Hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season and will be celebrating the New Year in a fabulous way tonight.

And if you are celebrating the New Year with a few cocktails please remember that drinking and driving sucks and only losers do it.

To help prevent you from being a loser Translink is offering free transit tonight after 5pm until the end of service. Check out the Buzzer Blog for the hours for tonight.

So take advantage of the free service! Even if you’re not going out tonight just take a trip on the bus or Skytrain for fun to say you rode without paying (legally).

Have a happy and safe New Year everyone!

The fact that I caught the same bus on time each morning is not the point of the post, although it was quite the feat.

I used to catch this bus at Sasamat and every morning at McDonald the same guy would get on the bus. Then I’d need switch buses at Granville and he kept on down the line. This guy was very good looking and pretty soon I was obsessed with him. I’d text Lauren and marvel at the wonder that two people would consistently get on the same bus every day and it that it had to be fate. That the bus god’s, recognizing the hell they’d put me through, decided to give me this beautiful piece of eye candy each morning.

Sadly, I was too shy and wasn’t aware of proper bus flirting etiquette. Bus boy (the highly original name I had given him) and I never went beyond my ogling him on our short bus ride each morning. My class eventually ended and I never saw him again.

Except maybe once when I thought I saw him but chalked it up to a caffeine-deprived hallucination.

Sadly, I have no photos to remember him by. I was using a Motorola Razr back then and not only was the photo quality crappy, but also made that annoying clicking sound that let everyone know a photo was being taken and stalking impossible.

I bring this up because there’s an interesting blog out of New York that has amorous young women (and men) taking photo’s of their subway crushes and posting them to the site. You can find it here:

SubwayCrush.net

There are a lot of good-looking men in NYC. And I love the concept! It’s good for those stealthy enough to take the photos without others knowing, something I’m always too shy to do. I’m also more apt to take the photo of an ugly outfit or crazy action.

A sample of what you can find. Redheads have a special place in my heart

It could be seen as creepy or objectifying but I’d like to look at is as a major ego boost to the person posted on the site.

You can also find the London version at TubeCrush

Thoughts? Would you take photos of a good looking guy or gal you see on the bus and have it posted to a site?  Have any personal bus boy/girl crush stories you’d like to tell?

Overall, it’s a great addition to the ever-growing services that Translink provides us. While this may come off as a list of complaints, it’s not. Look at it more like a list of things that could be improved upon. This is a very new feature that I’m sure Translink is aware of the downfalls and is working on it’s improvements.

My biggest disappointment may be that it’s not an actual app, but a website for your mobile web (I hear it’s best on iPhone). Perhaps it was the newspaper articles that were writing it up this way, but I was hoping for it’s own little app. If it were an app maybe we could get GPS capacity? I don’t know much about apps and phones and their capabilities, but I would love if it could locate where I am and tell me which bus is closest to me.

How many times have you been at a corner and had 2 stops to choose from and you’re wondering which one to choose?

If they could locate you, then we’d have a better idea of where to go instead of my ever-present problem of watching the other bus pass by as I wait at the other stop.

Or what about when you’re trying to figure out when your bus is coming and you can’t remember the stop number?

The good people of Translink’s twitter account tell me that they’ll soon have the ability to save stops to your favorites, since right now only the Trip Planning feature can save to your favorites.

If there was a GPS capacity I like to think it could track us down, big brother style, and inform us which bus is coming next and where to grab it.

I’d be willing to pay a couple bucks for an app and it could help pay for the reported $793,000 price tag.

Instead I have to wait until I get to a bus stop, enter the number and watch all the buses that I’ve just missed.

If you haven’t given it a shot I’ll let you know that essentially what we’re working with here is the full Translink website, but in mobile form. The Trip Planning option both on the web and on mobile causes me headaches so I try to avoid it. I mean why does it never understand where I want to go? I usually enter a major landmark or Skytrain station for reference and it still gives me 10 options to choose from, none of which are where I want to go.  Translink has just enabled me to scream at my phone in public instead of my computer at home. I’m glad I get to share that with my fellow commuters.

Overall, I’m happy with the site but hope that it continues to be improved upon.  It works so much better than the old iPhone app, is far easier than trying to navigate the full website on my phone and will hopefully prove to be much more reliable than the text for the next bus system. I’ll just cross my fingers for a bit of big brother style GPS.

Because every girl needs a stalker.

What are your thoughts… love it? Hate it? What would you like to see changed or improved?

For all of you who have ever lamented the lack of seating at bus stops in Vancouver – good news! Now, in three easy steps you can solve your bus stop seating woes forever!

How To: Create a Bigger Bus Stop Bench

DIY: Bus Stop Bench Extension

Step One: Obtain two plastic patio chairs. You can buy them, take them from the side of a road or drag them out of a back alley (which is most likely where the chairs in the example above came from)

Step Two: If you do drag the chairs out of an alley or take them from the side of the road, don’t bother cleaning them. The flecks of dirt and grime on the plastic will help the chairs blend in with the lovely wood grain finish of the existing bench (along with the garbage and cigarette butts under said bench)

Step Three: Place chairs alongside the bench that currently exists at the bus stop.

And there you go – your favourite local bus stop bench has been extended!

*A fun alternative for those who aren’t really ready to commit to something so permanent, is a genius little product commonly referred to as the Backpack Chair.

Enjoy as Lauren demonstrates

It’s important to note that we thought of everyone as we did our photo-shoot.

The number one thing everyone suggested we do while in San Francisco was to take a
ride on the cable cars. As transit enthusiasts we had to give it a shot and report back.

It came highly recommended that we wait until the evening to take the cable cars,
partially because it’s pretty at night with the setting sun, but also because the line’s aren’t
as long.

We arrived at the Powell Street/ Fisherman’s Wharf cable car around 6pm and were faced
with a long line that the cable car guys said would take about 40 minutes before we were
at the front. Luckily we had a Starbucks nearby to get warm drinks and steal internet
from.

It did take longer than the 40 minute wait we were told to expect. We took comfort in the
fact that cable cars were sent away empty, just like our buses. It’s nice to know transit
can frustrate us everywhere and it’s these little things that make anywhere feel like home.

Cable cars allow you to sit down or stand on the edge of the car. When we got to the front
of the line we ran to the car to try and get our standing spots. Lauren’s dreams of standing
were thwarted when a family of 5 pushed her aside to get the spot she was eyeing. Yep,
cable car riders can be just as vicious as Translink riders.

So Lauren sat down while I stood on the edge, holding on for dear life. Or not. It’s not
a fast moving vehicle but it’s quite a cool look at the city as you’re rushing through it
at a speedy 9 miles per hour. The hills may have sped us up a little bit, enough to entice
numerous riders to go “wooooaaaaaaahhhhhh” like they were on some kind of Disney
ride.

To be honest, we almost skipped the cable car. We ended up going on what was one
of the coldest days we were there and we were already pretty tired from a big day of
sightseeing. Waiting in line and paying $6 wasn’t at the top of our list, but we figured we
should do it because cable cars and Alcatraz are all anyone talked about us visiting when
we asked for recommendations of things to do (didn’t do Alcatraz, tours were sold out).

Play it safe.

I’m quite happy we went on the cable car trip. It’s one of those stereotypical things to do
and I don’t think a trip would’ve been complete had we missed out on the two must-do
things in San Francisco.

Sure he looks happy, but he's plotting how he'll get off the bus before the redhead. (via The Buzzer)

Oftentimes we’re left standing on the bus, it can suck but it’s the price we pay. I take a lot of buses that terminate at the stop that I’m getting off at, particularly the Skytrain stations. It’s my firm belief that you file off of the bus with the people standing getting off first. It only makes sense. They’re standing and it’s easiest for them to get off and make rooms for the sitters to get into the aisles.

That being said, people often believe that they can get up and start to make their way to the exit before they reach the stop. This is particularly annoying for the reasons listed below:

• Where the hell do they think they’re going? On a busy bus, where there’s barely room for standee’s to stand, where do you think we’ll find room for you.
• The bus is terminating at that stop. The driver will not leave or shut the doors and lock you in. I promise.
• We’re all getting off. I’ve had to stand and try to balance as the driver takes corners like there’s no one holding on to dear life, I deserve to get off before you.
• A lot of the times you’re old, I fear that you’ll fall and break a hip. Lawsuits against Translink only make me fear higher fare prices to pay for your stupidity.

It’s simple. If you were lucky enough to get a seat, sit back and relax. Let the standers off first. As an added bonus, they get to deal with those weird doors on the new buses that ask you to “touch to open” but basically needed to be pushed a million times before they’ll finally give in.

It’s also time for tourists to start using our transit more frequently and you know what that means…. no change for fare.

The other day I was on the bus when a man got on and asked the driver to break his twenty. Now, I don’t know if he was actually a tourist, but he was oblivious to the ways of the bus. The driver frustratedly told the man that he needed exact change, he was already annoyed at this point because he was about to leave the stop when the man came running up, I guess he wanted to stay 5 minutes ahead of posted schedules to continue screwing over the people.  The passenger then asked the bus of people if they could break a twenty, not uncommon and people are generally willing to pool together some change to help a person with their fare, especially since no one carries enough money around to break twenties anymore. I saw a woman search through her purse and looking for her book of faresavers when the bus driver yelled:

“You can’t ask them that!!”

If the guy didn’t get off the bus at that point I’m pretty sure the bus driver may have pushed him off.

The poor woman had just found her faresavers too.

Now, I don’t know if this is a rule and the driver was enforcing it. I’m not even saying the driver was wrong, I think we’ve all been there were we’ve felt awkward while someone has asked a bus full of people for fare. But we’ve also been on the other end, thinking we’ve got change or our pass only to arrive at the bus stop to discover it’s not at the bottom of your purse where you always keep it.

What to do? Do you offer up your extra faresaver or throw in some change to help a person make their fare? Like I said, no one carries money anymore so it’ll be hard to offer up a ten, a five, 2 toonies and 4 quarters.

What say you Translink Nation:

• Should we try to help people who had the best of intentions (they did plan on paying) by helping pay their fare or offering your faresaver?
• Should we treat this like a hazing ritual for the Translink newbies? They’ll never forget their exact change again! (mwahahahahaha)

I say donate what you can. I don’t carry faresavers, or much change even, but I’d rather help someone get to where they’re going. You don’t know their story or how important it is that they get that bus.

Once they’re on the bus with ticket in hand I’ll commiserate and we’ll dream about a day where debit and all major credit cards are accepted.

To be honest, I am perhaps not the best person to answer this question as I have yet to pick up an eligible bachelor on the bus or skytrain – but I’m pretty sure the answer involves flirting. Although I am far from an expert on the subject, I have been hit on a few times and witnessed a few ‘love connections’ on public transit in my day – and based on how those experiences went, I have learned a thing or two… but I have to admit, the title of this post is slightly misleading, as I am more familiar with how NOT to flirt on public transit.
Regardless, here are a few tips I’d like to share:

1 – Don’t sit down waaaay too close to a girl (or boy for that matter) so that you’re practically sitting on her lap – this is incredibly off-putting even if you’re hot, more so if you’re not (this however, is acceptable if there legitimately isn’t much room to sit).

2 – Don’t then proceed to stay sitting that close even after the person on the other side of you has vacated their seat and you are free to move your ass over an inch or two.

3 – Don’t comment on how the chapstick the girl you’re crammed up against just pulled out of her bag “smells so good.” That’s creepy.

4 – Don’t proceed to then refer to it as “kissable.” That’s creepier.

(yes folks, the above tips are all the result of a recent experience I had – deelightful!)

5 – Do bathe, use deodorant, brush your teeth and generally maintain some sort of personal hygiene routine.

6 – Don’t smell like smoke, booze, BO or urine.

7 – Don’t underestimate the power of simple conversation or a simple smile.

8 – Do try to be approachable when there’s a hottie in sight – it’s pretty hard to flirt with someone who has headphones on or is absorbed in their phone.

9 – Conversely, don’t try to flirt with people who has headphones on or are absorbed in their phone – odds aren’t good that they want to chat.

And my final tip for flirting on public transit is…

10 – do it. (this is just a good tip in general – take note Vancouver boys)

What do you all think? Any tips you can share? Do you think people should even flirt on the bus or sky train – or is it too intrusive to your daily commute?

He totally stole my seat

Is it just me or does anyone else observe a seat hierarchy on the bus or skytrain?

Let me explain… when I get on the train after work there’s generally no seats to be had but within a stop or two some seats will open up. Generally when these seats open up people will point to it and ask others if they want it before sitting down. If someone older, with children or carrying a lot of bags is standing they’re given first rights to the seat.

I always feel like those who have been on the bus/train the longest should get first dibs on the seat and it aggravates me when people will kindly wait for others to get off before they make a move for the seat only to be thwarted by someone just getting on.

I then stew silently. It’s not like I need to sit, in fact I’ll stand a lot of the time because I’ve been sitting at work all day. It’s the principle. I feel like you can’t just waltz on and expect to sit down when others are waiting for that seat, most of who are just adhering to the rules of clearing the area before taking a seat.

So I beg of people, be kind and look around before you get on the bus and take a seat, someone else could be waiting for it.

Is it just me, or does anyone else find this rude and annoying?