Lessons from the City Bus: Architect pledges week without car

Monday morning

7:05 a.m. – Left the house and had a pleasant walk up Brentwood Avenue. I wasn’t sure, but I thought there was a bench and stop on Seminole by the Brentwood Library.

7:15 a.m. – Arrived at the bus stop by the Brentwood Library. I had the funny feeling I had just missed the bus.

Note to self: Take up City Utilities’ offer “Call Us. We’ll Plan Your Ride.” Cars flew by. Very few had more than one occupant.

7:40 a.m. – Bus arrives, with about a half-dozen riders. I called in to work, and advised that I was running late for an 8 a.m. meeting – I’m on the bus – so they should start without me.

But for the stops, I probably got to the downtown transfer station as quickly – if not more so – than if I had driven my car. I had a brief five-minute walk to work.

Monday afternoon

I decided to call CU to get help planning my ride. After being given five options, I selected No. 3 for schedule information.

The pre-recorded message was extremely general, and did not help to plan my ride. I called back, this time pushed No. 5, and got a live voice. I got precise and detailed information, which will help me catch the bus in the morning at the Brentwood library.

Note to self: Tonight, on the way home, time the walk from the library to home.

Monday evening

5:20 p.m. – Left the office and got to the transfer station at 5:25 p.m. Mighty quiet. Got bus No. 5 at 5:33 and the bus took off two minutes later right on schedule.

These drivers are really helpful. A rider (evidently a newbie, like me) asks the driver how to get to a location that’s served by another bus route.

The driver explains it, and then gets on the phone and asks the other driver to wait at the stop where this passenger will make the transfer. Amazing! The walk from the Brentwood Library to home is less than 10 minutes. That should help with planning tomorrow.

Tuesday morning

Before 7 a.m. – Left the house to make the early bus.

About 7:10 a.m. – The bus arrives, about eight minutes behind schedule. It’s a similar crowd, just different faces. Bus stayed for about 30 seconds at the stop just south of the Lone Pine intersection at Sunshine Street; must have been getting ahead of schedule. I’m feeling good about this. I decide my goal will be to leave my car locked all week.

Tuesday afternoon

I’m supposed to meet someone for lunch at 12:15 p.m. I can walk to lunch – we’re meeting at Harpo’s, a four-block walk that I take often. But today, it’s looking stormy outside. I keep umbrellas in my car. My car is locked at home. Fortunately, there’s a company car available. So just this time, I dash to Harpo’s in a car. Found a parking place a block away. Not bad, but it’s better to walk.

Tuesday evening

I have a 5:45 p.m. meeting with the United Way. I can walk, but I take a company car with the idea that I’ll drive it home (rather than taking a night bus route), drive it to Rotary in the morning, and then come to work. Am I cheating?

Wednesday morning

I go to Rotary, which meets for breakfast at Twin Oaks Country Club, and by coincidence sit with an upper manager of City Utilities. I gush about the bus system, and tease him about not having a route that goes from my house to Twin Oaks. (I later find out I’m way wrong – there are in fact two routes that go past Twin Oaks. They just don’t drive up the lane to the clubhouse.)

As it turns out, the Sergeant at Arms is also at my table, and I am fined for driving a car when I claim I was taking the bus all week. Well, that seals it: I’m cheating.

Wednesday evening

I’m back on the wagon – or literally, back on the bus. These drivers genuinely care about their passengers, and they care about being on time. I’ve heard complaints before – I’ve complained before – about the CU bus drivers’ regard for other drivers, but now that I’m on the bus, I’m grateful for the way they get these buses around on their routes.

Thursday morning

On the way in, the bike rack on the front of the bus (an ingenious idea in its multimodal simplicity) became full, and the driver was unrattled when he came upon a cyclist at the next stop, allowing the rider to bring the bike onto the bus.

I’m getting used to this. Many of my fellow riders may not have a choice of means of transportation, but I do. And this is a viable choice, much more so than I had thought last week. I should do this more often. The rising cost of gas is reason enough to ride the bus, never mind the traffic and environmental issues.

Thursday evening

I have a client presentation out of town, and I ride with two other architects from work. I usually drive my car to these, but I didn’t have it. And both of the company cars were checked out. There is not a lot of leg room in the back seat of those new Mustangs. Trust me on this.

Friday morning

Remember how I wrote about the drivers being on time? On my walk up to the Brentwood Library, I saw the early bus pull into the stop. I’m going to miss it! And fair enough – if I want my transportation to work on my schedule, I need to make other arrangements.

Friday evening

My last trip of the week. This weeklong experiment has been worthwhile. I have been recommending the bus to everyone. It’s not ideal. I had to alter my schedule. I had to plan my day at work more carefully, or just say no at the end of the day if someone at work wanted to meet or just visit. It’s a choice – and I’m glad I have a choice – one that I will choose again as my schedule allows.

I saved some 50 to 60 commuting miles. With a car fuel efficiency of 17 miles per gallon, at $3.30 a gallon, that’s a cost of $11.65 I saved. I rode the bus seven times, spending $5.25, which could have been less if I bought a bus pass for every day. On the other hand, based on my billable rate at work, the extra 20 minutes I had to spend per trip offset those savings by far. It’s a financial toss-up for me. I am keeping my car for now, because I need it enough to keep it.

I get off the bus at Sunset and Glenstone, thanking the driver, who said, “Have a good one.”

Saturday evening post script

My first time to unlock my car in six days. I’m on my way to pick up Chinese food. I start the car – it resists at first, then shudders, coughs out a little bit of smoke, and I’m off.

Tim Rosenbury is a partner of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. He can be reached at trosenbury@brpae.com.