RTC Southern Nevada

I ride the bus. Different times on different days, but it's a pretty regular schedule. Two days out of the week, I ride in late morning and at night, and on three days I ride in early morning and mid-evening. When going home from work, I have to cross nearly 12 lanes of traffic (two roads that are perpendicular) to get to my bus stop. This late in the evening, most drivers in the area (I have found) are men. Perverted men. Who like young women. Like me.

I have found myself to be the recipient of many shouts ((These have all been altered to be grammatically correct) "Hey Baby! Can I get your number?" "Hey, Sexy, wanna come home with me?" "Need a ride, Sweetheart?" etc.), even more honks, and the occasional physical vulgarity. No one has attempted to touch me inappropriately, but I have a feeling that this happening is just around the corner, as the incidents are becoming increasingly worse.

Just last night, while I was crossing the second street to get to my bus stop, two men in a beat-up compact car tried to get my attention. First they honked, then flashed their brights at me, and when I passed their car at the turn, started asking for my name and number. When I ignored them, I heard a car door open, and hurried footsteps coming towards me. A car honked, and the footsteps receded. Needless to say, this was terrifying. I didn't look back to see if it was one of the men in the car, as that would show acknowledgement. Which is not good on my end.

Then on the bus (late as usual), another man asked me for my number. Again, I ducked my head and ignored him, as politely as I could, hoping he had seen my earbuds and took my non-response as that I couldn't hear him.

I am so sick of this. I'm not pretty. I don't have a great body (that's not as statement of opinion, I love my body, and am very comfortable in my own skin. I'm just big-er. "Voluptuous in some of the wrong places" is one way of putting it, I guess.) . So when I get this unwarranted interest, I can't help but think that these men are either desperate or perverted, and see me as nothing but a pair of boobs and a warm place to stick their pecker. It's disgusting, insulting, and inappropriate.

It can also be dangerous. Any one of these jerks can follow my bus and wait till I get off, and during the five to seven minute walk home can attempt to fulfill his perversion. I'm sure that this has happened to someone, somewhere. And to be honest, I'm afraid it can and will happen to me.

Unfortunately, there really is no solution to this problem. I could have my boyfriend ride the bus back and forth with me; get a car or a moped (however, no money for these options), and my license; but what about the other women who are subjected to this? Who have the same fears I do?