Yesterday while sitting in the surprisingly brief traffic on 395 South, I caught a Metro bus breezing by out of the corner of my eye in the HOV lanes. I’m not sure why I felt compelled to watch it, but I’m glad I did because otherwise I would’ve missed it bursting into a smoky cloud. No sooner had it passed me did smoke start billowing out of the back, as if it had blown an engine.
What was strange about it is that the driver seemingly didn’t notice right away, as he kept on cruising for a good 300 meters more before his hazard lights came on and he started pulling over to the right. At the time I was stopped, but as I inched closer the smoke cloud was still rising. I used my cell phone to take a picture just as traffic began to pick up.
For a moment I thought I was glad to not be riding public transportation, and that bus in particular. Sure, I felt bad for the people on the bus who would undoubtedly have to wait who knows how long for another bus to come along with enough room on it to accommodate passengers in the evening rush, but I also felt good about my continued decision to drive in to work every day (at least for the next week.) Then it hit me. Fuck. I’m going to be a lot more likely to ride public transportation once I become all citified. That may be, I-66’s Sudden Realization, but that doesn’t mean I have to ride the bus.
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Well, you won’t have to ride the bus for your commute, thankfully. I never could understand the brave souls who take the bus. Mostly because the bus schedules scare the crap out of me.
Yes. It’s safe to say that I’m walking to work no matter whether it’s raining or snowing or blazing hot outside.
I’ve been taking the city bus to and from work (except when the weather is nice, in which case I walk) for two years. The key to a happy bus commute is to forget about those schedules entirely–just prepare to wait. As long as you can be zen about that, it’s actually a pretty pleasant way to travel (WAY better than the crowded subway). Then again, none of my buses have ever spontaneously combusted.
Combusted! That’s the word I was looking for! Well, I still harbor ill will towards metro as a whole, so you can imagine what seeing that did for me.
I haven’t ridden a bus in years, but back when I did take the bus, I remember long waits in pre-dawn polar chill, or that solid week of rain one September.
I was just talking about this to someone the other day. We were in the car and saw a woman waiting by a bus stop: inclement weather…she looked miserable, and I said, “I haven’t forgotten that feeling.” My friend said, “Yeah..and everyone driving by sees you and knows you are miserable.” Plus you are breathing in exhaust fumes and dealing with the occasional nutjob that decides to set the stop on fire (as I saw one night on Columbia Road), watching Fire Happy dance with glee around the flaming kiosk, or Mr. I’ve Got Time and My Penis on My Hands: the man who used to masturbate on North Capitol Street waving at the cars (free hand.) I do not miss buses.
If my blog wasn’t rated R before, it definitely is now.
You know me, 66′r. Reporting from the streets.
Yes. You are indeed a lady of the streets.
I used to ride the band bus when I was in the marching band. ’nuff said.
I don’t know what that is supposed to say about you. I can think of a few things, but I don’t know if any of them are accurate…
I used to take the Omni ride from woodbridge to dc……….it always blew an engine………..I hate buses.
I was previously unaware that they had buses in the Bridge.
Can I get a BADDA BING heah?
I thought I saw you on The Sopranos…
As an unintentional bus aficionado, I can tell you for a fact that DC buses suck. Actually, all city buses general suck everywhere. The solution? Bike commuting! Tightness! (Literally, your ass will become super tight.)
You say that as if mine isn’t already.
I was not Big Pussy, 66.
Now THAT guarantees you an “X” rating. :::heading back over to Velvet’s blog for some safety:::
You are not safe from me!
Asstastic!
Yup, that pretty much says it all.
actually the Circulator isn’t too bad just stay off the X2 that one is scary