Please. It's a good word.

4 Comments

Tags:

Please. It's a good word. I won't lecture you on its use—I'm not your mother. But here are my pleas to you.

Please don't honk at me when I'm loading fares. It's not my fault that you were riding my ass so closely that you had to slam on the brakes, nor that you were so inattentive you didn't notice my flashers going on halfway down the block. Would you honk at a bus?

Please let me know you're paying with a card when you get in. I can usually start running it and have an approval number by the time we get where we're going, lessening your wait.

Please don't let a cabbie give you shit for using a card. Get his cab number and report his scamming ass—he makes us all look bad.

Please do get in and out on the curb side whenever possible.

Please don't just blithely fling the door open when you get out. You clip a car or slam a cyclist, I get in more trouble than you.

Cyclists, please get some lights. You won't find a driver more sympathetic to cyclists than I, but even I can't fucking see you at night. Surely your life is worth $9.99?

And above all: If you've been drinking, please call a cab. Would you rather ride in a refurbished cop car, or a cop car proper? It's a no-brainer. You can come back for your car in the morning. Really.

Thank you for listening.

08.01.2006 at 09:00 Reply

Story Forum Archive

Please. It's a good word.So is 'thank you,' as in thank you for making me laugh, sigh, and think depending on the subject of your column.—Scott

08.02.2006 at 09:00 Reply

Please. It's a good word.A note about the cabbie that would not accept credit cards.A few years ago I went to the Waterfront fireworks on Fourth of July at the Hawthorne Bridge. After the event, every Tri-Met bus that went by was full and the driver was refusing boarding of any passengers. Of course Tri-Met did not provide additional buses.The hours got later and the bus service stopped, leaving a few dozen riders on the Hawthorne Bridge.Then a taxi cab came along, heading down McLoughlin Blvd. to Milwaukie. I got in, along with a few other people, then asked the cabbie if he took cards. We were already rolling down McLoughlin and said he couldn't take cards. I didn't have cash (just bus pass) either and it was very early morning the next day.The cabbie said to me not to worry, I got you covered. Once I got to my destination at McLoughlin and Tacoma Street, I said to the cabbie "thank you" for the ride.The cabbie was generous to offer a stranded bus passenger a comlimentary ride, where mass public transit failed. Later the next day, I complained to TriMet about the poor service and planning for a large event, leaving riders stranded at bus stops.The next year I rode my bike, via Willamette River bike path through Sellwood.—Stranded Tri-Met Rider

08.04.2006 at 09:00 Reply

Please. It's a good word.please.please stop printing this column.—not a fan

08.05.2006 at 09:00 Reply

"Would you honk at a bus?"Of course they would.On a weekend, they start the night angry, and finish it drunk and angry.Love the column, keep it up! Please.—Bus driver