Eric Skripka got off of a bus on University Ave. in St. Paul (news accounts do not say, but I assume it was either a 16 or 50) when Brian Edward Harper pushed a woman off the bus and then onto the ground. When Eric tried to stop the beating he got knocked down and kicked repeatedly in the head until unconscious.

Unfortunately, Mr. Skripka is out of work an does not have health insurance. A fund had been started to help him pay for his medical costs. Please stop into any TCF branch to donate, or send checks to:

Eric Skripka Benefit Account
TCF Bank
801 Marquette Ave. S.
Minneapolis MN 55402

As a rider on these routes who has confronted thugs in the past this story really makes me feel ‘there but for the grace of god’.

In addition to thanking Mr Skripka for what he did I will be sending in as much as I can spare and hope that all readers of this blog (and users of Metro Transit services) do the same. I hope too it inspires more riders to help keep watch and speak/act against those seem incapable of behaving like humans on the bus.

I didn’t catch the beginning of it but one decided to sit next to me and the other right across from me (lucky me huh?). They were screaming at each other about “selling ass and pussy” and how “I saved you from that.” Well, one of them had a child so I don’t personally think anyone did any saving. They keep going back and forth, f— this and f— that and f— you. This goes on until 5th St & Cedar St, when they got off the bus. Sounded like they were going for route 64. I told the bus driver “I feel sorry for that guy. For the shit he is going to have to put up with from these drama queens.”

It always entertains me when people argue in public places. They must not really care when you’re “airing your dirty laundry” in public. Most of them end of on the Internet, like this.

Makes me wish common sense was common. *sigh*

A few stops later, another driver comes on the bus, taking over for the original driver who exits the bus. The bus pulls away. Somehow this guy notices and starts asking the new driver for a transfer (the guy still hasn’t paid). The driver explains she can’t do so. He continues to argue with her until she pulls over and calls the transit police.

My friend, who’d been watching the whole thing (and who was in a hurry to get to the interview) stood up, walked to the front, told the guy “You didn’t even pay to get on! Get off the bus now!” and turned to the driver, who was still on the phone and told her that he hadn’t paid. The guy pulls himself up on the pole, swings around, and exits the bus. The driver thanked him and told the police that a nice rider took care of it.

****To see images of this wonderful situation, look at http://www.seathogs.com/2010/05/10/seat-hog-shows-up-to-punish-bus-pig/

The mother was talking so loudly on her phone to her grandmother the entire ride that I can say based on her own words that she was 20 years old, from Chicago and indignant about her social workers and public assistance. As she rode and shouted into the phone she did her best to keep up her weight by inhaling a bag of doritos.

I thank my lucky stars that I on the other hand had not yet had breakfast, because it likely would have ended up on my lap: periodically the mom would stand up to shift her substantial frame and each time I wished she had gotten up a few minutes earlier that day so that she had had time to put on a pair of underwear. Instead, about three inches of hairy butt crack was wafted in front of my face. As if that biohazard were not enough to recommend bleaching the seat after her departure the worst was yet to come.

Around Lexington Big Mama tilted her head back and cleared her throat. She hacked again, and again and again. Then with not a care in the world she leaned forward and apparently dropped the phlegm on the floor. I could not believe it. Surely she had a napkin on her lap and I was misreading the situation… So, I stood up, looked at the floor, and sure enough there was a yellowy puddle between her feet on the bus floor.

Wow. I thought about speaking to the bus driver, but Metro Transit rules state: “Don’t smoke, eat or listen to music without headphones”, so apparently hacking loogies was not directly banned. I thought of talking directly to her, but figured that somebody so poorly raised / mannered was more likely to hit or shoot me than take my words to heart. I was about to let it slide when a few blocks latter another mother with a stroller came on board. Big Mama, shifted over to the left side to sit with her baby, thus giving the new mom a place to put her stroller (also draped with blankets). As the new mom was shifting the conveyance in place I spoke up:

“Excuse me mam- be very careful while wheeling that stroller into the seat- somebody has been spitting on the floor there and it would be a shame to get the phlegm onto your baby’s blanket. It is pretty disgusting and likely to get your baby sick.” I looked right at Big Mama while talking to see if it registered at all. Her face stayed focused on the chips she was shoveling into her mouth and I have no idea if anything clicked with her. Still, my passive aggression at least made me feel better.

I am still in awe at the animalistic display. I guess I should be lucky though that Big Mama did not have to defecate, as I half suspect she would have lowered her droopy drawers another half inch and plopped it right on the floor.

Of course the really sad situation is the baby. Imagine what she/he will grow up like with this behavior considered normal and acceptable in the house.

10 minutes later…

“HOW YOU DOIN!!?” yells the old Native American man without teeth.

“How am I doing?? 10 minutes later you ask me how am I doing?!” calls the bus driver.

“YEAH!!! HOW YOU DOIN!?” yells the old man.

“Haha… doing well, young man. What have you been doing all morning?” says the bus driver.

“I SLEPT UNDER A BRIDGE!!!” yells the old man.

“Slept under a bridge!? Ain’t there any shelters or churches??” says the bus driver.

“I GOT KICKED OUT!!!” says the old man.

“Kicked out!?! For what!?” replies the bus driver.

“THEY SMELLED MY BREATH!” yells the old man.

“Smelled your breath?! Were you drinking!?” asks the bus driver.

“POT!!” yells the old man.

“Haha I can’t help you out with that one. ” Says the bus driver.

“WELL CAN YOU ROLL ME A CIG!!!!?” yells the old man.