Whatever it is (I need to marinate for a few days to come up with just the right name), the guy who drove my morning 48 today certainly earned one. He was just plain mean to a poor, innocent newbie who asked (politely) how to use the bike rack, barking unclear instructions at him and then honking–angrily and repeatedly–when the newbie’s performance didn’t meet with his approval. When the honking failed to convey his crystal-clear message, he stormed off the bus and (I will assume, since I couldn’t see) performed the job himself. I am certain that there was more shouting involved.

Here’s a question: If a person can’t ask the driver for help with something like this, exactly how is he supposed to learn it? Yes, it slows the bus down (yet another reason not to blame the driver when your route is late), but unlike schedule times and fare structures, which can be learned by using the Internet or the telephone, this is not something one can “figure out” without trying at least once. Unless there’s a special practice rack I haven’t heard of.