With all the threads about railway manners it got me thinking. What is the etiquette for bus stop queueing? I always make sure I wave down my bus but sometimes there are other people waiting for the same bus before me. Do I let them on first? How about people who are sitting down, are they in the queue?
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Bus queue manners
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In these parts everyone is very polite at bus stops and the vast majority will allow everyone else to get on first!
I have had more difficulties in London, where there don;t seem to be 'queues' any more, which is probably quite understnadable given the fact that main bus stops are usually busy, served by a range of routes with frequent buses, so that it is impossible to know if others are waiting for the same bus.
Still, I think if you know they were waiting before you, then it would be appropriate to allow them on first!
I have had more difficulties in London, where there don;t seem to be 'queues' any more, which is probably quite understnadable given the fact that main bus stops are usually busy, served by a range of routes with frequent buses, so that it is impossible to know if others are waiting for the same bus.
Still, I think if you know they were waiting before you, then it would be appropriate to allow them on first!
It seems to depend on the place. In my old village, there was a strict queuing order, with whoever got there first standing next to the bus stop, then people who arrived next stood to their right. Anyone who stood to their left would be made to wait until last.
In my new area, there is nothing. The people with concessionary passes expect to be allowed on first - even if they got there after you, as they're so desperate to get a seat onboard the nearly empty double decker that works our local route. In the bus station, I've known these people to use shopping bags, arms etc to stop people who got there before them getting on the bus first.
Sounds daft - but it's completely true...
In my new area, there is nothing. The people with concessionary passes expect to be allowed on first - even if they got there after you, as they're so desperate to get a seat onboard the nearly empty double decker that works our local route. In the bus station, I've known these people to use shopping bags, arms etc to stop people who got there before them getting on the bus first.
Sounds daft - but it's completely true...
It doesn't sound very pleasant!
The new bus station in Swansea, which opened last December, has abandoned the rigid queuing systems that were in place in its predecessor. Now people sit or stand around until the bus comes in, then shuffle forward ina vague sort of line to ge ton. It all seems to work, I haven't heard of or witnessed many altercations or arguments concerring people pushing in! Mind you my mother took a while to get used to it. I think she likes order in her life!
The new bus station in Swansea, which opened last December, has abandoned the rigid queuing systems that were in place in its predecessor. Now people sit or stand around until the bus comes in, then shuffle forward ina vague sort of line to ge ton. It all seems to work, I haven't heard of or witnessed many altercations or arguments concerring people pushing in! Mind you my mother took a while to get used to it. I think she likes order in her life!
robertclark125
Established Member
The old Glenrothes bus station, before it got new shelters installed and a general tidyup in 2007, had shelters behind the stands. The new ones see the shelters next to the stand, so that shelter is in effect to the left of the bus. Under the old arrangement, I saw many examples of people standing in the shelter waiting, then some people standing next to the railing next to the shelter, in effect forming two queues. It drove my dad up the wall many a time.
In fact, for it being a dark and dingy place, the old Dunfermline bus station actually had a great arrangement. Passengers waiting to board would go in one side of the stance, and a railing either side meant they kept their place. Passengers getting off left the stance via another pathway. The paths were narrow, so little chance of queue jumpers.
In fact, for it being a dark and dingy place, the old Dunfermline bus station actually had a great arrangement. Passengers waiting to board would go in one side of the stance, and a railing either side meant they kept their place. Passengers getting off left the stance via another pathway. The paths were narrow, so little chance of queue jumpers.
HugePilchard
Member
The only issue I seem to have when getting on buses around here is the odd politeness stand-off! "Go on, you first", "No, really, it's fine", etc etc...
Incidentally... I'm intrigued to hear that Swansea has a new bus station. Is it less unpleasant than the Quadrant?
Incidentally... I'm intrigued to hear that Swansea has a new bus station. Is it less unpleasant than the Quadrant?
MCR247
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SS4
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I've noticed that the behaviour around here comes down to the route the bus is taking and how busy it is likely to be. For example there isn't the slightest order for the 79 and it's like a rugby scrum yet the 116 stop opposite has an orderly queue but it's a fair bet that the 116 will have plenty of seats for everyone whereas the 79 will not.
I noticed both of those things too yet the problem with the concessionary pass seems to be limited to a few individuals. The problem of course is that because I am a young man anything I do is wrong: it doesn't matter if I have been waiting 20 minutes at the bus stop and the old woman (since it seems to be women more often than men) has been waiting 2 minutes - if I get on first it's wrong. That being said some schoolchildren are awful to the point of pushing in and not letting those getting off alight first - even at the terminus.
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That too, the bus driver did not look too impressed/
I always allow an elderly person to get on before me. Sometimes they are grateful and accept, other times they insist I get on first! I do this as I was taught it was good manners when I was young, I expect that anyone who would sya youw ere wrong would have had a similar upbringing to me!
SS4
Established Member
For the most part I do too with the same results you get. I was trying to say that there is no hierarchy or fast lane if you will - the only rule there is is for those who have waited the longest to get on first.
Just out of interest have you ever had someone who has sneaked in behind the elderly person you let on?
Yes, but it doesn;t bother me. Life's too short etc!
You have reminded me about the fights I saw in Livorno when hundreds wanted the number 1 bus to the station! Not everything about Italy is to be admired I suppose!
Seacook
Member
If that's the 74/79 (now 75) stop in Upper Bull Street I totally agree. There never used to be a shelter there so passengers would just stand somewhere vaguely in the same postcode area and surge forward as soon as the bus arrived. Worse, though, is when a 74 turns up at the same time - whichever one I want to catch always seems to be the second, so by the time I've got to the bus I want it's two-thirds full even if I had been near the front of the (virtual) queue.
West Bromwich bus station has generated a slightly different protocol. Each stop has about eight seats next to the door where the bus pulls in. People will use these seats, then three or four will stand at the far end. This is still a well-defined queue with the earliest arrivals at the front and later arrivals at the back. However, from this stage it gets more complicated. The next ones to arrive usually do not see any reason to join the queue at the back and stand behind the seats forming a second parallel queue (and blocking the way past). Once this second queue is the same length as the original, you get a third one forming going in the opposite direction. Many will recognise that those in the seats were first so the first two or three will get on the bus unhindered then the people in the second and third queues get impatient and push their way on.
I am convinced that part of the problem with queueing is the woeful lack of properly designed seats. On my local service there are 10 seats that are comfortable, another 7 that are good enough, 16 that are cramped and four that are unusable except by children.
SS4
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Yes, I was on about Upper Bull Street (I really should have said that in my previous post
). I've seen that at a few bus stops before, mainly in the Erdington area around six ways where people stand at the back at the bus stop although because the seats do not fill up so naturally someone sits there and assumes the place in the queue.
Is that on the bus (which I suspect) or at the stop? I agree that there aren't enough well designed seats though, it frustrates me when some small child sits in the seats with the most leg room and having to knee myself in the chin (perhaps being tall can be classed as a disability so I could get a nice centro pass and a seat
)Seacook
Member
Yes on the bus. I should have made that clearer. I can never understand why the designers just put seats in and ignore the rear wheels (these are the seats that have no leg room at all).
Tom B
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The problem comes at stops with multiple services - does the person in front me want the bus that's approaching? I was once just behind an old lady who waved the bus past as she didn't want it - I did! Luckily there was a rare humane driver who stopped.
Another noticeable rude thing is people who don't say "thanks driver" when they get off.
Another noticeable rude thing is people who don't say "thanks driver" when they get off.
I don;t think it's rude if the driver is one of that mercifully rare breed that seeks to avoid any interaction with passengers at all costs!
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
I am amazed that no-one has yet mentioned what it is like when you are unfortunate to be standing at a bus stop when the schools have finished for the day and suddenly 50 of the "little darlings" descend on the stop.
It usually is like being invaded by "The Mongol Hordes"....with about as much finesse and courtesy as you would have been shown by those warriors.
It usually is like being invaded by "The Mongol Hordes"....with about as much finesse and courtesy as you would have been shown by those warriors.
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SS4
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Like Greenback I ensure that I do not have to travel by bus at that time. I have been known to pop into the library and read a book for about half an hour but I usually wait at the stop for the next one (the bus is every 20 minutes on the hour so the 1620 is really the first one I can get)
I have to admit I was surprised in London with mandatory bus stops, it was about 0015 so there was nobody there and as soon as the driver stopped he started again which seems very inefficient. Perhaps I'm just "from the sticks" and used to having to flag down a bus.
SS4
Established Member
Meh, I'm usually one of those 50
I have to admit that not all schoolchildren are bad and while it's the loud (and invariably crap) music that gets to me it's the sheer numbers that cause overwhelming amount of noise although I cannot blame them for doing so since it's not only a cumulative effect but they've been in school for ages without a proper chat.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Wait until you are retired, as I am. You are not tied to any time factor.
Generally its bar rules then?
Whoever was their first gets on/served first, but sometimes someone whos loud (or has a bus pass) will be out of order.
I have only seen one bar operate a queuing system quite a silly idea, as its never really busy, and when its really quiet they have normal bar service, and then a queue kind of appears, and the staff go crazy at you for not being in the queue, despite being there longer than the queue has
Whoever was their first gets on/served first, but sometimes someone whos loud (or has a bus pass) will be out of order.
I have only seen one bar operate a queuing system quite a silly idea, as its never really busy, and when its really quiet they have normal bar service, and then a queue kind of appears, and the staff go crazy at you for not being in the queue, despite being there longer than the queue has
I normally do the same. The only occasion I don't is when coming back from work, and it would mean waiting for an hour and a half in a village with no facilities for my connecting bus. I actually walk to a stop before the school and sit at the front near the driver - this generally avoids any problems. The children from this particular school all rush on at once and just dump return tickets in the drivers cash tray, this occasionally causes problems when a child hands over a screwed up single ticket, instead of a return. Causes a delay while the driver tries to get someone to own up, but on the whole the kids behave quite well (occasional fare evasion aside). I suppose it helps that the bus is only a 33 seater.
I've used another bus originating from the same school, when my normal bus had been cancelled due to an emergency road closure. This was much worse, a double decker full to standing with kids shouting and swearing. The driver attempted to gain some control, but was given a mouthful of abuse from a couple of kids. The poor guy then apologised to me for their behaviour!
WestCoast
Established Member
Not Italy, but I have seen shouting about this in small Spanish villages!
If there is one thing the British know how to do it's queueing. However, London in particular seems to be so removed from traditional politeness markers.
Not Italy, but I have seen shouting about this in small Spanish villages!
If there is one thing the British know how to do it's queueing. However, London in particular seems to be so removed from traditional politeness markers.
I witnessed the same in Greece, or more precisely Corfu. I think I was 10 or 11 at the time, and was swept up in a stampede of locals waiting to board the bus. It was quite an experience - my parents regretted choosing to use the local bus, and a hire car miraculously appeared the next day.
On the subject of London, it's everyone for themselves. I used a bus from Heathrow Central bus station the other week, and it was ridiculous - especially considering the heavily pregnant lady who was trying to get onboard. It took around 10 minutes for someone to offer her a seat too!
That's my problem in London, often I have to push in front of people in the queue to wave down a bus that they are not getting on.
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