Buses

A bus is a self-propelled form of transit by road, which normally runs on a fixed route and schedule, serves identified stops, and is usually capable of carrying 10 passengers or more for a fare. Short for “omnibus,” it is sometimes used interchangeably with “coach,” although coaches tend to cover longer distances, have more room for luggage, require prepaid tickets, and have more comfortable seating. Sometimes charter bus services transport groups to a prearranged destination at a time of their selection, presenting an alternative to the fixed-route service that buses tend to offer.

Across Europe and North America, buses progressed from horse-drawn coaches and developed as a supplement to urban streetcars in the 1920s, and then eventually as a replacement. Bus networks saw a huge expansion in the 1940s through to the 1960s as a result of suburbanization, which saw the subsequent extension of road and highway networks and the demand for access to city centers and employment opportunities. They are now one [Page 339]of the most commonly used forms of public transit. They are low cost and are most regularly associated with the young, students, women, the elderly, and people with low incomes. This can often include recent immigrants or ethnic minorities and as a result, bus spaces are regularly considered to be sites where boundaries of class, race, and ethnicity are “breached.” On the presentation of an ID card and bus pass, the elderly and students are commonly entitled to free or discounted travel.

Transportation by bus is often done out of necessity and is a method of travel that is often considered to be a last resort, associated with short journeys and commutes. Unlike travel by automobile, which is considered to offer more security and connotations of prestige, competence, speed, masculinity, skill, and autonomy, buses require that passengers travel in close proximity to strangers and are often considered to be both less comfortable and a slower form of travel. They are regularly associated with problems of overcrowding. In most circumstances there are no seat reservations, and although buses operate on a timetable, there are often no real travel-time guarantees. Unlike trains, for example, they are susceptible to the problems of urban congestion and are often slowed down by the need to distribute tickets to boarding passengers—although this is not the case with all services. Methods of payment vary considerably. If paying by cash, in some instances, the exact amount is required, as no change is provided in order to keep boarding time to a minimum. Passes can be purchased for a day of travel, a week, or longer and are usually shown to the driver, swiped, or tapped upon boarding the bus. Local boarding and payment procedures are likely to vary considerably and have been cited as one reason why bus travel is avoided by some people.

Contemporary buses have no conductors and there is often little space for luggage, although there is often a designated area at the front of the bus for large bags and shopping. Unlike other forms of transport, buses are likely to make more regular stops and can stop every few minutes. As a consequence, bus passenger groups constantly change and passengers might be required to swap seats as people get on and off, to allow less able passengers or people with buggies or luggage to sit near the front. Passengers wait at bus stops or bus shelters that display the number of the bus route they require, as stops often serve as collection points for more than one bus service or provider.

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