TRANSPORT IMPACTS

While undertaking my courses in transport - I was soon told to associate the travel time with time lost (temps perdu). However, I realized that while you may have some restrictions on what you can do while traveling, your time is not sucked into a vacuum - you can still get things done.

I thought I’d make a list of things that I do while taking different modes of transport - please feel free to let me know your secrets and I’ll add them to the lists.

Waiting for the bus or train

• Juggle and play with devil sticks (funny sticks that you kinda juggle with)
• Knit (if you can get a seat)
• Read
• Dance to my MP3 player (when nobody is watching)
• Chat to strangers (note - not everyone likes chatting so be wary)
• Walk up and down the platform
• Bet with other patrons on how late the bus will be (I don’t normally endorse gambling)

On the train

• Get my laptop out and work
• Read
• Knit
• Draw, write
• Think about what I can cook for dinner
• Sleep
• People-watch

On the bus

• Knit (if not too close to the next person)
• Clean out my wallet or bag (if you have the space)
• Sleep
• Think about how to improve the bus system
• Chat to someone (often about how to improve the bus system)

On my bike

• Practise my French speaking (any language works) - I try to philosophize out loud in French
• Learn new tricks on my bike
• Sing in loud traffic (so no one can hear me)
• Chat to other cyclists about how lucky we are to be cycling
• Get fit (or justify eating more chocolate)
• Smile

In the elevator

• Practise capoeira moves (when I’m alone)
• Occasionally chat - but not too often
• Watch how people avoid eye contact with each other and stare at the door
• Stare at the door