I live in Cleveland, and, in Cleveland, the public transportation system offers special ID cards to people with disabilities that let them ride busses and trains for a discounted fare. I guess I have often wondered what kind of extra stigma these cards and their use would embody when the holder is not obviously blind or in a wheelchair. Today I found out.

The busses in Cleveland are notorious for having signs--the ones that say what the route number is and what the bus’s destination is--that are broken, hard to read, or just plain wrong. I was running late, having had to hop off the last bus that had left the station just before it left and one moment after I had boarded. You see, I had forgotten my duffel bag on a bench--duh! I was on my way to an appointment, too, and did not want to be late.

So, fortunately--or so it seemed--another one of the busses on this route pulled in a minute and a half later. But I was wondering why another one would follow the other so quickly, even though this is probably the busiest route in town. I was the only one boarding because everyone else had caught the previous bus. Just to be safe, I asked the driver if this was the "x" bus going to "y." She gave an evasive answer, and looked around the area. (I guess she was checking for transit supervisors, who watch over the drivers.) I asked again, adding that, "The sign is a little faded." It was, even though it was electronic. She gave me a dirty look, and muttered something else.

By now I knew this had to be the right bus, so I paid the reduced fare and showed my discount card--you always have to do this. To explain my question before I headed for my seat, I said, "I just wanted to be sure?"

Her reply was this: "With that card, I guess you need to be sure."

I was very incensed, and every person I have told about this today since that has been angry, too. So, I guess I’m not being goofy about the whole thing. I’m still a bit angry, but I try to calm myself by realizing, as other people have said to me, that she was being both "mean" and "ignorant." I add to this "unprofessional," if that even applies to bus drivers.

I was angry and I stewed and thought of saying something. Later on I was still angry, and someone had told me anger gives you energy you have to use for something positive for you or someone else. This message or page--whichever you are reading--is what I have done with my energy, for better or worse.

So, that was today’s little adventure. If you have one of these fare cards and ever wondered? Well, wonder no more. I don’t.

-Plastic-