Public transport. We've all had to use it at some point (If you haven't then lucky you!). For some it's their way of getting to and from work, for others it's an occasional experience for when fuel and parking charges would result in you taking out a payday loan. *shudders*
I'm a frequent bus user and while it provides a convenient way of getting from A to B, it does cause frustration, anger and grumpiness among other things. I use them at a time when they are at their busiest with people standing right at the front and the driver having to shout at them to move back. You feel like you've won the lottery if you get a seat. It seems that no matter how busy it gets the driver still lets more passengers on, that's unless you are the one waiting for the bus, in that case it will just drive past.
I'm one of those people that will move my bag to let someone sit next to me when the bus is busy. They have every right to sit next to me and I have no problem with it. That is not an invitation, however, for them to sit on their seat and half of mine. I prefer to be able to sit normally without having to sit with my back pressed against the window. If that is not enough, when I ask politely to be able to get off the bus I'd like more of a response than a tut and a mutter under the breath.
If you have been lucky enough to get a seat you feel as though your fortunes have changed when it's time to get off at your stop. If you have a large bag you face two options: a) Wear your bag but end up accidentally hitting people on the head as you stagger past receiving yet more tuts and mutters or b) hold your bag in one hand leaving only one hand free to grab the rails to stop you falling into the armpits of a fellow passenger. The choice is yours but either way when you finally manage to get off and take a breath of fresh air you ask yourself whether walking would be a better option next time.
You may be thinking "Well why don't you just wait until the bus stops to get out of your seat and go to the front of the bus? There are signs recommending you to do so." Yes, there are signs telling you to wait until the bus is stopped. That doesn't stop the bus driver setting off again if you are not jumping out of the doors in under two seconds. If you complain they will just laugh it off, unlike when you try to pay with any form of paper money.
There are some forms of public transport that are actually quite good. Personally, I like to travel by train and, with it's seemingly complex but actually very simple map and utterly unique station design, the London Underground fascinates me. It gives a feeling of luxury travelling on a long distance train compared to the tin cans on rails that we get on the local line. You are lucky to get a train with more than two carriages and even more lucky to get one with slightly moderate suspension. They are quicker than the busses but if you miss it you have to wait a whole hour before another one arrives. You also don't get the leg room, shop or trolley service that the long distance trains offer and you'll have no luck finding any first class carriages.
When you get to your station you have to wait for the conductor to unlock the doors. This can sometimes take some time if they are busy selling a ticket. They will open their door first, check that the platform and then unlock the rest of the doors. It is only then that you can press the button to open the doors. Some people don't grasp that concept and give you some quite rude words if you don't press the button as soon as the train stops. What do you expect me to do? Get my sonic screwdriver out? The last time I checked I wasn't The Doctor! They sometimes act as though they commute on the trains all the time and know how these things work. If they did they'd know that the conductor has to unlock the doors first. I somehow manage to keep my anger in while I go to the ticket office to buy the ticket for my journey because the conductor hasn't had time to get to where I was sat, or in some cases hasn't even managed to make it out of the conductor's cab. I'm surprised at how few people go to the ticket office to get a ticket. Now, they could already have a ticket but I'm sure some people don't.
Overall, even though sometimes I wish I didn't have to use public transport, I think I will miss it when I inevitably take the plunge and buy a car. For the time being, however, I will still be showing my pass or fumbling around trying to get my train ticket into the slot to open the station entrance gate. It will be me, my friends and that one guy who decides to eat pickled onion Monster Munch for the entire journey.
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