I've been riding public transportation in LA for the better part of 15 years, maybe even longer. Riding the bus here in Phoenix using noticeably better experience. Here is one example.
The other day I was going to a job interview in an area where the bus runs once an hour. I was quite excited about it and I was talking to the driver as I always do. She dropped me off and wished me well As I was leaving my interview going out to catch the bus I was nearly 3 blocks away from the bus stop when I saw the bus approaching. NOTE: I can no longer run because of a bad motorcycle accident a few years ago (she didn't know this) so I simply waved and sighed. I could see in the distance she had stopped and no one got off the bus. So I stilted over there as quickly as I could. She had stopped for me and waited to let me on the bus.
I've only been here in Phoenix for a little over 30 days and I rode the bus many of those days. I've had countless wonderful experiences and 2 displeasing ones. Be it they were bad but not noteworthy So I'll not pay them anymore lip service. Back to the brighter side and my reasoning for giving five stars to this transportation system. Every driver that I've observed minds very closely a list that sits in the center of the wheel or just to the right of it. On them are the names of all the major intersections on the route and the times they are supposed to be there. Then directly to their left and slightly above their head is a GPS device. Not only does the GPS device tell the driver there running ahead of time but so does the list to their right which is easier to read. These people driving the buses deal with all kinds of BS. But I have yet to see any of them deviate from this practice of waiting until their bus is again on schedule at every major intersection listed in the time points to the right and on the GPS. Nor have I noticed any of them being impatient or crappy.
Hey life is what you make it. I know some people who have a crappy time no matter what and I almost think that they're dead set on having a crappy time. Yes the bus has some creatures on it in human skin that smell like various awful things sometimes. But remember we all have something in common with them. A need to get somewhere and there you are on the bus doing just that. So live with it.
These fine ladies and gentlemen that drive us around on these buses, in my experience are often wonderful and I have a lot of love for them. FIVE WELL DESERVED STARS !