I am Jonathan, the other cellist and expert on the Transportational Arts. Let me start off by talking about all my wonderful experiences on the 3 and 4.
With my cello on the bus, I constantly get remarks and questions from strangers about my "bass", or "guitar", or even "viola". "Is that a vi-ola, or geetar?" Or "You couldn't have played the flute/piccolo, could you?..." But nothing compares to that one golden moment, the most glorious, unexpected moment, just when I thought it couldn't get worse. While approaching Harborview, I heard a voice: "Excuse me, could you move your trumpet?" I kid you not. I, unfortunately was not the one to have the pleasure of receiving this comment, it was a friend, but I was there.
Once, when getting on some random 3 or 4, I didn't know whether it went all of the way to Queen Anne or not (the sign still said "Madrona/34AV" on it, so that wasn't much help). So, naturally, I asked "do you go all of the way to Queen Anne?", or something of that variation. She just looked at me like "are you sure you want to ask that", as if it were somehow rude for me to have asked such a question. Very understandable. I associate with people too. If someone asked me a question because they didn't know things and I were the
paid expert on the exact things they didn't know, I'd always have to humiliate them in front of others before I answer them,
too. It's all just part of the job.
Another time, the driver (different one) accelerated. I think we all can understand that it is the driver's right to drive forward. Driving is one of the most important parts of driving a bus. Common ground. Someone thought that wasn't so much the case so, when they weren't expecting it to drive forwards, they fell down with the acceleration. "SON OF A B****!", the passenger yelled at the driver, and proceeded to argue with the driver about the matter.
Quality entertainment. Never a boring moment.