?Riding the Bus: a Sound Portrait,? is a true illustration of "reality radio." The effect is almost onomatopoetic: this 22-minute documentary on riding a city bus casts a virtual spell on the listener--you feel like you have been on a 22-minute bus ride. While it is somewhat reassuring that there are still places in the radio universe willing to broadcast such long pieces--most stations probably do not have the leisure to do so. If the producer is willing, this piece would be much more desirable if it were edited down to five minutes. At present, this piece feels like a very long vox pop; the problem with this is that the interviewees become dangerously predictable. Though some of the charm in this piece is its length, its ethos could certainly be preserved in a much shorter rendition. This would be a perfect piece for ME and/or ATC during the next transportation strike as it does give you a renewed appreciation for the ordinary bus.