By AMY ANDERSON
Trying to find exact change; deciphering the small print on the route schedule; figuring out how long before your stop to pull the cord -- this is bus-ride anxiety.
Just like a few awkward blind dates, you discover afterwards that most normal social encounters are a good experience.
So is riding the bus.
For four months last summer I commuted from Draper to Provo and honed my bus-riding survival skills.
Some of the most common reasons people have less-than-ideal experiences on the bus are also the most easily remedied. For first-time riders, a general lack of knowing how use the bus system is the major deterrent.
Begin with a call to the UTA bus information hotline. Operators can tell you what bus numbers can pick you up at certain times and locations and conversely, when and where they can drop you off -- you just tell them where you are, where you want to go and your approximate time frame.
Once you figure out what routes will be most useful pick up a schedule. These can be found at the information desk in the ASB as well as on the buses themselves.
Bus schedules generally stay the same throughout the year. UTA notifies its riders in advance of any changes both on board the buses and at bus stops. The only thing to be wary of is your own schedule reading abilities. Always make sure you're looking at the right direction -- generally you'll be either north or southbound -- and the right day. Service differs on weekends and holidays.
Also ask the UTA operator about fares. The express bus that connects Utah Valley to Salt Lake Valley is $1.75. Local fares are under a dollar and can vary, depending on your status as a student, senior citizen, etc.
Once you know your fare, make sure to have the exact change ready. There's nothing like losing $5 to an 85 cent bus ride. If you plan on riding five days or more a week for a period of a month, consider buying a monthly pass. They are equivalent to 20 round trip bus rides and can be purchased at the BYU Bookstore or at SmithTix.
Bus drivers are a great resource. They know their routes very well and know the best and fastest way to get you to your destination. You may have to speak up, however, because buses can be noisy and the drivers may be used to tuning out passenger conversation.
Other passengers can be pretty bus-savvy. Let others board before you to see if you pay when you board or exit. Watch to see when they pull the cord for their stop. And ask whether or not the bus you're on will take you a certain distance.
If you need to ride two different buses to get where you're going, be sure to get a transfer from the driver. They're only issued upon boarding and are only good for a certain period of time. For short errands, you can ride to and from your destination on one fare payment.
Some potential bus passengers hesitate to use the mass-transit system for image reasons -- both theirs and that of UTA.
Rather than the stereotype, inner-city representations sometimes seen on T.V., UTA buses are quite accommodating of all passenger types and is a melting pot of personalities. From the free spirit riding cross-country from Alabama to Las Vegas, to the executive tapping away at his lap-top computer, buses are host to a wider variety of types than most people think.
Top company executives are realizing the benefits of bus riding that range from saving on transportation money and wear and tear on personal vehicles, to the peace of mind gained from letting someone else battle traffic and are giving their employees incentives to do the same.
The environmental movement is also a proponent of mass transportation. One car driven for a year dumps more than 62 pounds of carbon monoxide, nine pounds of hydrocarbons and four pounds of nitrogen oxides into the air, according to the Department of Environmental Quality.
From a personal viewpoint, riding the bus gives me a sense of independence that most people think is impossible with public transportation. It's impossible for all the buses to be in the shop at the same time. And you don't have to let your sister borrow the bus for a weekend. A bus has yet to be towed for parking along the side of the road. And the only monetary obligation I have to a bus is the 85 cents in change I pay for each ride. That's quite a bit less than car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance and parking fees. I can also snooze behind the wheel and the only thing in jeopardy is me missing my stop.
'I don't like driving in bad weather and I'm scared to drive in the snow. And riding the bus is convenient. I catch it at the mall in Orem and ride to BYU. There are a lot of options,' said Jennifer Junge, a junior from Olympia, Wash., majoring in zoology.
Busing can be an ideal way to get where you need to go and even go places you wouldn't normally think of. For instance, the express bus goes from 100 N. University Avenue all the way to Crossroads Mall in Salt Lake. From there, anyone needing a lift to the airport can simply transfer and arrive at their destination without having to bum a ride or pay a lot of money for a taxi or airport shuttle.
There are even free-fare zones all year round in downtown Salt Lake and some days that extends all the way to Provo.
While the current bus system carries 63,000 people daily in Salt Lake County, this figure is expected to increase to 107,000 by 2010, according to website figures. UTA is planning future changes, including additional routes, to accommodate Utah's growing transportation needs and make bus riding more convenient.