I do not own a car.
Then, in a moment of sheer brilliance, I decided to live in a house on the OPPOSITE side of town from the University. So I am a bus person.

It's not ALL that bad. You learn a lot of interesting things and see a lot of interesting people riding the bus. You learn to read maps. You learn to be self-reliant. You learn to check the number of the bus before you get on. You also somewhat get to know a lot of the regular bus drivers. (By get to know, I mean you recognize them and know what routes they're on.) I don't actually know the their names, but I have christened the more memorable ones with nicknames. Here are some of my favourites:

Handlebars: Handlebars is my favourite. He's old, but he has the most impressive handlebar moustache on the planet. Also, he's super nice. He drives from downtown to the University in the morning and always says hello to me when I'm on his bus. And he likes to tell funny stories to the passengers that aren't really all that funny.

Vin Diesel: I HATE riding the bus when Vin Diesel is driving. She's this little woman with blonde spiky hair, but apparently she doesn't realize she's driving a 40-foot bus, because she drives like Vin Diesel. And she makes fast hairpin turns. With the 40-foot bus. I haven't seen her around lately though. She's mysteriously disappeared... Hmm....

The iPod Nazi: He's pretty no-nonsense and super hardcore about listening devices. You do NOT listen to your iPod loudly on his bus. (He can't stand the CSSSSHHHHHH sound it makes.) It's not uncommon for him to actually stop the bus in the middle of a route, walk to the back, and demand they turn the volume down. Horribly entertaining when he does that.

Steve Irwin: He looks like Steve Irwin (obviously), but about twenty years older. That's basically what he has going for him.

Cute Blonde Lady: Original huh? I haven't thought of a better name yet, but she makes my life! I hardly get her, but she's always super happy and smiley and one time I had JUST missed the bus at the university, and she pulled up in an extra bus and said: "Headed downtown? Well hop on! I'll be your personal 40-foot limo!". It was awesome. So I like her.