love my bus/tube pass, recently went Shebu to City (Central Line), Docklands Light Railway to Canary Wharf, walked under the Thames to the Cutty Sark. And back in no time, free of charged. And Crossrail is amazing and so fast.
We do have one bus stop in my village and rumour has it that there is an occasional bus service to town but there’s no timetable at the bus stop and I’ve never seen anyone standing at the bus stop.
I usually walk into town unless I am planning to buy something heavy or bulky and need the car to bring it home. On all my walks and drives into town, I’ve never yet seen a bus on the route from my village into town.
Although I’ve never used my bus pass for local travel, I have used it quite a few times in other parts of the country.
I’ve had some interesting journeys travelling to and from unfamiliar places where we’ve had to leave our canal boat moored up if we’ve had to return home in a hurry for something or when one of us has to go to a nearby town to find something we need.
I find that people tend to chat to me more if I’m travelling alone and most of the folk I chat to are happy to share some useful information to help me on my travels - and they often throw in a bit of local history and their own life story too.
I’ve always enjoyed chatting to the folk I meet on my travels and have had lots of interesting chats, whether I’m travelling by bus, train or along the canal.
Our bus stop is 2 minutes walk away. The bus goes right into the hospital grounds, which is handy sometimes because I’d never take a car there unless there was some sort of emergency. The parking isn’t good. From the hospital it goes into the town centre, so that’s another advantage of using the service.
We have to get on the bus with a power wheelchair (approved by the bus company) and if there are shopping trolleys or prams/pushchairs on board too, then getting on and off can be a bit of a trial. The skill at reversing the chair into the designated space is often admired by other passengers.
All in all though, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and we prefer to use the bus service when possible.
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Didn’t anyone ever feel car sick on buses as a child? That vibration from the engine, the smells, the juddering stop/start.
Hi
I never use the bus, only taxis.
The Bus Stop is too far to walk.
Only yesterday was I wondering why the coach builders don’t try and take a few rattles and bangs out of the bodywork. I’m sure a bit of rubber moulding here or a bit of foam there would quieten the journey down no end.
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They did and they called it a train 
I overtook a bus yesterday
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In accordance with the sign on the back, I let a bus “pull out” after a long line of traffic refused to do so, it gave me a warm feeling inside to think that I had given the 25 or so passengers on board an extra couple of minutes of liberty at their destination.
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Yea, I don’t argue with buses! Anyway, if I was travelling in one I’d be much concerned at the line of cars not letting the bus out!
After waiting a short time, most bus drivers here will start creeping out into the line of traffic until someone has to give way.
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Isn’t that the law anyway? it is in NSW, buses in built up areas have priority and our laws are usually based on European ideas.
Priority for buses
“Other vehicle drivers should give way to a bus displaying the give way sign in a built up area, when the bus is about to enter or proceed in the lane or line of traffic, and the bus is in front of the driver.”
I always let buses, lorries and vans pull out these days now I’m retired. After all, those guys are working and I’m not. I bet the drivers behind me are pulling their hair out…
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…and they have a timetable to try and stick to.
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Have I done this already? Max was quite comfortable with the Bus and the driver was OK with that. And people were friendly even with the big dog. We haven’t tried with the small dog yet.
In UK, there is no legal requirement for drivers to give way to buses but the Highway Code states that drivers should give priority to buses, coaches and trams when they can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from stops.
I treat the Highway Code as a set of rules to be followed, whether the rule is backed up by separate legislation or not.
I’ve noticed in the last couple of weeks an increase in the number of people wearing masks on the buses.
All those bank robbers and burglars going home after work?
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Maree, you’re making it sound so fun, I’m thinking about it. I’ve never considered it before. I don’t even know where the bus stop is. My guess is it’s pretty far, which is why I never considered it. But thanks for the fun story.
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No probs, do you know where the Buck Stops?
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