RIO DE JANEIRO _ Fortunately, I was sitting in the middle of the bus, on the right side.
The bus was heading from the media center to the village where I'm staying. It was filled with journalists and volunteers. At the Olympics, you are on buses constantly. One day, I spent more than four hours on different buses, going to different events.
Most of the rides have been uneventful. A few times, the drivers have jerked so fast that my head snapped to the side, and my neck cracked like I was at a chiropractor. I have cringed several times as motorcycles zipped in and out of traffic right in front of us, or the bus came way too close to another vehicle or guardrail.
For the most part _ I should stress _ the rides have been fine.
But on Monday night, the driver was flying. About a minute from the village, we hit a speed bump, I think, and the bus jumped violently. For those of us in the middle of the bus, it wasn't bad, sort of like riding a small roller coaster at a fair. I lurched forward and caught myself.
But it was far worse at the back of the bus. People were yelling and groaning in pain. The bus pulled over, and we got out. One guy was holding his head. "We hit the ceiling," he said.
Another guy had blood running down his mouth. "I'm lucky I didn't lose my teeth," he said.
Another guy sat down in obvious pain, holding his wrist.
The most seriously injured was somebody in the back of the bus. "He was sleeping when it happened," somebody said.
He was being tended to, lying in the back seat. An ambulance was called.
Later, it struck me.
There were so many stories written before these Games about all of the troubles facing Rio. But I have killed just one mosquito. I haven't felt like I was in danger from street crime. The transportation system, for the most part, has worked. I have not experienced a horrible traffic jam. I have avoided drinking the water and, to this point, knock on wood, I feel fine.
But it all comes down to people. Most of the Brazilians have been fantastic, warm and friendly. And from my perspective, to this point, Rio is pulling this off.
This was one bad bus driver.
Tuesday morning, I was on another bus, heading back to the media center. The ride was smooth and quick.
But I made sure of one thing: I sat in the middle of the bus.
