busy streets, standing at the stop on my own, and waiting there for the bus. Being on the bus doesn't scare me as much as being a target on the side of the road does. I have to say that I regularly get honks, hoots, and hollers. On the one hand, this is flattering to someone who feels a little self conscious about their current figure as I do, but...it is also a bit creepy to me as well. This is the primary reason I want to pursue some form of martial arts. I want to be able to kick some ass. :P
Over the last year, I have become more familiar with the bus, and have found that I am more comfortable taking it more places. But I am picky about that. I have no problem taking the #9 up to work, the #1 up to my doctor of the mall, or the #39 up to see Kristen and the urchins. :p On a few occasions, I have taken the bus to other places, like to get my hair cut or to Old Navy or what not. But again, I *am* picky. I have to be in, or going to, an area that I deem is safe, or fairly safe, and I almost always need to be out in daylight. Being outside alone, or walking outside alone at night can give me the willies. I am even doing more walking as a result. I have walked to and from the plaza with the Copper Rocket Pub, the Winter Park Village and the Kmart plaza, each of which are about 10-15 minute walks. I have also done longer walks, going closer to 20 or 30 minutes. So that is good, I think.
Now, up til the last week and a half, I have only taken the bus to work, and gotten rides home from Chas, or other co-workers as needed. The area I work in is sort of bordered by a poorer area, and having campaigned there with Chas and others in that area a few years ago, I was warned not to be on my own around there. So naturally, the area, and the darkness, were both put offs for me taking the bus home after work, as I get off work about 7:30pm each night. It used to be 9:30pm, so Daylight Savings Time did not really affect it. I was VERY scared to stand out there. But it IS still somewhat light outside now. So, I sucked it up, and tried taking the bus home. And...I survived. So far.
Tonight was scary. See, the the bus stop I take in the morning is on the side of a major highway, and I can stand on the sidewalk. The stop I get off at has a sidewalk with a nice little tree lined path even if it is not on a major highway. However, the stop to go home "on the other side of the road" is not nearly as nice or as comfortable. There is no sidewalk there, and the curb slopes down into a ravine. Really, there is not much standing room. A little further up the road there is an apartment complex entrance which is paved and flat, and goes a little way off the road. I think, after tonight's harrowing adventure, I am going to wait there from now on. So, back to tonight, at long last.
It is dusk, the twilight hour, whatever you want to call it. It is light enough for me to feel comfortable out there, but just barely. I see the bus coming down the road, and it is going so fast, it looks like it is going to pass me. But it doesn't. Well, it does, but not completely. Instead, it slows down very quickly and swerves a little and overshoots me, stopping partly on the grass. The. Same. Grass. I. Am. Standing. On. As it went by me, getting closer to the grass from the road, I swear it was no more than a few inches, maybe 6 at the most. I felt the wind of this mammoth vehicle pushing me backwards, and I frantically grasped for the pole with the bus logo and route info so I wouldn't fall back into the ravine. I ran up to the front of the bus, kind of frazzled, and the bus driver is this old guy, who has the nerve to ask ME to flail my arms or something next time so he can see me.
Anyhow, I am still a little freaked out by this incident. I guess I will have to wait at the area just a little further up, but I feel it is demeaning for me to wave my arms or something. That stop is just so not safe.
But after it all, shaken not stirred, here I am.
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no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2007 05:44 (UTC)no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2007 06:02 (UTC)no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2007 07:14 (UTC)I am SOOOOOO glad that HERE YOU ARE.
Sorry for such a scare.
{{{{{{{{{{PB}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2007 13:31 (UTC)no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2007 16:35 (UTC)no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2007 16:57 (UTC)I am SO GLAD that you are okay!
no subject
Date: 24 Mar 2007 01:57 (UTC)no subject
Date: 24 Mar 2007 01:50 (UTC)