I haven’t been on public transit in over a year! I had no idea that my bus ride home on December 20, 2019 would be my last for a long time.
When I got off the bus, I felt better than I had in a long time. Then a few hours later, I slipped in the bathroom overnight and broke my ankle. I didn’t take transit back to work on Monday as planned and instead, I got a walking boot and crutches. My recovery was close to what my hot doctor expected. I worked from home in the winter due to stairs in the office and then returned to the studio in March.
I signed up for Wheel-Trans, which translated to scheduled rides in the morning and evening. Most of them were cab rides, which was kind of like Uber Pool with old people, plus me. (Just kidding!) Originally, I expected those Wheel-Trans rides to be a transition back to taking the bus and subway when I felt more confident; however, that wasn’t the case due to the pandemic. By the time I healed, I went back to working from home and it has seemed unsafe to take public transit ever since. I have mostly been in and out of my mom’s car, except for the odd Uber or Lyft ride.
How Avoiding Public Transit Changed My Life
I run into people I know less often. Going out less often during the pandemic decreases the chances of random run-ins overall. A lot of those run-ins took place on public transit. People you haven’t seen in ages are thrilled to see you and you both have time to kill, so you catch up. Don’t you miss taking out your headphones for impromptu small talk?
I talk to some co-workers less often. I’ve been making friends on the bus for as long as I can remember – from camp to school to work. No matter where we met, we often talked more on the bus than we did during the day due to different schedules, classes or teams. The bus brought us together, which means we wouldn’t have become friends otherwise! Sometimes I also walked to the subway station with a co-worker headed in the same direction who didn’t even take transit. It was simply an easy way to catch up and get exercise at the same time. This year, there has been none of that, which feels like a loss. With the prospect of working from home long-term, it’s interesting to consider the social role that transportation plays.
I listen to music less often. Previously, I listened to Spotify for over 2 hours per day coming and going from work. The chance to download music offline was what convinced me to upgrade to Spotify Premium. Sure, I’d get sick of the same songs sometimes, but I could add to my playlists anytime. I decided to keep my subscription to enhance my walks and overall mood, but it’s still something I’m cognizant of. On the flip side, listening to music above ground gives me a chance to discover and save more music!
Finally, if you’re not talking to people you know on purpose or by chance, then of course you’re also less likely to talk to new people on public transit. Last year, I assigned the nickname Subway Boy to a guy I met on the subway. I recognized him from dating apps, so I knew his name when I saw him. Well, he abruptly ended our conversation after I introduced myself and then he became the boy who rejected me on the subway, hence the nickname Subway Boy. Not only that, but I saw him at least twice more within a few weeks, which became awkward. Now that I haven’t taken transit in a year, I have no more stories like that.
Although I don’t miss my commute, the noticeable absence of public transit in my daily life is worth mentioning. It’s still possible to run into people while grocery shopping (hence the wardrobe dilemma), keep in touch with coworkers online and maximize my Spotify subscription, but it’s not the same.
Have you taken public transit during the pandemic? If not, is there anything you miss about it? Let me know!