15. January 2009 by admin.

Get ready everyone — the Auto Show is about to begin.  Here’s the all important Tunnel Bus - Auto Show checklist:

1.  Go to the bathroom before leaving Windsor in the morning and before leaving the office.

2.  Don’t forget rule 1.

3.  Don’t make any appointments in Windsor during the Show.  You’ll never get back in time.

4.  Take Martin Luther King’s Birthday off.

5.  Don’t forget rule number 1

6.  Wear a warm coat, gloves and hat.  You might be standing outside as Tunnel Bus after Tunnel Bus pass by you full.

7.  Program Transit Windsor’s telephone number into your cell phone.

8.  Be on very good behavior with regular bus drivers — offers of cookies and treates makes sure you have a space reserved.

9.  Take a vacation if you can.

10.  Did I say this before?  Do NOT forget to go to the bathroom!  Take it from someone who has experience with this one!  DO NOT FORGET!

Posted in Auto Show, Rules | No Comments »

14. January 2009 by admin.

Well, gang, we’ve reached that time of the year when fashion goes out the window and warm clothes must prevail.  As a Tunnel Bus rider during the next couple of weeks, you need to be prepared for just about any type of weather — cold and snow.  After all, it is NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) season.  For the uninformed, this means potential delays in crossing the border, especially in the afternoon.

So, let’s talk about the necessary requirements to wait for the afternoon bus in 5 F above weather with 20 mile-an-hour winds.  Just like your mother told you, dress in layers.  Long underwear, t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, shirts, sweaters, two or three pairs of socks (one wool), gloves, scarf, and of course, fur hat for those of us that are focilely changed.  One more word of caution.  Important tip:  Always go to the bathroom first.  It’s difficult to remove all those close in an emergency!

Posted in Weather, Rules | 1 Comment »

27. October 2008 by admin.

Greetings!

I’ve been thinking for a long time that it’s time for those who cross the US border from Canada and vis-versa to have a place to comment on their experiences.

For years, I have commuted daily from Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan for work.  A majority of my “underwater” time is spent in the Tunnel Bus operated by Transit Windsor.  The bus ride is only a few miles long but my fellow passengers and I have many unique stories about our travels.  I have often told family and friends that I should write a book on my Tunnel Bus experiences.  Well, this is no book but perhaps someday I will gather enough real life experiences that a book will be in the making.

So I hope that you will come back often and read about a very small portion of my day.  The daily commute!  I will share not only daily interactions with US and Canadian Customs officials as I go between the these two great countries but describe some of the characters that ride the bus and the bus itself. 

Let’s start off with a simple question, how long does your daily commute take?  My commute from door-to-door is 5 miles and take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours.  The only trouble is I never how long it will be until I’m on the bottom of the Detroit River often without cellphone coverage.  For anyone travelling across the International Border from Windsor to Detroit, my first rule of thumb is: always go to the bathroom before you leave!

Rule 2:  NEVER forget rule 1!

Posted in Rules, Greetings | 3 Comments »