THE BUS WAY TO TRAVEL?

Know this: There's nothing worse than watching from a distance as your bus leaves without you. We know because this happened to us. Twice.

The basic principle of riding a bus seems simple enough: You get on, you pay, you sit down, you get off. Easy, right? Think again.

We set out to see if Spokane's widely celebrated transit system is a practical form of transportation for teenagers. What we found is that the STA is not kind to first-time bus riders.

So we compiled a simple list of STA dos and don'ts. Remember, all of these were learned the hard way. Don't make the same mistakes we did.

1. Know your bus schedule. It's a good idea to get to your bus stop early because the buses are almost always on time. The STA is nothing if not punctual.

2. Ask for transfers when you first get on the bus. This piece of paper that the bus driver gives you lets you get on other buses taking you to your final destination without paying again. It's a very important piece of paper and asking for it when you get on the bus (not off) is key.

3. Be STA Plaza savvy. The STA Plaza actually isn't very big. The bus schedules are presented on TV screens (airport style) and they tell you exactly which zone to go to. The trick is knowing which zones are on the north and south ends of the block.

Bonus: If you find yourself with a little extra time before catching a bus, check out the candy store on the second floor of the Plaza.

4. We know this sounds complicated, but the bus to take you back to the Plaza (or wherever you came from) will pick you up on the side of the street directly opposite the side you got off on.

Our biggest problem was finding a bus that would take us back to the Plaza. Through trial and error, we finally discovered you don't just get back on the same bus that dropped you off.

5. Don't ask to get off when your bus is stopped in the "The Loop." You'll find that buses stop at their farthest destination (a k a The Loop), and they wait there for up to 15 minutes to help them stay on schedule. The driver will most likely get off the bus and walk around. You, as the passenger, however must remain on the bus. We don't know why.

6. Do not make eye contact with other passengers on the bus. You may discover that some unusual characters ride the bus. Let us just stress it is best to just keep to yourself.

7. Know your bus number and make sure you get on the right bus. We were in such a hurry to get home after a long day of bus riding that we accidently got on the wrong bus. Again. The mistake we made was assuming that we were heading basically in the right direction but we ended up nowhere near where we wanted to be.

8. Ask questions if you get confused. The bus drivers may not always be able to help you, and they might make you feel stupid, but generally they will help you figure out where you went wrong.

We learned the next rule during a potentially life-threatening encounter on our "bus ride o' fun."

9. If you are being threatened or sweared at by an angry person, try not to make any sudden movements and, above all, don't ever say, "I'm sorry," or you'll be the one who is sorry.

10. Practice makes perfect. The only way to feel comfortable riding the bus is to do it often and become familiar with the schedules, the zones, the bus numbers. ... It's really a lot to remember.

So even if your first time riding the bus was not exactly the dream trip you expected, we can almost guarantee your second ride will be easier.

Copyright 1999 Cowles Publishing Company
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