Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
2405948352_ae07cd8ed4.jpgLove at the bus stop. (Photo: lucam via Flickr)

Today on the Streetsblog Network, we came across a sweet post from one of our favorite network members -- Seattle's Carla Saulter, better known as Bus Chick. She's celebrating a milestone -- seven years of living car-free. And she takes the occasion to share some memories:

It's been an eventful seven years. I bought a home, got married, lost my beloved mother to cancer, and had two children. Navigating so many major life events without a car in a city that all but requires one has certainly had its challenges, but it has also integrated the bus into all of my significant recent memories*--and made it impossible for me to imagine my life without Metro. As I wrote in my Real Change column back in 2006, buses have associations for me.

Riding the Water Taxi reminds me of the days I spent with my mother during her last months of life. The first time I rode it to my parents' Seacrest Park condo the spring after she died, I cried. Sometimes I still do.

The 545 will forever feel romantic to me, since it's the route Nerd and I rode together in the early days of our courtship. I don't think I've ever looked more forward to a commute -- or for that matter, to anything.

It's unusual for someone to use the word "romantic" when talking about a bus. But it shouldn't be. Plenty of people do their courting on buses and trains. And transit often takes us to see our loved ones. Do any of you out there have sentimental associations with particular bus or subway lines? Let us know in the comments.

More from around the network: Cap'n Transit tries to get to the root of Joel Kotkin's bad attitude. Psystenance asks you to banish the phrase "avid cyclist" from your vocabulary. And Tulsa Alternative Transportation Examiner talks about windshield perspective in Oklahoma.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Streetsies 2024: Vote For This Year’s Biggest Failures

Overall, it was a pretty sad year. But what was the city and state's worst failures? You get to vote!

December 26, 2024

Streetsies 2024: Vote for this Year’s Best Livable Streets Projects

This year had some bright spots for livable streets projects. Here are the ones that stood out.

December 26, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Christmukkah Edition

We took yesterday off to celebrate the many holidays and to see the new Bob Dylan movie. But there was lots of news.

December 26, 2024

On Christmas, Let’s Consider the Successes of the Livable Streets Movement

Here's a short, heartwarming film about the successes experienced this year by the livable streets movement.

December 25, 2024

And the Winners Are…: It’s Time for the 2024 Streetsie Awards!

Let's start our annual year in review series with a broad roundup of the heroes, scoundrels and debacles of 2024.

December 24, 2024
See all posts