Public Transportation Diary (8/07/2008)
Dear Diary,
It’s sort of depressing when I realize that the most notable part of my day was riding the bus; unfortunately this is the case.
I was riding to work this morning on the number 14 accross the Hawthorne Bridge when the lights came on and the gates came down—this means the bridge has to go up so a ship can pass through. For the reader’s benefit, I have illustrated this:
“BEEP BEEP!”
Normally I don’t mind this sort of thing. 10 minutes of my day is a always a pretty fair trade-off to see a large boat. And also I usually leave pretty early for work anyways. For some reason today neither bridge nor ship gave yield. Ship did not proceed. Bridge did not raise. I believe this is commonly referred to in the navy as “nautical stalemate.”
The minutes ticked on and the morning commuters’ chagrin devolved into vocal spite. The cyclists parked just outside my window grew especially annoyed.
It really was unclear what was going on. A full half-hour passed. Some of the bus passengers exited and went sprinting back to the East side of the bridge, formulating “plan-B’s.”
Finally, two workers from the City in orange jumpsuits came authoritatively walking up the bridge.
I could only immagine these men were here for an epic test of skill—either to talk the captain down or RAISE THIS GODDAMN BRIDGE THEMSELVES.
But all they did was lift up the gate to let the cars through. I guess that device wasn’t working either.
Anyways, I was only twenty minutes late so I guess it’s not that big of a deal.
THE END.
Portland: the City that Works
