Reason #5 for NOT taking the 81x

Whenever it rains in San Francisco, the buses fill up like a stray cat in a room full of fish paste. It doesn't matter if you're trying to take the 30, the 45, the T, the J, the N, or the express buses: they all fill beyond capacity. So, this morning being rainy, I noted that in the back of my head. When I stepped off the train and saw no T or J waiting at 4th & King, and also saw the pouring rain, I headed for the 81x.

Now, when I got on, there was just myself, and two other folks (both of whom I recognized). The seats on the bus were nearly full by the time the second train pulled into the station. (Each 81x run serves two trains.) Now, on normal days, the 81x has about half of its seats full with the first train... so I knew what was coming. Sure enough, so many people were trying to cram into the bus that the doors couldn't close.

But this NOT the reason I recommend against taking the 81x.

The 81x makes 0 stops until 3rd & Market. It stops at 3rd & Market, then stops at Post (& Kearny) and Sutter (& Kearny), before making a right turn down Bush into the heart of the Financial District.

Now, the 30, the 45, and the 9 expresses, all make those same stops on 3rd/Kearny. This is troublesome because half of the population of San Francisco takes the 30, the 45, and the various 9's to get into Chinatown. So at the three afore mentioned stops, people to try to cram into the 81x, ignoring the folks in the 81x warning them off.

That's not the real issue either. So what if those folks push in, then start crying the moment the bus turns down Bush? No biggie.

No, the real issue is the driver of the 81x trying to engage said people in conversation. Instead of simply yelling "DO NOT BOARD THIS BUS!" upon opening the doors at Market, Post, and Sutter, he talks to them.
-Person actually waiting for the 9: Where you going?
-81x driver: Where are YOU going?
-P.A.W.F.T. 9: Where you going?
-81x driver: No, where do you want to go?
-P.A.W.F.T. 9: Stockton, Jackson
-81x driver: I. DON'T. GO. THERE!

Meanwhile, the folks trying to get to work are stuck standing in the 81x waiting for this guy to shut up, close the doors, and GET MOVING.

Beyond annoying.

Man, just let them on, or wave them off. Don't try to talk with them about their bus choices.