Throw Me INTO the Bus

As my loyal readers know, I quit driving and gave up the car almost 2 years ago. Since then, Dave and I have relied on our powerchairs, and on the Senior/Disability bus to get around. That is all about to change.

I never rode a bus unless it was going on a school field trip. But last Thursday, we took a class given by the Riverside Transit Agency, to teach us how to navigate the city on the regular bus routes.

I have been terrified that if I got ON the bus, and went somewhere, I would never get back on the right bus to get me home, and I would be lost...wandering the city forever, at the mercy of all the no-good-nicks, and the things that go bump after dark.

But now, with the help of this class, Dave and I can greatly expand our world. Oh, we could go wherever we wanted to , within the city, but we had to schedule a senior bus 2 days in advance, and pay $2 each way, per person. Kinda takes the fun out of a trip to WalMart when you have to pay $8 just to get there and back.

Now,. we can go right outside the gate to our complex, get on the #13W bus, and be at WalMart in about 30 minutes. And that bus will even kneel down to let us ride our chairs up on it.

 We have one more class, and that will be to take an actual ride somewhere in the city. (We rode an Out Of Service bus for the first class.) We all agreed that we would meet bright and early and go to Norm's for breakfast. Then we will either all ride home together, or we can break off and come home on our own. That's what Dave and I plan to do. We'll cross the street and go to Michael's, and then go down the street to the mall, and catch the bus for home there. We will also be given a free 30 day pass that day.

I now feel so confident that I can do this bus thing, that I agreed to be the 'ambassador' of our class. All I have to do is arrange a bus trip with at least one other person (Dave counts) at least once a month, and they will continue to  renew my pass for free. I can do that. Dave's pass will cost him $16 a month for a senior resident. Unlimited use.

I'm so excited to finish this class tomorrow. I've already had two of my friends ask me to take them with me on a bus ride. I can't wait to go to some of the places I've missed the past two years. I feel like we've regained some of the independence we lost when we gave up the car.

Wish me luck!!!