There's not much to say about my story. I've been on busses on and off my entire life. My mom used to ride the bus quite a bit when I was young. I vaguely remember a bus ride that took us through Downtown LA on an RTD Grumman Flixible. When I was older, my interest piqued a little bit when I would often see an artic or a double-decker making its way out of the El Monte Busway.

It wasn't until about mid-1995 that I started to ride the bus more often by myself, thanks to an overbearing house guest (and he was bearing it all, believe me). Because of him (and his rear end), I just wanted to get out of the house and ride the bus. When I started out, I knew absolutely NOTHING about riding a bus. Every time I boarded a bus, I paid the full fare: $1.35. I had no concept of the transfer. I learned more and more while riding, but I still couldn't get this one nagging problem out of the way.

Even now, I still find it difficult to ride. I'm partially sighted. I can't see to well. o going places on a bus is a bit hard since I can barely see where I'm going. Most of the drivers (not just MTA, but on other systems) for some reason, don't usually call out bus stops, even though by law, they are supposed to call out major stops.. Specifically, my problem is with MTA Division 5. Those drivers are notorious for not calling out stops as hey should. Getting a seat at the front of the bus is also not that easy. My disability is not really very noticeable, so most people will choose not to give up their seats.

When the Red Line to Wilshire/Western opened, I discovered a certain transit advocacy group called SO. CA. TA. At first glance, I thought they were an evil organization, since at the time, I thought they were opposed to all forms of rail. I came back sometime and bought a Transit Guide from them. I found it really useful. I learned a lot from it. That's when I began to take the bus to far off places like Laguna Hills, San Bernardino, and Riverside, for example.

Months later, politics began to spark my interest when the BRU-ha-ha reared their collective ugly heads with the consent decree. I thought, "Bye, bye rail." I didn't think much of them since they constantly kept getting themselve arrested.

These days, I consider myself a bus fan, although not as big as some of the other people I've met. Those people (who will remain nameless) helped to influence me into what I am today (unfortunately). Those people are the good folks at SO.CA.TA. and the RTS (the Rapid Transit Society, a hobbyist group made up of bus fans, for those who don't already know). Though some of the membership may not act it, they are all very informed, and (somewhat) well-educated people, unlike the BRU-ha-ha (you all know what I've said about them). I've been a member since May 97, and I will keep on being a member of both groups.