So, I've been taking the bus.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Which is not particularly note worthy I suppose, except for the fact that I haven’t actually rode a bus since about 1988.

My car has basically died. I may be able to fix it but I don’t have time this week to look at it in depth, so, I’m taking the bus.

The thing is, I’m kinda out of touch with “bus etiquette”.

For instance, last night I got on the bus and got a seat. After a while the bus filled up a bit and a woman sat beside me.

After a while more (it’s a long bus ride), the bus mostly emptied out, but the woman stayed seated beside me.

There were a tonne of empty seats - some immediately beside us and I really would have liked her to move. The seats are small and squishy, and I’m tall with long legs which wound up wrapped around my head to give this woman room to sit down.

I debated moving myself, but then I would have had to push past her and made a big scene.

What are you supposed to do? Was she right? Should she have moved? Do most people move?

And how about talking to the driver? The driver on the first bus (I had to transfer to a 2nd one) was really nice and friendly but the driver on the second bus may have been a mute. In fact, she may have been a robot. When I was getting on and off I said “Hi” and “Bye” and “Thank-you” and she didn’t do anything. No nod. No grimmace. No smile. It was almost like one of those performance types you see in places like New Orleans that don’t move until you throw money at them.

Anyhow…

The bus. It’s sort of an adventure - my SO thinks that I’m insane and bus riding is nothing to get worked up about, but I haven’t done it for about 15 years, and then I only did it occasionally.

Did you guys know that only dorky kids in high-school get a ride from their mom in the AM? I had no idea. I rode with mom everyday, hence my lack of bus experience.

2

Actually, it is considered a bus-riding* faux pas* to get up and move away from someone when another seat becomes available. It’s as much as saying, “I’d only sit next to you if it were absoilutely necessary.”

3

What is this thing you refer to as a bus…

Has never lived in a location with public transportation.

4

Well, that’s what I was thinking. And, as there was about 35 minutes of bus ride left I was debating saying something along the lines of “I won’t be offended if you move to a roomier seat.”, but then I thought perhaps she would be offended so I just kept my mouth shut and my legs wrapped around my head.

Another thing - it costs $2 to take the bus around here. For some reason that seemed like a lot. There’s a good chance that I’m hopelessly out of touch.

Next I’m going to have to tackle the C-train because I’m going down-town - I’ve actually rode it more recently because the Stampede (big honkin’ fair type thing but with cows) is downtown and there’s no where to park.

I’m feeling sort of environmental, but I may have to get some supplies.

5

And *that *didn’t get her to move?!

6

The C-Train is much nicer. It doesn’t stop as frequently and generally doesn’t smell as bad because they’re newer than the bus fleet.

Oh, Calgary Transit. It used to cost me $1.25 to go anywhere. I used to travel the whole city on the bus with no issues other than transferring downtown in front of the big liquor store at 7th ave and 1st street. You know the one, across from the church. There always seemed to be a lot of scuzz on that block.

7

A Transit regular here!

I actually prefer the bus to driving. I don’t even have a car any more. Here in the Vancouver area the service is pretty good, and I always take a book along. I also get to know the regulars and have some pretty good conversations with them (or with total strangers, for that matter).

It’s a lot better than sitting in a car by yourself and having to pay attention to the traffic.

8

Whenever I’m in Vancouver, I take the bus instead of dealing with the psycho drivers. It’s just easier that way. The transit service there is pretty good and accessible.

I move. Yes, I admit it. I’m sorry if someone takes it the wrong way, but I’m sure they’re just as happy having their own space too. :slight_smile:

9

[slight hijack] alice_in_wonderland, my high school was completely different! It was considered the thing to do to carpool with your friends and be driven by either one of said friends or a parent/drive with a friend/drive yourself in the morning. In the afternoon, more kids went home with just a parent, by themselves, or stayed after for the activity bus if they did a sport/activity and couldn’t drive themselves. The only kids who took the bus (other than the activity bus) were poor or dorky students.

10

Argh…[/slight hijack]

11

Eek! Yah - skank city.

Actually tomorrow I think I have to take an express bus home from 7th ave and Centre - I’ve been offered drugs there when frequenting the thrift shops then anywhere else in my life.

I think the transit system in Vancouver is really good; however, Calgary’s is pretty crap. This is an oil town. There are an awful lot of people that make an awful lot of money on the purchase of gasoline around here.

12

I love the bus, and I’ve taken it almost every day of my life since I was fourteen. It seems like some of my greatest adventures, the great loves of my life, and my most insightful creative thoughts come on the bus. The bus is almost always a great adventure, and even when it is calm there is plenty of time for listening to music on headphones (I bought a good CD/MP3 player for all my bus time), reading a book or paper, striking up conversations or just plain people watching. I can’t for the life of me figure out why someone would want a stressful expensive car commute when you could be having quality time on the bus. Different strokes I guess.

I always consider it a little rude when people move away from me when a seat frees up. It makes me feel like some sort of freak, and generally seems anti-social. I’ll only move away if the person has a lot of stuff or seems really uncomfortable. Talking to the bus driver is always iffy. Sometimes they feel chatty, and sometimes they just want to do their job without having to make friendly patter- which I respect. I usually just say hello when I get on and thank you when I get off.

$2.00 is a bit on the high end, but not absurd. I’m used to a dollar to a dollar fifty. A monthy bus pass is usually pretty cheap- around forty bucks. If you keep in mind that it costs on average sixty cents a mile for gas and maintance on car (not to mention insurance, and the cost of the car itself) the bus really is a bargain.

13

Well, I spend about $130/month on car gas/maitenence and a bus pass is $65.

I kinda think that I’m more than twice as comfortable in my car than on the bus - it also takes me about 1/3 of the time to get where I’m going, which means I can sleep in, and that’s priceless.

However, right now my car is kaput, so I take the bus.

At least I now have a bunch of new books to read. :slight_smile:

14

I will disagree.

I’m not OVERLY tall, 6’1, but the seats on the busses I ride 4 times a day are not big enough to be comfortable. I say if you are on the aisle it is appropriate to move for the exact same reasons you mention. On the busses I take some people will even STAND before sitting with someone. But even if someone moves away, I never feel offended and, like the OP, am often thankful for it.

But I would also keep in mind that maybe the lady didn’t move do to some physical condition that would have made such a move hard for her.

15

Oh I wasn’t annoyed or anything. I was more curious as to what she would do.

she appeared to be a regular - she had a pass, the driver knew her, etc.

Also, she was about my age and, from her clothing, appeared to be about my socio-economic status - I guess that whatever was appropriate for her would be appropriate for me.

Anyhow - I’m off to chatch the AM bus - wish me luck - it’s one of those little “shuttles” :slight_smile:

16

I used to be a public transit junkie, but the bus drivers in Vancouver pissed me off to no end with their strike two years ago. I now try to avoid the bus like the plague.

But when I did take the bus on a regular basis, I would always shift over if there was room, in order to provide that space and comfort buffer.

17

Ok - an update.

On today’s ride a small lady sat down beside me and promptly feel asleep! :eek:

Then, like she had empty seat radar, as soon as a spot opened she was out of my seat like a shot and into her own, where she promptly fell asleep again.

Wacky.

18

Riding the bus used to be part of my regular commute, but those days are long gone. I’d only take the bus if I had no other options. Too many weirdos on it.

Once I got on the bus and I was the only passenger. Came to a stop. A woman got on. Plenty of empty seats. She plopped down right next to me. I didn’t want to appear rude by getting up to move, so I sat there wondering what was up with her. After a few more stops she suddenly placed her arm so it was behind me and resting on the top of the back of the seat. O-kay. Was she trying to get a bit too friendly with me? Even if I was a lesbian, she is SO NOT my type. I immediately got up and moved to the seat right across from her and stared at her. NO reaction. She was staring out the front window. We finally got to the final stop which was a train station. I waited for her to leave so I could ask the bus driver if he thought she was odd for choosing to sit where she did, but she just sat there looking out the window. So I stood up and asked her point blank, “Are you staying or leaving?” She jumped and said, “Oh, I’m leaving.” Then she finally got up and left. I asked the bus driver about her and he agreed that he thought it as strange for her to sit down next to me when every other seat on the bus was empty. Guess she never heard of the concept of personal space.

19

Fortunatly the odd folks on my buses so far have appeared to be of the “walking to the beat of a different drummer” type, as opposed to the “I keep fresh frozen human heads in my freezer” type, I’m happy to report.