I'm not good on public transport.
I hardly ever fly anywhere, I don't take trains, and although I rather like the idea of buses, I rarely use them.
The last time I was on a bus was in the UK. I had to have an eye test which involved putting nasty stinging drops into my eyes, which meant I couldn't possibly drive home, so the bus was essential.
Riding around in a bus is enlightening; one sees otherwise hidden buildings, objects, and curiosities. One also goes down previously undiscovered roads
Lady Magnon always ticks me off for saying 'good morning', 'thank you', and 'that was fun' to the bus driver; apparently it's not done.
Being on a bus is also a bit like being in the audience of The Jeremy Kyle Show; all of life is there, but I suppose that's part of the adventure.
"Oy Kylie, put your fu*king pants back on... and you Wayne, give that man his wallet back"
"You goin' shopliftin' Trace?"
"Yeah; I'll see yer up McDonaws later; show yer what I nicked".
"Awe white!".
It's another world on a bus.
45 comments:
How sad not to thank the bus driver or say Good Morning to him/her. I don't travel by bus very often but always chat to the driver on entering or leaving.
But then I have a habit of chatting to everyone.
I can not remember when was the last time i was on a bus.
Living out in the country we don't have a bus service. The last time I went on a bus was probably in the 70's. But I can remember the smell of them, going upstairs for a smoke, sitting on the back seat, dinging the bell for your stop. Ah memories.
I still say hello/thank you to cabin crew as I enter/exit a plane and although it is a long time ago I also thanked the bus driver.
Me too.
My last bus ride must have been around 1990.
It would seem impolite not to.
I'm afraid my lasting memories were of my fellow travellers. Not my preferred travelling companions.
The man on the Clapham omnibus, he will answer all your questions.
I thank the train driver morning and afternoon. I never see anyone else do it. And if I can't see him to say it I wave to him in his cab.
I wouldn't thank a Tube driver, but everyone else; yes.
Nothing against the Tube driver of course.
Other than they're arrogant and lazy; no nothing.
I blame UNITE, RMT and ASLEF.
The States, especially this part, is a train desert... not much better for busses, which are mucky in any case, those that are available. Nonetheless, were they available I would make use of them.
I'd also thank the drivers, courtesy is never wasted.
We always speak to cabin crew on entering or leaving a plane, but any pleasantries on a bus would depend upon how surly the driver appeared to be. We don't have a local bus service or the tube, and the windows of the driver's cab on local trains are so heavily tinted it's difficult to see if there's anyone in there!
However it costs nothing to smile and say hello.
I have never forgotten the pronouncement of Lady Whoever when she said, "Anyone seen riding on public transport after the age of 30 may be considered a failure in life".
When I go to NY, I take a charter bus. The drivers are always pleasant and point out places of interest. Everybody always says Good Morning and thanks the driver when they leave. Most people tip. I'd rather take a bus or a train than put up with the nasty people racing to their destination and giving me the finger because I follow the law and drive the speed limit.
Quite right.
We always yell out a "thank you Driver" to the bus driver as we alight from the back of the bus as well as " hello" as we board. I'm sure it brightens their day.
In her own case she was probably right.
Thanks for the morning laugh. :)
I quite expect it makes their day if people are pleasant.
We don't tip bus drivers over here; that's going a bit too far!
Well done Helsie; I'm sure it does.
My pleasure, Deb.
I travel on London buses regularly. Never, once have I heard anything remotely like this... I think someone simply made up this snobbish rubbish...
Twit; read Deb's comment above....
In Bermuda when you get on a bus you say Good Morning to EVERYONE.
Every time I've been on a bus, I say hello to the driver, and "thank you" or "good-bye" when i'm leaving. Or, if i'm taking the back exit, I'll wave.
On trains, I say hello and good-bye or thank you to the conductors and wave to the engineer if I can see him.
We're using the buses in Seattle now. It's easy now as electronic signs announce the next stop so you know where you are in a strange city. I always say thank you to the driver. I was brought up polite.
Oops forgot to mention my favourite thing overhead on a bus in my native Southend. 'F*cking well come 'ere, Chardonnay!' said a mum to her little dot who must be about three who was running down the bus.
You do here when you go into (small) shops.
Sounds like parts of Southend and Brighton are quite similar.
We're obviously a very well bred bunch.
I have not been on a bus during the twenty eight years I have lived up here. Our bus service means busses are few and far between and we live about two miles from a bus stop.
Ah, aged twit, excuse me... Because it wasn't remotely humorous, I thought you were being serious.....
you forgot greedy Cro.
A bust stops at the bottom of our front garden. Even though I have bus pass I never use it. I shop once a week and couldn't haul all I want back on the bus.
I am sure I would greet the driver if I did use it
We have an OAP friend in the UK who spends all her time travelling around with her bus pass. She would be lost without it.
On Ilkley moor bar bus?
As I prefer the tube/underground, (and always mind the gap), my friend Anne had to persuade me to go with her on a bus to Hampton Court: "It is like a theatre", she said, "you sit very high up and can look into all those windows you pass - especially in the evening when the rooms are lit."
Mmm - I think I prefer the eavesdropping you describe here in your post!
We don't tip for public transportation, but for charter buses, most do.
Such a common name these days.
Parts of non-central Brighton are 'rough'. One huge Jeremy Kyle show.
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