Do pobachenya - Goodbye

Dear class,

It has been a pleasure meeting with you on Tuesday nights for the past three months. I don't know if it was because of the coziness of the room, the joviality of the instructor, the blogging and bookmarking, or the awesomeness of the students, but I really enjoyed this group. I got to know people in this class more so than in other LIS courses.

To demonstrate my appreciation, as well as the sheer joy of completing the semester, I'm bringing cupcakes to the exam. Joe and Tim talked me out of buying the $2.50 ones from the swanky joint in Squirrel Hill, so you're just getting yellow cake with chocolate icing from my kitchen.

After the exam, I'll be at Panther Hollow on Forbes Avenue having a cocktail. Please join me to celebrate!

Cheers!

Rita

Bus billboards

I've been thinking recently about public transit's current woes. Bus systems around the country are experiencing a double whammy: their fuel costs are skyrocketing and their ridership is growing. High gas prices lead to route cuts or less frequent buses, which lead to crowding. PAT has cited these problems in their proposal to cut driver benefits.

There seems to be an obvious solution. I love the slogans on the sides of PAT buses - they range from "welcome to our neighborhood" in many languages (including Russian!), to "movin' groovin'" to the names of notable Pittsburghers. But couldn't PAT make up for high fuel costs by selling that space to advertisers? Don't the museums want to advertise their exhibits, or television stations their sitcoms, or restaurants their deals? These ads already appear on bus shelters.

I'd be willing to endure some advertising if it means I can still catch a bus every 5 minutes and the person driving it is happy about her pension.

Good news for Oakland walkers, cyclists and busriders

If you don't have a car, if you live in or near Oakland, and if you eat food, there is good news for you! A grocery is opening at 3906 Forbes Avenue on August 15. It is part of the Independent Grocer Alliance. According to The Pitt News, "Market on Forbes will carry fresh produce, frozen food, deli meats and other groceries not readily available in Oakland."

The only drawbacks seem to be the proposed hours, 11-7 Monday through Friday and noon to 4 on weekends. I also wonder if the location will cause prices to be significantly higher than those at Giant Eagles in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside. Nevertheless, this is an important step to making Oakland a truly walkable community.

You want fierce?

Some of the best outfits are out there on the public buses.

This week I sat across from a woman wearing orange leggings and a big gold necklace pendant reading "MOM." She was probably over 40 but under 50. The look on her face was not pleasant. Perhaps it was because I couldn't stop staring at her earrings. They were about the size of a large cracker and said "SEXY" in 48-point type.

PAT Drivers

In a previous post titled "For a very important date" I complimented PAT drivers. A later discussion with friends revealed my viewpoint as naive, or at least incomplete. There are some bad apples out there.

For example, one friend noted that at least a few drivers are less than friendly to cyclists. Drivers may endanger cyclists' lives at times.

Another friend spoke of a bus driver who was frustrated and stuck in an intersection (possibly trying to make a Pittsburgh left?). The bus driver expressed anger by tossing a soda at the offending vehicle driver. I can imagine that driving something as large as a PAT bus could certainly boost your ego and sense of immunity. Who could possibly run you down?

When I countered these unsavory experiences with my mostly pleasant experiences, my friend answered that bus drivers are nice to riders, but mean to everyone else. I'm still not buying such a wide generalization.

Has anyone else encountered a PAT driver's wrath?

One exception

If I did have a car, it would be this one.

I'm glad to see there is someone out there who is as nerdy and bus-loving as I am.

He drove his bus in the Fourth of July parade this year in Cincinnati.

See how happy everyone is in the background? Everyone loves a bus!

"Strike looms"

Port Authority workers may soon lose part of their health care pensions and post-retirement benefits as a result of higher fuel costs. This might mean even more delays for riders if drivers decide to strike. According to The Pitt News, a PAT board member believes PAT employees receive benefits "far more generous than the national average."

Sixteen years ago, PAT workers went on strike for 28 days. While I support workers' rights to collective bargaining, such a loss in service at a time when more people rely on the bus would have far-reaching negative impact.