53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle

Thread Games
1321

Yes.

1322

Is this related to the world’s oldest profession?

1323

In the term “bus stop”, as used here, does the word “bus” mean something other than a large road vehicle with many seats?

Is this “bus stop” a tourist attraction in its own right?

Is this “bus stop” a portion of some larger tourist attraction?

1324

No.

No to all.

1325

Can riders pick up loaner bikes at this bus stop (to get them to the real stop)?

Is there a bridge or a gondola involved?

1326

No to both.

1327

Recap:

There is a town in Europe that has something rather odd. It has a bus stop that no buses ever stop at. Even so, people still wait at the bus stop trying to get home and they do eventually arrive that their destination. What is going on?
-They’re taken to their destination by private transportation.
-They come there for reasons other than transportation.
-Mahaloth thinks they ride something other than buses.
-Mahaloth doesn’t think they’re transported to their destination by one type of transportation in particular.

  1. Is it key to figure out their reasons for coming to the bus stop?
  2. Is it key to figure out how they get home?
  3. When you say they eventually arrive at their destination, is their destination home?
  4. Is the bus stop a stationary location?
1328
  1. Yes
  2. Yes, it’s part of the full solution.
  3. It’s where they live, yes.
  4. Yes.
1329

A bunch of questions trying to grab a thread to pull:

  1. Is there more than one form of transportation that commonly gets these people home?
  2. Do people commonly take more than one form of transportation in a single trip home (qv Planes Trains and Automobiles)?
  3. Does the common home-transportation involve wheels?
  4. Does the common home-transportation involve domesticated animals?
  5. Does the common home-transportation involve exercise from those who are trying to get home?
  6. Does the common home-transportation involve internal combustion engines?
  7. Does the transportation go on roads?
  8. Does the transportation go on water?
  9. Does the transportation go through air?
1330

Is the reason people go this bus stop something to do with entertainment?
Is it something to do with a border/border crossing?

1331

Is something preventing them from going to their destination until they visit the bus stop?

Do they get something at the bus stop?

If they get something at the bus stop, is it a physical object?

1332

BTW, I don’t know how close we are to solving this one, but I’ve got the next one when we do.

1333
  1. Probably not.
  2. No.
  3. Yes.
  4. No.
  5. No.
  6. Yes.
  7. Yes.
  8. No.
  9. No.

No to both.

  1. Yes.
  2. No.
  3. No.

Cool.

I think this one will be solved. It may not feel like it now, but I think just a few “hits” will get you guys going.

1334
  1. Do the people sleep at the bus stop?
  2. Are the people drunk and waiting to get sober?
  3. Are the people under the influence of some other intoxicant?
1335

Are the people physically incapable of reaching their destination without going to the bus stop?

Are people prevented by some sort of company policy from reaching their destination without going to the bus stop?

Are people prevented by some sort of governmental law from reaching their destination without going to the bus stop?

Is it physically possible for a bus to stop at the bus stop?

Are buses prevented from stopping at the bus stop by some sort of company policy?

Are buses prevented from stopping at the bus stop by some sort of governmental law?

Is the bus stop operated by a public transit system?

Is the bus stop operated by a private transportation company, such as a taxi company?

Are there any homes within easy walking distance of the bus stop?

Are there any places of business within easy walking distance of the bus stop?

If a person both lived and worked within easy walking distance of the bus stop, would they have any reason to stop at the bus stop on the way to and/or from work?

1336
  1. No.
  2. No.
  3. No.
  1. No.
  2. No.
  3. No.
  4. Yes.
  5. Yes, most likely.
  6. No.
  7. No.
  8. No.
  9. Probably.
  10. Yes.
  11. No.
1337

Flailing about randomly:

  1. Does the solution involve some unusual geographic feature unique to this particular place?
  2. Do the people commonly refer to this place as “the bus stop”?
  3. Is the place signposted or otherwise identified as a bus stop?
  4. If yes to #3, are the signs identical to those posted on ordinary bus stops in this area?
  5. Would someone who had never been to this place before be likely to mistake it for an ordinary bus stop?
  6. Are the people who are waiting there prisoners?
  7. Do all the people waiting there share a common occupation?
  8. As far as you know, is this the only “bus stop” of this kind in the world?
  9. Would the people be likely to think of their destination as “home”? (having already established that they do actually live there…I’m thinking of some sort of institution like a prison or boarding school)
  10. Are these “people” living human beings?
1338

Are the travelers/people at the bus stop, who eventually reach their destinations, ALIVE?
I’m guessing they’re not, but if I’m right, I’m a bit stuck after that. Maybe it’s got to do with cremation or something?

1339
  1. No.
  2. I don’t know what people called it.
  3. It has a bus stop sign, like any other.
  4. Yes.
  5. Yes, as far as I know.
  6. No.
  7. No, I don’t think so.
  8. At the time, yes. There could be more now, though.
  9. No.
  10. Yes.
1340

  1. Yes, they are alive.

  2. No, nothing to do with cremation.