I took a trip down memory lane for my Applications of Interactive Technology class. One of the two assignments is to ride the Manhattan M5 bus from it’s origin at La Guardia Place and Houston all the way to its final stop at the George Washington Bridge bus terminal (179th and Ft. Washington).
My original goal for the trip was to collect sound samples for use in my assignment. I wanted to make a sound collage of my journey to fulfill the requirements of the assignment, but I quickly discovered that the only sounds I could capture from inside the bus were the conversations of the passengers and the rumbling of the engine. If I’m going to make this happen, I will have to ride my bicycle along the route another day.
This is only the second time I’ve ridden a bus in Manhattan. My first ride was in a torrential downpour years ago when I was visiting colleges. Although I’ve cycled some of the route the M5 took, I haven’t had the opportunity until now to travel most of the length of the island above ground. Cycling in Manhattan doesn’t allow for leisurely observations or photography.