How to Ride a Bus Safely and Effectively

In an age where gas prices seem to be rising and falling at the whims of the Powers that Be, and the economic slump means less money for car maintenance and repairs, public transportation is becoming a more reasonable choice every day. And it's no wonder: most major cities have designed their buses and trains to be extremely comfortable to commuters, clean, functional, and often a cheaper option. Some additional perks to public transportation aren't as readily apparent, but become very recognizable once you've begun. For instance, you no longer have to be the one worrying about traffic. Traffic is a hugely stressful part of the daily commuter's life, and by letting someone else drive you to and from work, you are sufficiently removing that responsibility from your own shoulders. Additionally, because you don't have to focus on driving, you can spend this time doing other things, such as reading, studying, listening to music or your favorite podcast or news program, knitting, hand-sewing, blogging, writing poetry, planning your next date, or any other number of things that you would otherwise have to make time for. All in all, taking public transportation can be quite superior to driving.

There are a few things a person might need to know before embarking on a public transportation adventure, though.

1) Make sure it will actually save you money. Go to your city's public transportation website and look at the fares carefully. Be sure you fully understand what each type of fare means, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call their customer service line and ask someone. It's best if they have a "day pass" or even a "monthly pass," because these often cover any number of rides you wish to take during a given time period. This can be an extremely good financial move for people who have to get around a lot.

2) Make sure it will be worth your time. Some cities have their bus and train systems worked like perfectly flowing, perfectly-timed clockwork. Some cities are still trying to figure a few things out. Whatever your city's organization is like, there may be times that you will need to dash across a busy street in less than two minutes to catch your next bus. There may also be times that you'll be left standing on a street corner for twenty or thirty minutes, or longer. This is all part of the system, and while it can be frustrating, it is also necessary. If you choose to take the public transportation option, you will soon become quite used to your usual bus schedule. But once you've determined how much time your commute will take, you'll need to take into account your own personal threshold for waiting. If you are a very impatient person, you'll need to keep that in mind while you're deciding what to do.

3) Use the resources available to you. Often, a city's bus and train system will have interactive maps on their website, and almost always have a "trip planning" calculator. To use this calculator, enter your starting address, your arrival address, and the time you wish to leave or arrive, and it will find the quickest (or easiest) route for you. If you don't think that the route it gives you will work, try figuring it out for yourself. Familiarize yourself with the bus route map, look up the schedules for the route or routes you'll need to take, and determine your own way. Finally, you can always, always call the company's customer service line, where people who are specifically trained for it can help you find the best way from A to B.

4) Be ready to walk. Hopefully, the calculator mentioned above will show you how far you'll have to walk on your commute. Yes, some walking will be necessary, and sometimes there can be a lot of it. If you are in relatively good health, or if you walk regularly for exercise, you probably won't have any trouble with the walking required to get to where you're going, but if you are disabled, or just unable to walk long distances, it will be important to pay attention to this distance before making your final decision.

5) Make sure you get to your stop five minutes early, if possible. It's not always possible, of course, but arriving five minutes early to every stop on your commute is a very good way to ensure that you won't miss your bus or train. No matter how specific the timing seems to be on the website, it is never an exact science. Perhaps you know from driving yourself - you can tell someone that you'll be at a certain place at a certain time, but it's really only an estimate until you get there. Be ready for fluctuations in these times due to weather, traffic, or other unforeseeable circumstances.

6) Obtain a hard copy of your bus or train schedule. Whether this mean snatching a copy from the bus, from a station, or printing the schedule from the website, always have a copy of your regular bus schedules on you at all times. Keep it in your purse, pocket, backpack, or briefcase. Do not lose it. You never know when you'll need to leave early or stay late, and you may not be in a position to call customer service or get online. As long as you have your bus schedules on you, you will never be stranded.

7) Pay attention to the rules on the bus. They are usually printed in large letters with accompanying pictures somewhere on the interior of the bus, and they are there for a reason. If your bus rules say no eating, then put away your breakfast burrito until you arrive at your destination.

8) Wear comfortable shoes. Even if this means you need to take your "nicer shoes" with you in a bag, always wear the comfiest shoes you have! Sneakers and trainers are ideal because they are made for moving around in an aerobic way, and if you think you won't get a workout taking the bus, you are very much mistaken. Do not fool yourself into thinking you can wear your nicer, but less comfortable, shoes for any amount of walking. You will regret it!

9) Bring backup for weather issues. Your city's meteorologists may be the best in the world, but even they can't tell you with 100% certainty if it's going to rain or not. Bring a poncho or an umbrella and keep it with you. My own experience demands that I tell you to also bring a sweater, even in the hottest of summer months. The bus can be cold!

10) Don't fall asleep! Sometimes the gentle swaying of the bus or the humming of the engine can have a somnolent quality. If you aren't a morning person, make sure you're sufficiently caffeinated or well-rested before getting on a bus. Nothing can mess up your day quite like missing your stop because you were dozing off!

11) Bring something to do. My favorite thing to do on the bus is read, but if you have a tendency to get carsick I wouldn't recommend that. Of course, there are plenty of single-person activities you can do on a bus or train, but sometimes you may want to strike up a conversation with someone. Which brings us to...

12) Bus Buddies. Bus Buddies are those friendly people you ride the bus with every day. It may take a while, but eventually you will probably begin talking with them, and perhaps even striking up something like a friendship. Don't be afraid of this; people are social creatures, and developing some sort of relationship with someone you see every day is completely natural. You never know what kinds of interesting things you can learn from people you meet on the bus.

13) Watch your back. Bus Buddies aside, taking the bus is like going to any public place: most people are totally harmless, but you never know who might be lurking around the corner. When waiting for your bus, always wait in a well-lit area, and preferably near other people. Be aware of what's going on around you, and stay sharp. Look for warning signs, and if anyone is making you uncomfortable, let the bus driver know immediately. Their job is not just to get you from point A to point B; it's also to ensure your safety while you are on their bus.

With the proper preparation and planning, you'll be a bus-riding regular in no time!