Train and Bus Karma

I wanted to make sure I really knew what the term karma meant before I used it in this blog: “[A]ction, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation; fate; destiny.” Well, I have no truck with reincarnation, but the rest applies. What I’m talking about is the tendency to arrive at platform on the L just in time to see the train pull away—without me. Same for the bus. Of late, I have somehow angered the public transportation gods as I have missed or had to wait an inordinate amount of time for every single train or bus I have wanted to catch.

What did I do to upset the universe? The photo above is of a train pulling off just as I stepped out of the elevator. Of course in the old days, I wouldn’t have taken the elevator; I would have raced up the stairs and hopped into the train just as the doors closed. But I’m not racing much these days; hell, I’m not racing at all. And while I can still use the stairs, I prefer the elevators (although not all stations have them). So, there I am, unhappily looking out the glass windows of the elevator as the train pulls away—and then the elevator door opens.

It’s a very similar story with the buses. In the old days I would see a bus half a block away and I would dash for the door. Now, ancient, decrepit old man that I am, I just keep walking and watch as the bus pulls away, mere feet from the door.

My only saving grace is the “Transit Stop” app. This tracks the buses and trains and allows a minimal chance of predicting their arrival. It’s fairly accurate for trains, since they make all stops, whether there are people there or not. With buses, it’s much harder to predict, as a bus only has to stop if someone is waiting or someone wants off; so, a bus can sail quickly past any number of stops, thus arriving early and insuring I’ll be standing there watching it roar off, with only the smell of the fumes left for me.

But I can’t complain too much: it was my decision to sell my car and come to rely on public transportation. And in spite of my whining, I think that was a good decision, and although I end up spending far too much time waiting for transportation, that’s a far better choice, at least in a city like Chicago which has excellent public transport, than paying our exorbitant parking fees, license fees, tag fees, insurance fees. And, even if this old man can’t race to meet a train or bus anymore, I get the senior discount on fares. Life is good; karma be damned.