Live from the back seats

The purpose of today's blog is merely a test. Well, mostly a test.

I am trying to see just how easy it is to be riding and writing and it is already posing it's own set of challenges from trying to keep the netbook on my lap (on one of those old orange buses that shakes worse than a recovering junky on day 3) to learning how to use one of these netbooks . Ahhh but thou doth protest too much LeGiff!

I must say though that this is a most uncomfortable venture sitting sideways as the bus rocks side to side (I'm bouncing up and down as a result) incessantly. I am getting a cramp in my leg from trying to keep the netbook in a position where I can write. It does however highlight a need to retire the remaining dinosaurs that these orange buses are I would think. It's also making me rethink the idea that Wi-Fi on the buses will be a useful venture. Not much, but a little anyway.

This past Wednesday, a proposal was put into the LTC to implement Wi-Fi services on LTC buses. Having been very close to purchasing the aforementioned netbook I was thinking "How timely, I'm all for it!" Now I'm wondering if it's a completely practical idea. Of course, it'd be a different scenario were I trying to create this post on a tablet or an IPod touch etc.

The one thing that bothers me most is that in all debates n the subject (and other ideas posed to the London Transit Commission is that someone will bring up in blog and newspaper comments, the idea of paying for the Wi-Fi in their ticket pricing. Why does this always have to be the first concern? Can we not find ways to implement these initiatives to be self sustaining and fiscally responsible?

I truly believe that the service could be worth a $10.00 (arbitrary amount just for arguments sake) card purchase that allows the rider to have a passcode entered into the device of their choice for instant login on the buses. I am sure there are folks who feel that it should be "free" (nothing is free of course) but my fear is that the discussion will arise again about raising ticket prices, and we all know what that discussion will get us right?

(The cramp in my leg is getting worse!)

Some people have argued that there are too many gadgets on the buses taking up people's attentions. Before the electronics took over there were many ways to close yourself out from others on the bus, especially the "crazies". Newspapers, books, a Walkman etc.; there`s always been a desire for privacy or anonymity on the public bus systems.

Now in the latter half of my 80 minutes a day I am sitting in a forward facing sideways seat and am typing far more easily. The bus sways a little but not near enough to be a hindrance to writing. My little experiment is working out quite positively at this point now. As long as I get the right seats in the future I will be able to write without issues.

I'm pretty sure that anyone reading this is probably saying "WTF? Why do I care about the ease of which you can write on the bus?" Well really I am just trying to prove a point to myself and to Larry Ducharme (general manager of the LTC) that it can be done. If we had Wi-Fi on this bus I'd be just about ready to post this blog entry. Seeing as we don't you'll just have to wait I suppose ;)

Thanks for reading anyway and when I have something more significant to share with you I will be sure to blog it ASAP.