My OperaMetro Busses
Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:23:42 PM
The editor was driving east on U Street, say about Thirteenth Street, last evening. There was traffic, but it was moving. And there was a Metro Bus.
The editor now understands why they paint those white lines about a car width to the right side of the yellow lines, theoretically separating the hammer and sandwich lanes. There was a Metro bus with his left wheels straddling the white line, block after block. I.e., the bus was taking half of the left hand lane. The extra space on the right means that the driver doesn't have to slow down and drive carefully. He (notice the assumption) can put the hammer down.
So those extra lines in the road help the driver go faster. Or something. The editor just hung back and passed when the driver stopped to pick up passengers. Of course, the Metro driver left the rear end out far enough that the editor had to cross over the yellow line to get around, but the bus was momentarily within the speed limit.
Separate Question:
Many moons ago, the editor learned that the plural of bus was busses. These days it seems to be buses. Was that to save paint on signs? Can't seem to find a good answer. Obviously, standing alone, busses can be ambiguous. But it would seem clear on a traffic sign.
The editor now understands why they paint those white lines about a car width to the right side of the yellow lines, theoretically separating the hammer and sandwich lanes. There was a Metro bus with his left wheels straddling the white line, block after block. I.e., the bus was taking half of the left hand lane. The extra space on the right means that the driver doesn't have to slow down and drive carefully. He (notice the assumption) can put the hammer down.
So those extra lines in the road help the driver go faster. Or something. The editor just hung back and passed when the driver stopped to pick up passengers. Of course, the Metro driver left the rear end out far enough that the editor had to cross over the yellow line to get around, but the bus was momentarily within the speed limit.
Separate Question:
Many moons ago, the editor learned that the plural of bus was busses. These days it seems to be buses. Was that to save paint on signs? Can't seem to find a good answer. Obviously, standing alone, busses can be ambiguous. But it would seem clear on a traffic sign.
