All
buses, believe it or not,
run on a schedule. This
schedule is not published
anywhere and I don't know
who makes it up or knows
about it, but it does
exist. I see drivers
periodically filling out
these little cards with
the time and number of
passengers, then hand them
to inspectors along the
route.
I find that to know if I
should wait for the bus or
take a taxi, I count the
number of people at the
bus stop. The more people
tells me the bus is coming
soon. If no one is
waiting, you just missed
it and have to wait for
the next. After a some
time, if no bus has come
by, then it's time for a
taxi.
Oh yes, the route. The
buses are all marked and
if you know the names of
all those places that
there no signs for, well
then you know where you
are heading. If not, enjoy
the ride and the comfort
that this bus will head
back to San Jose, your
point of start, sooner or
later. |
 |
Take
the Ezcazu route. There about 10
or more routes that go from
downtown to all over Ezcazu. If
you take the wrong one you will
end up up the mountain. Then
there is the choice of the 'Pista'
or not. To get to San Jose you
have to pay attention to where
you will land - the 'Coca Cola'
or the 'Mercedes'. Some are
clearly marked.
And, sometimes the routes
changes - that is, the driver
will take a small detour along
the way to fight the traffic or
for reasons that are only known
to him. So, if you intending a
specific stop or location,
better ask the driver.
Over the past year the MOPT has
been busy installing bus stops
all over the metropolitan area.
This job was contracted to a
publicity company who plasters
all the stops with all sorts of
advertising. This is a far cry
from the old system of where, if
you didn't know the bus stop -
the spot where it was a
determined stop - and the driver
wasn't in the mood to stop, you
would be passed by and in
frustration hailed a taxi or
waited for the next.
Ok, so you've decided to take
the bus. You know have a good
idea of the scheduled times and
the route. Boarding and riding a
bus can be an adventure at
times.
First off, you need to aware of
the electronic counter bars,
which replaced the turnstiles. I
still can't figure out how they
work or count who is getting off
or on. I read the warnings signs
about not blocking the bars, the
alarms that go off is you stand
there too long or the driver
telling you to move on, pass
that umbrella over the bars.
Some drivers really get anal
rententive about this, others
don't bother.
I suggest you always carry the
correct change. This gets you to
your seat fast and avoid being
jerked around while the drivers
gets on his way, making change
with one hand, steering and
shifting gears with the other,
dodging traffic, weaving in and
out of tight spots, etc. The
only comfort you can put your
faith to is that the bus is
bigger than any car or
pedestrian that can get in the
way.
 |
Taking
the bus during rush hour
periods - 4:30 to 7 pm -
during the week is an
experience. The lines are
long, traffic is at a
stand still, the bus is
crowded and you better
plan your stop, because if
you don't, you might not
be able to push and shove
your way through the
stuffed sardines ahead and
behind you.
All in all, I like taking
the bus. It gives me a
chance to take in the
sceneries - the street
action - and watch the
faces of the people.
Sometimes, a pretty girl
will sit next to me and my
chance to get into
action. |
My
friends always tell me that I
should meet 'nice' girls!
|
