The White Lie

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/douglas-griggs/collections/usual+excuses

Because San Francisco is such a small, compact city with water on three sides, our crosstown bus routes intersect with every line that goes downtown inbound, or out to a beach on the ocean or by the bay in the opposite direction. Since we also have a large visitor population, we get asked about directions at the front door when we pull up to a stop. In order to maintain a relaxed Zen-like posture and relaxed state of mind, I have finally learned what the visitors are really asking, based upon what stop they are standing at, and that the white lie saves time and confusion even though what I am saying to them is not literally true.

On the crosstown 33 Stanyan, I head inbound on Haight Street for four blocks before I turn-off on Ashbury to go over the Twin Peaks, Clarendon hill, on my way to the Castro, the Mission, and Potrero, which are all non-downtown neighborhoods. But my direction is outbound, even though I am heading inbound on Haight. The question asked continuously by at least one party of visitors, on Stanyan and Clayton at Haight is, “Do you go to Market Street?” The honest answer is yes. The helpful, not literally true answer is no. After coming down the Clarendon hill, the 33 turns on to Market at it’s uppermost point when it becomes renamed as Portola, at what I like to call Dead Man’s Curve. We turn almost 180 degrees on a hairpin turn with a vista of downtown and the East Bay. It is a dramatic turn with a very scenic twist. But there are no major destinations or points of interest at this hairpin turn, save for the lovely view.

We then travel down upper Market for about two blocks, and then head for Castro village, which does place us one block from the Market and Castro underground line (Castro Station). Boarding underground connects easily to all downtown areas and eventually to BART. So if they don’t appear rushed, and are in sightseeing mode, I say yes, to take them to the hairpin vista. If it is p.m. rush and they have shopping bags, I say no. “Do you go to Market?” really means, “Do you go downtown?” They aren’t specifying where on Market they want to go. After asking time and time again where on Market they want to go, I have come to the conclusion they mean somewhere along 4th or 5th and Market, and Powell Station.

So I have learned to say no, and ask them to wait for the 7R. Or walk down to Masonic for the 6, especially if a 7R has just passed. If I am without a leader, and I am running heavy and late, I always say no. This is how we can control our load when carrying passengers who would normally have boarded the coach in front of me.

Same is true on Potrero Blvd., which is like the old business loop highway that was the main road before the freeway was built. People ask along the thoroughfare if I go to Market. Once again, after much experience, I have found the simplest way to move along is to say no. Wait for the number 9. Which really means I don’t go downtown to the Union Square area. The 33 does go to Market and 18th Street, but this is not downtown: it is a residential area miles from downtown. So yes, I do go to Market, but not downtown.

So I find myself having learned what people need by their questions, to answer no, and save time by not going through other questions that add to a delay. Experience with the time of day, how they are dressed, and the regularity of the same question over and over, keeps me talking less, and in a mode to help those who have a destination along my crosstown route. I default to the nearest stop when they ask the open question of a specific business, such as the golden arches. I pass-by two golden arches, three Safeway grocery stores, and three hospitals. I can answer yes, and call out the first one I pass-by.

Usually, most people recognize where they are when they get to the stop they need. Describing the landmarks is usually unnecessary. I don’t need to use sarcastic humor, because it can backfire and lead to a bad experience. I learned early on there will never be an end to the same questions being asked over and over, so conserving my response is the easiest way to staying in the Zen zone.