Buses are commonly thought of as a means of transportation and not much else. However, one of the great advantages taking transit has over taking a car is that a car is a small space of confinement that separates you from the world, but a bus or train is a more open, social place, where everyone can choose to be isolated instead of being forced into this barrier of communication.
For example, if you want to be in your own personal world on the bus, as if you were in a car, all you have to do is put your headphones on or read a book. However, you can also choose to engage in conversation with somebody, which makes the ride more fun and interesting a lot of the time. Sometimes, you'll even be forced into a social situation, for better or for worse.
Because of this, you'll learn something new every day on the bus. Whether you're learning the story of an artist who is homeless by choice who happens to be carrying around a large painting in the back of a D Line bus, or that of a lesbian couple taking their cute puppy to the park on the 40, you're always meeting new, interesting people. You get to know your community better.
So the next time you're on a bus, you can choose to isolate yourself from everyone, or you can learn something new and meet some interesting people with really great stories to tell you. It all depends on what mood you're in.