Bus Route Envy

Bus Route Envy

After spending a little time brainstorming on topics for RNeighbors blogging, I thought about bus culture and wondered what goes on in some of Rochester’s city buses. I mentioned this to my book group and discovered that, indeed, some of these women had some stories to tell. That week, I made a sketchy plan in my head regarding when I might ride one of these buses and how frequently, picturing myself with a steno pad and pen and having a keen sense of reflective observation. Well, this plan went by the wayside when one of my friends from the book group called me with a scoop. Apparently, a woman she’d met is a regular on a city bus and this bus rider already has a plan to write a one act play in the near future about her experience. Aha! This sounded interesting.

Her name is Barbara Sorensen and she is a downtown employee. She was willing to do the interview, if she could bring along one of her cohorts from the bus, Peggy Stupca. So, we all met at Starbucks, Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m.. These two women were passionate about the culture that has evolved on their early morning Northwest bus route. Peggy, by the way, is also a downtown employee. Although Peggy has worked in Rochester for about twenty five years, and Barb, nine and a half, the two women have only ridden the same bus for six years. The women's references to their day jobs would soon dissolve as the conversation continued and I felt as though I were sitting across from two anthropologists who had experienced some kind of personal transformation.

The first rule on this bus is that “long term riders sit in the front of the bus.” Indeed, there are about twelve bus riders in this subgroup, but unlike on your junior high school bus, anyone and everyone is welcome to become part of this community. Some simply choose a more private transit experience and thus choose to remain a separate entity, yet often still mingle with the group.

In talking with Barbara and Peggy, I was overwhelmed at what an important community this little group is. The members take care of one another. Barbara half-smiled when she told me that there are unexcused absences. In other words, the “bus buddies” appreciate it when someone is not going to be riding the bus on a given day, that they tell their fellow riders because otherwise the others are concerned and have to speculate on the reason for the absence. Subsequently, they will razz the person upon her return for not having secured an “excused absence” in advance. She likened it to when Norm stops coming into Cheers.

I would imagine one of the reasons this group has remained quite cohesive is that early on in its formation, someone suggested that they all go to Dos Amigos for Happy Hour. When the Dos Amigos on 37th and 18th changed location, the Happy Hour for this NW bus route needed to
relocate to Buffalo Wild Wings, where they play an electronic Trivia Game that is played nationwide and call themselves “Bus R Us” to identify themselves when they are off their home turf. They plan to get t-shirts bearing this name.

Birthday and sympathy cards circulate on the bus amongst the buddies to be offered for those important occasions. And even when on vacation, the bus buddies often send a postcard to the bus station, designating their route as the desired recipient.

One morning on the bus, someone brought coffee and donuts for everyone on the bus to celebrate a bus buddy’s retirement. The woman retiring, named “Lu”, moved to Florida and keeps in touch with the group. Any member who must change routes or who moves is always welcome to the Happy Hour to reconnect.

Even those that choose to sit alone and keep to themselves have a surprising attachment to this clan. One older woman was riding the bus regularly to come to Mayo for medical treatment. She hadn’t seemed too interested in the group, and at times had given them some “looks.” One day, Peggy recalled her bringing photos of a hot air balloon ride she had taken on a recent birthday. Previously seeming disinterested in the group, this day, she was eager to show these photos to everyone. Eventually after having switched routes because of appointment time changes, she ceased riding that particular route and one day ran into Peggy somewhere else. She gave Peggy a big hug. Maybe even those who don’t think they need community and who try to keep their distance..even they glean something from what at first seems unpalatable.

I asked about bus drivers for the route. Both Peggy and Barbara talked fondly of Scott who died suddenly at age 36. She said that the group doesn’t take change well. He would look out for the bus buddies, too, and would joke about stopping at rummage sales along the route. They’ve had one bad apple since Scott, but the current bus driver is apparently nice, though quieter than Scott.

This community is really quite utopic. They represent a cross section of ethnicities, age, religious affiliations or lack thereof, socioeconomic variances, single/married, with/without children, homeowners/renters, etc.. Yet what Peggy really appreciates is that by spending this time with each other, it breaks down barriers and helps eliminate the prejudices that might otherwise exist. And, although they may see one another at the local grocery store, or might try to find a bus buddy a good house for sale in the area (giving them that “small town” feeling) they are noninvasive in their interactions and conversations with one another and respect each individual’s privacy.

“Each day,” Barb said, “you don’t know what to expect, but there are constants. You may know you’re going to have a difficult day, but it will start off with a greeting from friends on the bus and this community is there to support you.”

“So, what of this one act play?” I wondered. Well, apparently they have been sharing ideas for it and Barb has it all basically written in her head now, just needing to actually write it out into several scenes. At Buffalo Wild Wings, they can get pretty creative and continue to fine tune it. She isn’t sure how to implement the important characters on the bus, while giving them anonymity. When I asked where she would want it performed, she immediately stated that it had to be done by the Rochester Repertory Theater. Apparently one of the actors there used to be a bus buddy and that’s who she envisions directing it.

As RNeighbors seeks to build community in Rochester amongst the different neighborhoods, I found this early morning NW bus route to be a wonderful model of how community can be developed, maintained and even archived in the arts. My thanks to Barbara Sorensen and Peggy Stupca for allowing me to share their story with RNeighbors before it is shared in the artistic medium as a play.