Getting the bus...

[Mag1calTrev0r]

I couldn't find the 'Public Transport' forum so this must be the best place for it?

I left the car at a friends house so we could enjoy a few glasses of wine with dinner. The choices the next day were; walk (no thanks, a touch too far), get a taxi (probably £6-7) or get the bus (I'm thinking just over £1).

I figure that I might as well get the bus, it's can't be too bad... Can it?

I got on the bus, the lady driver seemed pleasant enough but charged me £2, hmm that seems unreasonable but I'm committed now. As luck would have it there were no smelly people onboard.

I take my seat and have a quick glance at the ticket, the destination is much further than I asked which explains the cost. I'm not going to complain it's only a couple of quid.

Now it's time to get off, now I'm not a frequenter of buses, like any PHer I despise the hateful things!

So we approach where I suspect my stop to be, but I'm not familar with the route and feel rather ringing the bell, I will just stand by the door (in plain sight of the driver) and wait until the next appropriate stop. Well despite this having worked every other time i've got the bus as a kid, it's no longer the done thing here.

I must have missed the instruction booklet on the correct protocol for bus travel as we went past the stop (now with a queue of people waiting to get off).
I asked 'are you not stopping here?' to be told 'nobody rang the bell'. Annoyed I replied 'well I didn't wish to insult your intelligence'.

Had I known 'the rules of bus travel' then I would have, of course, rang the bell. As a bus noob I felt it was pretty obvious that I wanted to get off.

So, to summarise:

Public Transport Bad
Cars Good

[wildoliver]

To be honest I don't see what she did wrong?

Tickets are always issued to the fare stage beyond your destination unless you stop at the actual fare stage.

The bus has a bell. The bell stops the bus at the next stop. You didn't press the bell ergo the bus didn't stop.

Seems she didn't want to insult your intelligence by explaining that to you.

[illmonkey]

Errr, "ring bell to stop" is usual on buses. You standing next to her like a pervert isn't asking to stop at the next stop.

[Lancs Jag Boy]

Oh dear, you can't use a bus. Should you really be driving?

[Fartgalen]

2 x 6"

[james_gt3rs]

When I ever been on a bus (very rarely), the bus driver usually has the intelligence to realise that if you are standing near the front you want the bus to stop.

[anonymous-user]

Mag1calTrev0r said:

I figure that I might as well get the bus, it's can't be too bad... Can it?

This is where you went wrong.

I have pretty much refused to get the peasant wagon since I was 16 years old. Its either car or taxi for me.

When I'm travelling somewhere I dont want to sit next to some stinking homeless person (why are they on the bus?), an annoying chavvy child or a generally unsavory character. I also dont want my knees crushed by the seat in front in a space I can only imagine was designed for midgets.

[Google [bot]]

I've a small amount of sympathy, but ignorance of how things work means a rant is likely to backfire.

When I were a lad... You could buy a ticket on a bus and it would take you to your destination. Not anymore. In Sydney you must purchase bus tickets from selected retail outlets. Great for regular folk, pretty poor for the occasional traveller.

[Mag1calTrev0r]

WRT the bell thing.

I always thought that the bell was there for the people who struggled to walk to the exit whilst the bus was moving, therefore they stayed seated but rang the bell. Once the bus then stopped they could stand get off the bus without having to cling to the rail plus their shopping bag of cat food.

[hooperpride]

I don't mind the bus and as long as you know "the rules" it's not too bad. I'd rather drive but if I'm going on a night out and I've already had a couple or it's the morning after a few too many there really is no other option in terms of cost. I've also found that buses now seem to be far more reliable, cleaner and on time than when I was a kid.

[rallycross]

Compared to a car using public transport on anything other than a simple trip is an absolute pain;


Saturday morning dropped my car off with a garage in Slough to do some work (35 min drive there).

Elected to get train/buses back (Well, how long could it take?).

So, the car journey was 35 mins, 25 miles, less than one gallon (car does 40 mpg).

Journey back; nearly 2 hours!

1 train
1 st bus - 5 minutes short trip to heathrow.
2nd bus - should have taken me almost back home but after 10 mins it stopped for 15 mins in the hot sunshine, it was still running but wouldnt move.
3rd bus - replacement for 2nd bus, all change, bus was crammed full, 55 mins of hell.
4th bus - fine, another short trip.

Total cost - £11.
Time wasted - it took 3 times longer than the car jouney.
Enjoyment - nil.

[durbster]

Ah, I see it's time for the monthly public transport snobbery thread. I was wondering where it was

[ewenm]

I find public transport is fine for some journeys. For example I get the bus from outside my house into town fairly often. For some journeys it's better than driving - parking in Bath is a nightmare, so the bus is easier and if I want to meet a friend for a drink I don't need to worry about the car.

Of course, for many journeys public transport is not a viable option but that doesn't mean that all public transport is rubbish.

[Torquey]

I vaguely remember from the school bus days, the more you ring the bell the sooner they stop. In fact if you ring it enough you can get door to door service albiet with a boot up your behind.

It appears they must still work in a similar manner.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

"Bus W****r!"




P.s.: Not an insult at the OP, but those who watch 'The Inbetweeners' will get it

[spurs-442]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

"Bus W****r!"




P.s.: Not an insult at the OP, but those who watch 'The Inbetweeners' will get it

'Special Bus Friend'

Again - that is another Inbetweeners moment not an insult to OP

[soad]

To get off bus - one must ring the bell, get it?!
Unless someone else has already pressed it before you - they do not automatically stop at every stop.

The above comes as the limited bus riding experience from my distant past.
Was almost ran over once by the blessed machine, not good.

[Talk2Dave]

i've recently had to start getting the bus to sixth form cos my insurance ran out and no longer have a job to fund the car.
it costs £13.80 for a weeks bus pass but only £10 of fuel for the week

[Amateurish]

Talk2Dave said:

i've recently had to start getting the bus to sixth form cos my insurance ran out and no longer have a job to fund the car.
it costs £13.80 for a weeks bus pass but only £10 of fuel for the week

Is your point that the bus is more expensive than the car? If so, check out your first sentence for the reason why this is not true.

[Talk2Dave]

no not my point at all, i realise the cost of my insurance alone for the year is far more expensive than using the bus, without fuel costs etc. All i'm saying is i feel that in some circumstances, driving is alot better value for money.