RIPTA stands for:

Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority. I have been a regular RIPTA rider for a month now so I’ve learned a thing or two about it. Although I have a valid New Jersey driver’s license I do not own a car and so resort to taking the bus. At first, coming from a place where you can take a bus-jitney-train-subway-taxi anywhere anytime, I was daunted by the inefficiency and infrequency of the RIPTA system. However, in the past few weeks I’ve learned to work with it.

To get to work I walk 10 minutes from our house to the bus stop, the bus picks me up then drops me off at the closest shopping plaza where I wait 10 minutes for another bus to pick me up then drop me off at the mall which is a 2 minute walk from my job. In order to make it on time I must leave the house an hour before my shift begins. By car, it takes 15 minutes--tops, but by RIPTA bus it takes 40. Not to mention the fact that they are rarely on time, sometimes very late and sometimes very early. So far though, I’ve only ever missed the bus once so I think I’m handling it well.

I’ve even learned to appreciate RIPTA and all it has to offer. For instance, I get my monthly bus pass for 1/2 price by posing as a university student saving me $30. Since not many people ride the bus on a regular basis I am recognized by the bus drivers and have formed something of a relationship with them. They are friendly and helpful and look out for me. Riding the bus also makes for excellent people watching as only the most out there characters dare use public transportation (ok ok and the occasional student too). Plus, I get a lovely view of all the oceanfront properties and the beach on my way to work. It’s kind of peaceful--I can just sit, daydream, read, think and not worry about driving or traffic. So there are pros and cons to my daily commute, just like everything else in life.

And now I must go eat lunch and get ready for work in order to catch the bus an hour before my shift starts.

Until next time...