'I met my wife on a train platform': Twitter responds to Elon Musk with positive public transport stories
Musk’s dismissal of public transport as ‘painful’ prompted Twitter users to share their stories under the hashtag #GreatThingsThatHappenedonTransit
- What’s your best public transport story? Let us know in the comments
Elon Musk’s criticism of public transport has prompted an outpouring of stories of the connections and community formed in the midst of a “bunch of random strangers” on mass transit.
The billionaire entrepreneur had expressed disdain for the inconvenience and cramped confines of mass transit – along with the potential proximity to “serial killers” – in response to an audience member’s question about public transport and urban sprawl at the Neural Information Processing Systems conference in Long Beach, California, last week.
Related: Is Elon Musk’s plan for a road network beneath LA more than a pipe dream?
You’re an idiot
Christmas decorated buses in Brisbane really get you in the festive mood #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit pic.twitter.com/ahXEFWiwTP
I met my wife on a train platform. https://t.co/8tpO6RJpKh
My parents met on a train. Two dear married friends of mine met on a train.
We should all take more trains!
Riding the New York City Subway’s 1 train to my wedding.#GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
cc: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/NYc8ivnv2o
My wife once helped deliver a baby in a bus shelter while waiting for the @chtransit J bus! https://t.co/yN9VvBweI9 #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I’ve read hundreds of books on the L train. #greatthingsthathappenedontransit
My six year old and I love walking and public transit. So our Sunday activity would be
– walk to the train station
– take the train to next station
– take the bus back home
A circle just 10 km but quality time of at least 2 hours #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Where to start? I’ve discovered great music and read amazing books. I get fashion inspiration from other commuters, and every day I get to simply sit and breathe without distraction. It’s a welcome break from my busy life. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit @ATPcommutes
On my regular ride (the #77 bus in Seattle), there is a father with two delightful young daughters. The older one likes to turn around and offer to read the latest book to the passenger in the next seat. (Seuss, anyone?) Makes everyone smile. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I met a man from Ghana, going to school in Denmark and on an exchange program with the University of Washington. Also met a Somalian refugee. Instead of being alone in my car and stressed about traffic. #greatthingsthathappenedontransit
Recognizing a new classmate on the #97express bus to @ubcokanagan resulted in a conversation and one of the deepest and most meaningful friendships of my adult life. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
A full bottle of wine just rolled out from under a subway seat and now these 2 strangers popped it open & are drinking it. This is peak NYC pic.twitter.com/lni474aoY9
I’ve heard some fantastic music and even witnessed great puppet shows on transit. Brings the whole car together. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I get to read the whole newspaper on my way to work and detach from looking at my phone for awhile. @wmata #bus #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit @elonmusk
Mariachi band. Brooklyn. First day in New York. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit @elonmusk @humantransit
Transit sketches– observing other humans! #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit cc: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/YpP7MebNmr
My stress as a commuter has all but disappeared. I went from the angry solitude of driving to the calm of books and music among my fellow Houstonians. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit https://t.co/s9fY38AowD
As a mom who works shiftwork, my commute is basically my only stress free me time. No trafffic, no interacting with others, nothing I should be doing, just quiet time. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Recognizing a new classmate on the #97express bus to @ubcokanagan resulted in a conversation and one of the deepest and most meaningful friendships of my adult life. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I lost my wallet on the St. Louis Metrolink. Then a few hours later someone cleaning the train said they found it. The returned it to me with all my money. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
As a new expat in Japan, culture shock was rough. A woman approached me as I waited dejectedly for the train, encouraged me in my own language, gave me her card and told me to call her anytime. Ten years on, I’m still grateful for that kindness. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Transit sketches– observing other humans! #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit cc: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/YpP7MebNmr
After moving to a new city with no social supports, little money, I made a bus-buddy. She and her family gave me a turkey for our Christmas dinner because they knew how hard the move had been on us financially. Great kindness #greatthingsthathappenedontransit
My mother has become good friends with a group of women she met taking the bus to work every morning. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit Oh, and @elonmusk I don’t believe any of them are serial killers.
Asked my 12-year-old for positive stories about taking the city bus to school. He said he likes being the only person in his entire school (K-8) to do it. I like that he likes to #BeThatGuy.#GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I once flew from homogenous, monoglot, all-white Munich to Chicago. On the train into town I heard several languages & saw dozens of colors, ages, styles, & religions. It made me proud to be an American. A real life lesson. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I love everyone’s #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit stories. I have too many to count! Conversations on the Trans-Siberian; seeing baby elephants from a bus in Yunnan, China; being shown a secret firefly grotto by the bus driver in NZ because I had genuine interest in his tales.
I began speaking with a really old lady next to me, and we realized that she met my recently dead grandma when they were young. She spoke me about my grandma and her active contribution to the women of her community all the way… @elonmusk #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Canada Line ride today. I settle in, standing. A young person is looking at me. What?!? She gestures at her seat, eyebrows raised. I smile, shake my head and bow deeply. She laughs, and goes back to her book. Just another transit connection. #GreatThingsthatHappenedonTransit
My adult #refugee #ESLlearners often view their transit rides as a time to practice their English small talk, connect to others in their new community, and familiarize themselves with the city. #lifelinetocommunity #placemaking #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I was on @SEPTA Regional Rail in Philly once and heard a 9/11 first responder tell his story. It was a great experience. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
A Dutch WWII vet on my bus told me what life was really like in the Japanese POW camp depicted in the movie ‘Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence’ #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I rode @wmata into the Women’s March. The crowd was too thick so we were stuck in the station for a while, so a transit employee sang for us. It was a fantastic start. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
By taking transit everyday and (almost) everywhere, I have never had the expense of car ownership. Instead I was able to afford a house #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
I thank everyone using public transport improving air quality and safety for cyclists like me #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Not only did I meet my wife on a train, but the extra walking led me to a healthier lifestyle and to lose over 50 pounds. I also ended up with the coolest job in the world thanks to ditching my car and nerding out over transit. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Once saw a blind man greet a deaf man on the bus, obviously knew each other, they spent whole ride having animated conversation using sign language in their hands. Watching this example of friendship was so heartwarming. @elonmusk @humantransit #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
on the streetcar today, two old men who hadn’t seen each other in apparently decades delightedly recognized each other
one of them then said “oh, George, it’s been so long. And what a beautiful life I’ve had!”
What a great way to turn @elonmusk‘s idiotic statement into a wonderful uplifting tribute to the #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit
Source: Guardian Transport
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