Route 94

When I'm in a public place, like riding the bus, I make sure that I am aware of my surroundings. But then again, even if you're on foot, you need to be aware of your surroundings. You never know what could happen.

I bring this important point up because someone really wasn't paying attention and whacked someone in the face - me.

A group of people, I would say, in high school got on the Route 94 bus (an express bus from Downtown Minneapolis to Downtown St. Paul via Interstate 94) on Nicollet Mall & 6th Street. Just that group of people (I would say at least 20 of them) filled the bus, mostly with their belongings (big bags such as suitcases). I would have given up my seat for them (where the wheelchairs go) but I was carrying a suitcase myself so it wasn't logical to give up my seat for someone who has the exact same suitcase as me.

Anyways, I was heading to work at the time. I wasn't planning on getting off in Downtown St. Paul since I work near Snelling Avenue (there's a stop on Concordia Street & Snelling Avenue). As I stood up, the guy who was sitting in front of me got up to put on his backpack. In the process, we whacked me in the face. He didn't even acknowledge he hit me, even with his friends screaming "you hit him, you hit him." No apology was given. I found out later that he was getting off in downtown, not Concordia & Snelling.

Worst part was, he was blocking the isle (after he hit me), so I couldn't get off the bus. As I actually got to the front, the bus pulled out of the stop and went back on the freeway. I had to get off about 6 miles later in Downtown St. Paul.

To say the least, I wasn't a happy camper. I was showing my nonverbal communication like 4th of July fireworks. I wasn't late to work but it was a huge inconvenience for me to backtrack. I would have gotten there much quicker if I got off midway through the route. We bus people need to find the easiest route to take to save time.

I don't understand why people act they way they do. Are people these days really consumed with themselves? While I'm not the perfect person and have my "brain farts" every once in a while, why do people do this consistently? I'm able to recognize when I just made a mistake (such as not holding the door for the person behind me) How do you not notice when you hit someone in the face with your backpack? Not to mention standing up, blocking the isle, and preventing the person who needs to get off.

The one thing that DID cheer me up: The sun was shining. Oh, how I missed that. Too bad there's snow in the forecast.