Bikes, Buses and Bath

It was an intense day today for me (7/11/07). Here it is:



After getting up at 8:40am I got to my lecture at 9am. It was a practical- squishing up soil/mud samples that we had extracted from the ground the previous week. It was dirty work and I found it hard to concentrate with my sleepy brain. Also most people from our group didn't turn up so it was just 2 of us (me and a Japanese girl- Mari) and the other groups had about 5 members so our personal workload was higher.



Afterwards at 11am I walked back towards. I stopped off at Maris for a while whilst a discussion about sushi was held. I got home and had some lunch. When it got to 1:30pm I needed to leave for work. I didn't start work until 2:45pm but I knew from experience that the 418 bus is slow and unreliable. But then I thought they needn't be- I would cycle into town. Since getting my bike I have been getting used to it but now I felt that I was ready to go into town (4 miles). So I set out on my bike. Of course the 418 buses slowed me down even when I wasn't on them. While I was still on the campus 2 buses were trying to past each. 1 had to reverse and it got confusing and tight. There were 200m tailbacks behind both buses. Anyway I sailed down the hill and after I got past the 2 junctions it wasn't a bad bike ride; it was quite flat. On the way I realised that even though my work is reasonably close to the town centre it is at the top of a very steep hill. I decided I would leave my bike tied up in the town centre and get the number 2 bus (which is pretty OK) to work.



But disaster struck. Just as I got into town and was cycling past the river I felt something funny happen. Then there was a cluck onto the pavement. At the same time I had the sensation that was left foot was dangling. I stopped the bike and looked behind at the pavement. A pedal was laying 20ft behind me. Not just the pedal but the metal pole that connects the pedal to the chain wheel. I went back, picked it up and put it in my bag. I was alarmed but not worried at this juncture. I walked the bike into the town. Just as I walked past the bus stops before the train station the number 2 bus came round the corner. I ran with the bike. I had a vague idea were the bike racks were. I ran across the entrance to the carpark, ignoring hoots of protest from cars. Quick as a flash I tied up my bike. Then I rang back to the bus which was still waiting. Dripping with sweat after cycling 4 miles, walking fast with a bike for 10 minutes then doing a rapid 300m sprint I plonked myself down at the back of the bus after buying a student daily travelcard (and proving I was a student).



I got to work early as it transpired. I had fun with the children. What we basically did is all of us (3 adults and 13 children) went down to the woods with a camo net. I went off with 2 or 3 children, they would hide under the camo net and I would cover them with leaves, then I would hide nearby. It was great fun and the children enjoyed it to the point that we were all late getting back to the hall.



After speaking with parents I left the after-school club at 5:50pm. I waited for the 2 bus to come. A 2a came after a short while. I inquired if it went into the city centre. An ancient, slightly dotty, always chatty woman gave me a lengthy answer. The upshot of my understanding of it was though that it did go into the town centre but to a different stop than normal. So I got on it. I scanned the passing scenary throught the gathering gloam. It was unfamilar. I was desperatly trying to work out where I was was when I saw a sign: University of Bath. I was at the wrong university and 8 miles from my house. But I knew that the 418 ran between my university and this university via the town centre. I saw orange buses milling around so I got of the 2a and ran for the first bus. To my dismay I saw that it was only going to the town centre but I tried anyway. Its doors closed in front of my face. I repeatedly banged on the window. The driver was gesticulating at me to get the next bus in a rude manner. I gave him the 'ups yours' sign with my middle finger but I was wearing mittens so the effect was lost. But already my anger was starting to raise. I was hungry and tired. I got on the next bus. It sat around for ages until the seats were filled up. Another bus came behind it and it left- or did it. No. It swung round a roundabout behind the other bus. The other bus left for good and my bus sat there for an age. It steady filled up until it was like a sardine tin. People were getting irriatted at the lack of bus movement. Eventually it moved (some people cheered). Out of all 3 418 buses they were all going to the town centre and not to my campus. Which is fairly typical.



I eventually got into town and the bus glided past the train station. I had a mini-panic-attack. I had tied my bike up so quickly that I was unsure if I had done it properly. Also I didn't like the idea of it sitting around in a town centre for days and days and days. It would have got rusty and/or stolen perhaps. So I got of the 418 in the town centre. I walked back to my bike. It was fine- I had tied it correctly. But I still wanted to get it back to the bikesheds on campus. So I walked it to the bus stop for the 418. The 418 is a bendy bus which is bright orange and by default has lots of students on it. After 10 minutes the bus came. It was nearly empty (about 10 people on a bus that can hold 140 people). I wheeled my bike onto the bus and showed the driver my ticket. He looked disaproving and said "I don't want you to bring the bike on this bus". I explained to him in a calm yet strong manner that it is a public service, I have the correct ticket, it won't cause anybody any inconvenience (I put my bike in the wheelchair area) and my bike is broken so I can't cycle it home. He turned of the engine, came out of his cab and his rage was growing. But my defiance was growing faster. With 1 bus an hour and a 4 mile walk with a bike to look forward to I had nothing to lose and I assumed he would cave. He left the bus and spoke to his supervisor for ages. He eventually came back and again told me I would have to get off. He was a 30something Polish cur with a temper and a scowl. I kept arguing my point. I also casually pointed out that everyone would be home by now if he would just drive the bus. He rang the police. They turned up quite a while later. The policeman had a brief word with the driver. Then he came and spoke to me. I told him my situation and I even got an "I understand" before making eye contact with the bus driver and continuing his angry retort. He said at 1 point "if you don't get off this bus then you and your bike will end up in my van". I replied cheekily "oh great you could give me a lift home then and there would be no problem". But mine was a dying cause. The policeman got out his handcuffs, told me to put my hands out in front of me and said that if I didn't take my bike and myself of the bus I was under arrest. I glowered at him before leaving the bus. The bus sat there for several minutes before leaving. The whole incident was 45-50 minutes. I rang Robyn. Then I tried my friend Oliver who has a car and lives in Bath. No answer from his mobile. Then I rang my Nan because my mum lives with her and she might know Olivers landline number. My Nan suggested I goto the train station and ask to borrow a phonebook (she refused to dial directory enquiries because of the expense). I went to the station, tied my bike up again and asked at the ticket desk for a phonebook. The excellent customer service left me in shock after my recent experience as the man (Peter) got the phonebook for me in 10 seconds flat. To my luck I found Olivers landline number in it. I rang it and Oliver answered. I explained my situation and he was there in 10 minutes. I was quite a laugh actually trying to get my bike in his 1.2 Nova but we did it and, with my knees touching my chin, Oliver sped up away from the station........