After even the first few steps, the disadvantages of the bus ride seemed like small potatoes.
"Small potatoes" is a phrase which has nothing to do with root vegetables that happen to be tiny in size. Instead, it refers to the change in one‘s feelings for something when it is compared with something else. If you were walking in the rain, for instance, you might be worried about getting wet, but if you turned the corner and saw a pack of vicious dogs, get-ting wet would suddenly become small potatoes next to getting chased down an alley and barked at, or possibly eaten. - P26