Are You on the Bus?

To the editors:

I have a fantasy that Milwaukee’s bus service will someday improve. That rich and poor of all ages and colors will hop aboard a metro bus eventually.

Currently, the ridership seems to be poor, minority, the aged and students. (Half the city residents are carless.) Few captains of industry, people of affluence, CEOs or civic movers and shakers ride a bus. In some ways, I can’t blame them.

There is no bus etiquette anymore. Seats were once given up to the elderly or handicapped immediately. Today, it is a stall, a quick glance away… Once you were entitled to a seat; today people commandeer two seats or more… Women used to board first; that was a courtesy. Now it’s everyone for himself…. Today conversation is not muted or modulated. Oh, no, it’s shouted. Yelled and bellowed…. Then we have cell phones. Again, nothing private…. Did I mention language? It’s often foul, coarse, disgusting. In general, there is little civility or politeness.

On most buses, many unfortunates ride – druggies, ex-cons, people with mental disorders, crazies – all manner of dysfunctional individuals. Food is forbidden on board, the signs say. …[but] often your shoes get stuck on a spilled beverage. Litter and remnants of lunches and fast food abound….Years ago rides were smoother, not so jerky. Now the bus careens, swerves, bounces – so do the riders….Sometimes it’s like a bus-jockey derby, with drivers apparently vying to see how many elderly they can knock off balance via abrupt braking and sharp acceleration.

Admittedly, this is a rather harsh view of traveling by bus in Milwaukee. It’s not always so stark. Many riders are pleasant, helpful, polite. As are some drivers. Riding a bus is convenient, relatively easy and cheap, and frees up time to read, listen to music or just dream.

What I propose could change the very culture of the city. It is this: that all people, from all walks of life, take it upon themselves to ride a bus. If not every day, at least several times a week. Revolutionary, huh? If we see this venture as one of civic responsibility, an opportunity, we can all contribute to a rebirth of trust and friendliness. It will boost civic pride and offer a safer, more efficient riding experience.

Most of us want to see our city succeed, improve its image, erase hostility. We want it to be more cosmopolitan, more sophisticated. Riding a bus can help attain that goal because it reduces class envy and breaks down social barriers. Moreover, it teaches public behavior by example.

It makes everyone safer. The more people out on the street at night, in café or theatre, on a bus, the safer our environment becomes. We know that crime often occurs in isolation, in a vacuum. Groups riding buses can help dispel that factor.

Millions are spent each year trying to discover the origins of our social problems, urban frustration and anger. We need to rethink this dilemma. Getting people exposed to mass transit is a novel, cheap way to start. We don’t need billions to ease the problem. What we do need are leaders with vision and imagination. We need examples set, role models in action.

Currently, billions are set to construct more and bigger freeways in the metro area. Freeways are no answer in bringing urban areas together. Efficient mass transit, however, can. And will.

James A. Henderson

Riverwest Currents - Volume 1 - Issue 8 - September 2002