The wheels on the bus go meow meow meow
A firsthand account of the new CATS bus route
Brandon Jelson
Issue date: 2/12/10 Section: News
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The deceptively named bus stop, TTU University Center West, led me to think that the route picked up at the bottom floor of the UC. Precisely at four o'clock, however, I am left watching the bus come to a halt in front of Clement, which is several hundred feet away. I think to myself, in the usual fashion, "It'll come back. It has to."
Ten minutes later, I'm still standing on the same 3x3 concrete sidewalk square behind the UC. "Yeah… that's not gonna happen."
Bummed because I actually did the research this time, I walk over to Clement Hall and notice the CATS bus stop sign. With the printed schedule in hand, I wait patiently for the next bus to come through- only twenty minutes to go.
As the bus pulls up, I realize that these are brand-new buses: not some discount buy-one-get-one-half-off jalopies. The brakes don't squeal when stopping, nor does the door squeak when opening. By the spotless interior, shiny wheels and new car smell, I could definitely tell that I wasn't on an inner-city Chicago bus.
There was no fear of catching a disease when I grabbed the handrail and climbed the steps to the vastly vacant interior. There was no dirt. There was no grime. There was no stench.
The smooth blue vinyl seats gave off the only smell in the entire cabin. My backpack and I were the two sole occupants of the bus, leaving 24 more of those blue vinyl seats empty. My backpack and I were on a journey to an unknown destination.
"Where ya headed?" Irma Meade, the bus driver, questions.
"Wherever the bus route goes," I replied. "I don't really know yet, just figured I would try out the new system."
I grab a seat behind the driver and take a free route guides as the bus leaves Clement Hall, continuing south on Peachtree Avenue. The Green route looks most appealing because it's the one that goes the furthest. It has the most options.
"Anywhere on campus is a flagdown area." Meade says. "Just pull the yellow rope anytime you want while we're on campus, and I'll pull over."
As it turns out, any time the bus is in a 20 mph zone or lower, passengers can be let on or off the bus.
We pick up our first passenger at the town square: he's a Tech student as well.
"I might as well use it, it's free," the student says. "They're kinda cool too."
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