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public transit
Oct. 14th, 2017 04:49 pmI know, I have been ignoring this blog. But I live a pretty ordinary life these days, with not much interesting enough to post about. :) Now that it’s getting to be winter, it will be cool enough soon to stroll around outside, and I’ll probably share some photos of places like the Corniche, Katara, Souq Waqif, or the Pearl, as these are great places to hang out and wander around in when the weather's nice. And I mean to get out to the Sheikh Faisal museum in November; everyone says it’s very interesting and worth the trip.
I’ve started taking public transit here pretty regularly. Western expats mostly don’t, but I think that’s silly and a bit precious. The buses are clean and air-conditioned, and there is even a priority seating section for women at the front; if male passengers are sitting there, they’re very good about vacating when they see me coming. The bus drivers have been super nice when I’ve interacted with them, too.
(Funny story. One time I flagged down the bus at the stop near where I live, and totally confused the driver, who did stop for me but thought I must be a lost tourist who needed untangling - white women don’t take the bus here*. “Doha Bus?” he asked, referring to the hop-on/hop-off city tourist bus. Me: “No. Lulu!” - which is a supermarket on that bus route. That reassured him I did indeed know what I was doing, odd though my presence was, and he continued on his route.)
Even though taxis are inexpensive here, taking them everywhere adds up! I am quite pleased with my new transit card. Looking forward to the metro opening in 2020, though. I’ll be able to commute to work on the train much faster than any possible alternative, especially during rush hour, and there is a train station under construction only two blocks from where I live.
*There is actually one female teacher at the college who takes the bus regularly too; she gave me an orientation to it and showed me the most efficient route from our residence to campus, etc, which was quite helpful. I am passing the info on when someone is interested. Who knows, maybe more people will start using it.
I’ve started taking public transit here pretty regularly. Western expats mostly don’t, but I think that’s silly and a bit precious. The buses are clean and air-conditioned, and there is even a priority seating section for women at the front; if male passengers are sitting there, they’re very good about vacating when they see me coming. The bus drivers have been super nice when I’ve interacted with them, too.
(Funny story. One time I flagged down the bus at the stop near where I live, and totally confused the driver, who did stop for me but thought I must be a lost tourist who needed untangling - white women don’t take the bus here*. “Doha Bus?” he asked, referring to the hop-on/hop-off city tourist bus. Me: “No. Lulu!” - which is a supermarket on that bus route. That reassured him I did indeed know what I was doing, odd though my presence was, and he continued on his route.)
Even though taxis are inexpensive here, taking them everywhere adds up! I am quite pleased with my new transit card. Looking forward to the metro opening in 2020, though. I’ll be able to commute to work on the train much faster than any possible alternative, especially during rush hour, and there is a train station under construction only two blocks from where I live.
*There is actually one female teacher at the college who takes the bus regularly too; she gave me an orientation to it and showed me the most efficient route from our residence to campus, etc, which was quite helpful. I am passing the info on when someone is interested. Who knows, maybe more people will start using it.
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