As I've covered before in this blog, I am a failed driver. A pedestrian. 'Pedestrian' is also a word which can also be used to describe something dull or boring, to which I actually take a tiny bit of offence. The assumption that pedestrians are duller than drivers! As Top Gear amply demonstrates, some people are adept at using bright 'n' shiny fast cars in an uneven kind of exchange for an actual personality.
Being somebody who doesn't own a car, my journeys to places tend to be a bit more interesting than getting stuck in traffic jams with Chris Moyles's jowly splutterings for a soundtrack. The older I get, the more grateful I am that I'm a non-driver (you could say that, seeing as I've failed five driving tests, one of my strengths is blind optimism in the face of severe adversity). But still, it's true. I love walking, and will often refuse lifts to places even in extreme cold...I suppose I'm mad in seeing a good walk in freezing weather as a character-building challenge! But I also love public transport, even cranky old British public transport with its constant delays, planned engineering works and leaves on the lines.
One of the reasons I love public transport is for the quirkiness of the characters that use it. I'm not referring to myself here; I'd love to be naturally 'quirky' but I'm afraid I'm far too sensible for that. Hence I enjoy observing it in others. An example of this happened during a bus journey on the way to an ill-fated job about a year or so ago. I had my hair pulled back in a ponytail and an old man sitting behind me grabbed it, then tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned round he said, perfectly seriously: "You ought to be careful love, having your hair like that - someone'll snip that ponytail off and sell it on for a wig"
I can't remember what I said in reply; probably just smiled politely and turned back again. But it was completely wonderful regardless. Likewise, another old man sitting opposite me on the train once told me I had a face "that reminds me of a little doll my sister used to play with". I thanked him but later realised I hadn't established what kind of doll he'd meant...it may not have been as complimentary as I'd hoped! I've also had all manner of random conversations with people I've sat near or next to on buses and trains; subjects have included ghosthunting, Karl Pilkington, the shape of bananas and the X Factor.
I used to work with a girl who looked down her nose every time public transport was mentioned. "Oh...you don't get the bus, do you?" she said to me once, horsey voice neighing with disdain. "You're missing out" I said, but (probably with good reason!) I don't think she understood.
That said, there can be times when public transport can cause niggly little social problems. Especially when you get on the bus, or the train, and someone you work with but don't know very well gets on at the next stop. Or worse...you get on, and someone you work with but don't know very well is already on it, and the seat next to them is free. The Seinfeld-ian dilemma is clear...I usually answered it in a very British way, namely by pretending they didn't exist until we got to the office. I think they were grateful for that.
"Do you think you'll ever take your driving test again?" is a question I'm occasionally asked by people once they've learned about my previous five failures. Nothing I say ever convinces them that having a car isn't the superior choice, but I'm still more than happy in my 'pedestrian' underworld.
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