Working in a bus terminal is giving  me some interesting new insights about people in general!

It's been very enjoyable and it's had it's tough moments too. I've been enjoying what I do here at the station and feel it's rewarding work. I'm happy to help people get where they need to go. Happy to help them ship their parcels to and fro. And happy to start VERY early in the morning so I get to watch the sun rise while I work and then I'm home in time for lunch, a walk with Daisy and a wee nap!

Students comprise a large portion of our frequent travelers, and they are far more noticeable than any of the others. They usually show up at the station in groups, spontaneously traveling to some event or just for fun. Often they are loud and disruptive while in the station, unaware they are bumping regular travelers or causing the transit company to bring in more buses to accommodate them. Rarely do they have ID's ready even though they don't get student discounts without valid identification. They even seem to think buses should wait for them regardless of their last minute arrival at the terminal.

One day, not long ago a teacher took about 20 students into Toronto. She seemed surprised when I suggested to her that she let us know in advance of such planned trips, even she forgot to think of the consequences the impact her 20 students might have on other regular travelers. It's almost half a bus load - you'd think she'd consider that might create issues! Then there's the travelers that come into the station covered in snow and asking why their bus is late on a day when there's already 3" of snow on the roads and more falling every minute. Somehow buses and their drivers should be able to get through on time no matter what and regardless of the fact they have to run on the same highways passengers wanted no part of driving! Yup, people are funny!

At our station we sell tickets for two private inter-city bus companies, as well as one public inter-city transit company that is subsidized by the Provincial government. I've still a lot to learn regarding connections and details of common stops along all these routes, things which travelers ask about often. I think I'll eventually build a reference sheet or two that might be helpful, might even see a benefit in developing travelers cheat sheets that could be sold at a nominal fee to offset the printing and research costs.

Other regular travelers include business people who prefer taking the bus to driving into the city, where parking is at a premium and traffic is heavy. People heading off for treatments or therapy at larger city hospitals nearby, seniors and those who don't own cars complete the list!

I've found people watching at the terminal to be quite entertaining. Learning to read the body language of people who know they're late but hope they can catch the bus anyway has been useful. Some who get quite angry when things don't go as they've hoped can display their misplaced emotions in embarrassing ways. Some truly think the ticket agent or driver should take responsibility for their problems but most of the time we employees appreciate the person's anger with themselves for being late and the fact they are projecting that anger outward to those who would serve them. I try not to take it too personally and I make an effort not to laugh at the ludicrous things that often take place, at least when people aren't looking ...sometimes laughing is the best way to relieve the tensions that arise!

Then there's the people who come to the station, some of them daily, just to hang out. A few homeless people drop by early in the morning to warm up and use the washroom. There's one fellow, not a homeless person, who comes in to check every vending machine, ATM and phone in the terminal for change left behind. City bus drivers even pop in from time to time to use the washrooms while on their route. Police officers come by watching for suspects that might try to skip town and people who assist the down-trodden also come by to purchase non-refundable tickets for transients to get them back to their own home towns where they might find help and support.

It can be an active place, and certainly it's an industry that is much needed given the current economic and environmental situations being faced today. I'm proud to be a part of such an important operation and hope people make better use of public and mass transit over the days and years to come. If I can continue in the field until I'm ready to retire I'll be very satisfied with the choice I made to work at a bus terminal.

(Not to mention the many stories there will be to tell between now and then!) ;)