Winter is my absolute favorite time of year to ride the bus anywhere that gets below 40 degrees (F)! I’m even more thrilled to let someone else chauffeur me around town when it snows like it did in Iowa last week. So as the year comes to an end, and it’s most definitely winter weather time, I thought I’d share my reasons and some winter busing tips.
Why Winter Busing is awesome:
- I don’t have to drive with people who suck at driving even more with bad road conditions.
- The bus is nice and toasty.
- I don’t have to dig my car out to go to work and again to go home.
- I’m not worried about someone running into the bus.
- Total time spent in the cold each day (minus walking to lunch) = ~5 minutes
- The buses don’t quit when the weather gets tough. Although I suppose this could be a negative if you like excuses to not go in to work.
Tips for Winter Busing:
- Wear tall boots for scaling snow piles until they’re cleared.
- A sturdy bag to carry normal shoes in. Also remember to grab the bag or you get to wear your boots all day.
- Might want to include “nice looking” in #1 in case you forget your shoes like I tend to do.
- Bring tissues if your nose leaks like mine going between hot and cold temps.
- Use the front door whenever possible, so you don’t exit directly into a snow bank.
- Don’t sit across from a door. The bus is warm, but the wind can be quite brisk when the doors open.
Do you have any other bus benefits you love during the winter? Or any tips you’ve learned? Please share in the comments, I’d love to hear!
Tags: tips, Transit experience
2009-12-21 at 5:42 pm |
Two reasons I enjoy taking the bus to work. First I don’t enjoy listening to the noises my car makes on cold days, I’m allowed to complain in the morning, my car isn’t. Second (and this applies year round), it’s the greatest excuse to avoid being roped into staying late when you didn’t plan on it.
2009-12-22 at 8:23 am |
That’s a great way to look at the current transit end time in Cedar Rapids. Defining your work time around the bus schedule is one of the (few) “perks” since service ends early.
2009-12-22 at 1:47 pm |
I take the bus in Wisconsin. Another tip – if your buses have a higher and lower level, sit in the higher level and your feet won’t get so cold when the bus stops for pick ups/drop offs or if the driver keeps the temp. low.