Maddenation
Worse than Harmless
Recalling Dad’s observation about negative information (where some guy told him a WPHS door was locked, but it really wasn’t), I want to add this observation about Montevideo city buses: they all have specific numbers and one-line destination tags that let you know where they’ll end up and where they’re going on the way (if you were born in Uruguay, this information came preloaded with your brain; if you are a foreigner, you have to ask a lot and try to memorize). Fine. But some buses also have numbers on the right side and back windows. Problem is, a single bus may run different routes throughout the day or week or month, and while the front number is always correct, the side and back numbers are updated infrequently, so that you never know if you should trust them. This is not a problem if you’re waiting at the bus stop when the bus comes, but if you’re a block away and don’t notice the bus until it passes you, and you see on the back that it’s the bus you need, so you run full speed for a block in order to catch it, and maybe hop up the stairs as it’s pulling away, without getting to look at the number on the front, and maybe if you forget to ask the driver if it’s really the bus you want … Could be disastrous. We’d all be better off without those numbers on the side and back, because they’re wrong 86% of the time, and you can never know which 14% are right.
Patrick • Observations • 05/13/03 • 0 comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
Please capitalize your name properly and use the same information each time you comment. We will not send you spam, and your email address will not be posted.