Delays September 15. 2005

It's 9:10 pm and I should be arriving home in about 25 minutes. Here I sit. My iPod's batteries have died. It's dark. We haven't even reach Dyer Indiana (the first stop). The Amtrak train has been delayed because a freight train in front of us missed it's turn or something was wrong with the switching mechanism on the tracks. The conductor tells us the delay, "could be considerable." Despite this and the fact that Amtrak was 35 minutes late this morning to pick me up, I have completely enjoyed my return tour to the beauty of public transportation. Ever since I first went to NYC and experienced the joy of the subway, I've been hooked on public transportation. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to make full use of the rail system from Rensselaer. This year my classes work out perfectly so as to allow me to take the train into Chicago. When I first pulled out of the Rensselaer station this morning I actually started to cry the scenery was so beautiful. It just felt "right" to be taking the train. That emotion didn't compare to the flood of emotions I got when I got onto the CTA lines.

I always have within me the burning desire to return to NYC and each time I go I make the trip longer. Last time I stayed there for an entire two weeks and I'm thinking the next time will be a month (if I can get the time off). I love that city! At any rate, when I stepped onto the #151 bus, the Green Line train, and the #55 bus I was filled with a sense of joy as the rememberations (I made that word up) of NYC came at me like a freight train. Though, not like the one stuck in front of me. It felt so good to be riding the CTA that I declared (to myself though I would have said it out loud in NYC) that my burning desire to return to NYC has been slightly appeased and if I kept this up over the next semester I would be able to last one more year before I visit New York again.

Public transportation is so sustainable and I'm not quite sure why it has never caught on in the States as a truly viable means of travel. Well, I do know why in part but let's not dwell on America's obsession with oil, cars, and individualism... I'm having a public transportation moment here. I just love the fact that people talk to you at the bus stops. I had a huge conversation with a woman at 57th and Stoney Island just waiting for the #X28 bus. She wanted to take Metra but the delays announced just kept getting bigger and bigger so she decided to take the #6 bus. She's a University of Chicago student and she--like other people I know--is dreading the busyness that is going to descend upon her life.

So engrossed in this entry and remembering the time I went to Chicago on the Amtrak, I didn't realize the train has started to move. What a joy! At any rate, I think I'll play some Nick Drake on my laptop (though my earbuds) and watch people fidget. Three Hours or maybe Man in a Shed will be quite lovely.

p.s. I also found out that the train that goes through Rensselaer also stops in NYC
p.p.s it's 11:09 now that I post this.
David  Thursday, September 15. 2005 @ 00:09
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I love taking the train, too. There's something about leaning back and taking in the scenery that feels timeless. And I love watching all the people meet and greet each other at the station. I'm telling you, timeless.
#1 Frema (Homepage) on 2005-09-15 13:02 (Reply)
David-

You have hit on a personal pet issue of mine. I have long thought that public transportation is key to solving many economic woes and also some social ones as well.

The economic ones are easy to see, especially when the public transport is electrically powered or a hybrid. The greatest thing about this is that we need no new technology to do this.

My answer: STREETCARS. Yes, the old electric streetcars that prowled the streets of any city of size from the late nineteenth century until around WWII. After this, the auto makers lobbied and generally acted evil and the streetcars were replaced by busses.

As for social problems, and you did mention community, think of the communal nature that public transport features. From the richest to the poorest, all pay the same fare and take the same conveyanace. The culture of communters is quite unique (anyone like me who rode the same Metra trains for years has a "train family.")

Rather than go on, take a look at a blog post that I wrote about a month ago on this very subject. I especially like Kenosha's system with old 1940's PCC cars; I rode it this summer and it was exciting (for me, at least).

http://williampshannon4.blogspot.com/2005/08/dont-want-to-get-gas.html
#2 Will Shannon (Homepage) on 2005-09-15 16:21 (Reply)

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