I've never done this before in my years of taking BART, but between reading my book, feeling too tired, suffering from allergies, and having a half-functioning brain this morning, I got off at Powell station instead of Civic Center station.
In my head, I miscounted the stops since the train crossed the tube, and then with my ears plugged up and my eyes watery (from allergies), I thought I saw "Civic Center" sign at the Powell stop, and even imagined hearing "Civic Center/UN Plaza". I hurriedly shut my book and shoved it in my bag as if I am almost going to miss getting off the train. I run out as fast as I could past the train door before it closes.
Right as I turned my body towards the escalators, I realized, wait, this doesn't look like the Civic Center station. At that moment, the train departs. I then realized, WHAT AN IDIOT I AM, I GOT OFF ONE STATION TOO EARLY!
I've never done this before and can't believe I got off at Powell after getting off the same exit for many years! It ended up not being a huge deal since there are plenty of trains heading towards Daly City. I hopped on the next train, which was 2 minutes later, and had enough time to run after my connecting shuttle.
Boy, if this is a sign on how the week is going to turn out, I better drink extra coffee in the morning!
8 comments:
Better one stop early than one stop late! I've fallen asleep in the afternoons and woken up just as the doors closed at Walnut Creek. At that time of day riding to Pleasant Hill and waiting for a return train takes a lot more than a couple of minutes. Now, if I am sitting, I always stand up a stop before my station and wait by the doors....
I think everyone eventually gets off at the wrong station if you take BART regularly.
-Andy
Not only have I gotten off too early, one day I rode all the way to 16th St. and had to come back on a jammed train to Civic Center.
thanks for the words of support. i guess i cant believe i actually thought i saw the sign and heard the stop! haha. actually, i have gotten of late before but it was on purpose because i was on a firedrill call with work and thought it'd be easier if i just stayed inside the train.
Not only have I missed my stop before, but once, on the way home, I actually boarded the wrong train. Somehow on auto-pilot, I boarded a Richmond train. In spite of the bright red signs and loud announcements. I didn't realize until I was already in the East Bay. The worst part was having to wait and transfer onto a standing-room-only train and have nowhere to sit all the way home. I'm just glad that I realized before I got past MacArthur.
You're not the only one. I've read past Castro Valley going home and ended up at Dublin. Ten minutes there. Ten minutes waiting for another train (mine went out of service). Ten minutes back. 30 minutes lost!
Then there was the time we got on a Pittsburg train instead of Dublin and didn't notice until MacArthur. It was hysterical. I looked up and saw where we were and said to my friend "Get. Off. Now!" That pretty much cost us another 30 minutes.
Good times ...
I mostly ride the train to and from work, but occasionally I drive. One day I rushed to catch the train home from Oakland, and when I got to my usual parking area in Hayward, I remembered I had actually driven to work. I had to return to Oakland to get my car. Getting off at the wrong station is amateur idiocy compared with forgetting how you got to work.
Oh that is really funny!! I guess taking BART can get so routine sometimes that when we break the routine, i.e. drive, our body & mind still continues w/ the routine of taking BART. Thanks for sharing- that's hilarious!
For me, I've never gotten off on the wrong station but I have gotten on the wrong train at least three times! Once I got on the Pittsburg train when I should've gotten on the Richmond train and the other two times I've gotten on the SF train when I meant to take the Fremont train.
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