I see this a lot as I await the bus. However, there is something missing in this scene that the image cannot convey, the sound. The noise pollution from traffic is quite loud with a variety of sounds, we just seldom hear them while in our cars. Sit at a bus stop and you will understand how deafening it can be. You will hear tires on the pavement, cars accelerating, squealing fan belts, loud mufflers, loud stereos, sirens, honking and an occasional swearword.
While waiting at the bus stop I met a woman who has not had a car for the past 15 months. Guessing we are about the same age as she bought one of the senior yearly passes. She takes the bus to and from work. She has a pull cart she uses on the bus for grocery shopping. She also does some shopping online, including groceries. She also told me of a service she uses called UBER. There are places in town where it may require changing buses to your destination as many as three times. The drivers are locals who sign up to drive people to locations using their own vehicles. It uses a free app to get a driver. So, this is an interesting concept. I am also intrigued in maybe being a driver.
6 Comments
Cedric Canard
What a cool photo Monte. I like the wheel pattern which looks like some kind of weave, and the empty cycle lane kind of makes a statement too.
UBER is a pretty good service, something the taxi companies should have provided years ago if they’d been smart. Now they just try and sue UBER or lobby governments to make them illegal. So much for competition. Anyway, as good as the service is, it would be interesting to know how much the drivers make. Hopefully it’s more than what regular taxi drivers make which, in Australia, is a pittance.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Cedric. The wheel pattern was the attraction of this image for me. I was playing around while waiting on the bus.
I am planning on using this UBER and then grilling the drivers for information. I’m thinking a few hours a week of my time could pay to the cost of having a car. 🙂
Steve Skinner
Monte, you have really captured the feel of the traffic’s never ending pace.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Steve! It shows how images do appear when we are prepared and open to them.
Tom Dills
I agree with the others that this is a fine representation of the sights of the bus stop and that necessarily excluding the sounds leaves out a large portion of the experience. It is still a fine photograph.
I’d love to be able to give up the car, or at least park it with the exception of out of town travel. We have Uber here and I’ve actually used it once. It would be ideal for those occasional situations where you needed to get somewhere that the bus doesn’t go or at a time when the bus doesn’t work.
I know a few guys who drive for Uber, and the money depends greatly on the location, like most things.
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Tom. I loaded the app on my phone and signed up. We’ll see this all leads me.