Doing my part for Public Transit
So, today the kiddo and I ventured out for the first time on our own…using the city bus. I know what you are thinking — you’ve lived in the ‘burgh for almost three years now and you haven’t used the bus without your hubby! I haven’t even used it by myself! I prefer to walk — only the Children’s Museum isn’t exactly within our walking radius.
Now, I am not in any way against using the bus, too ‘good’ to use the bus or anything else other than simply lazy, a shut in (most days) and terrified of doing that sort of thing with an independent four year old. Not to mention, that it was cold, there’s icy slush on the sidewalks and Elijah is rather impatient when it comes to just standing around waiting for ‘our bus’ when 15 others have passed us by.
Needless to say, our adventure was fine. We walked a block and got on the 16B, which took us all the way within about 2.5 blocks of the museum and then we walked over there and had a good afternoon. When it came time to leave, I had forgotten when the bus was going to be by…I tried to convince Elijah that it was time to leave, so that we wouldn’t be standing there in the cold for 20 or 30 minutes waiting. Ha! I think we rounded the corner as the bus was pulling away. So, we waited and waited and I was totally convinced myself, that the bus wasn’t coming. But almost 30 minutes on the dot, there she was.
Apparently, there had been an accident on North Avenue and it had delayed the bus. The moral of this story is that it’s not hard at all to bus with a free range child, just make sure to explain the situation well and dress appropriately. Snacks are optional, but might make the wait friendlier for yourself and other people around you 
Do I plan on doing this regularly? Why, yes and I am so glad you asked. No more crazy car juggling with the hubby or awkwardly asking friends from the East End to pick us up when they are coming to the NorthSide to do something. Yay! Why don’t more of you guys use the bus? Now, we shall try this again, but not on a Saturday, because I forgot that’s the day that all the unwashed masses take their children to the museum. We might also broaden our busing radius and make a trip to the East End to visit those friends who so nonchalantly offer to pick us up for fun days.
