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How to take the regular bus

How to ride the bus.

Not that many here acrualy ride the bus but some lurkers might find this helpful...

Busses can pretty much be hailed from anywhere but a stop is recommended on the busier streets like Oriental Las Vegas, La 80, La 30, Av Poblado etc... as the driver can easily blow you off. If you look rico and have a few bags and don't stare down the bus in your hail during its approach the driver will assume you are hailing the cab behind him and keep going. A bus stop or a dirty face sans bolsas from Pamona will negate this. If the bus is full and/or knows there is one right behind it, it will also blow by.

The price has increased as of Monday to 1.200 pesos. Although the drivers make change it's better to have exact. Sometimes the driver will have an accomplice up front handling the money.

Getting on: TRICKY! It's better to keep the money in your left hand and grab on to the handle with your right. Never get on the bus UNTIL you can fully get on - meaning both feet are on a step and you have a firm grip on a solid bar or handle. These guys will start rolling. If you are the at the driver before entering the turnstyle and the bus starts rolling wait until the driver blows through a couple of gears and gets to cruising speed. He'll extend a hand for the plata.

Although chilvary is alive and well you will be less apt to have to give up your seat if you are at a window. Plus you get so see more of the city. Standing is not a big deal but you can't see out the windows at that height to know where you are. If someone is in the aisle seat it's advisable to stay in your seat until you are at the "stop before" and get OUT of your seat during that stop before. Why?

Because stops are quick.

People in the aisle seat will swivel to let you past but everything is narrow. If you are moving out of your seat past the asile person while the bus is moving they will most likely get a face full of your ass and they won't be able to move because you will also most likely have them pinned because you will be standing on their foot. No one really stands to let you out. So it's better to get out at the stop before - while the bus is stopped and then you can maneuver to the back towards the exit. To get past someone the best thing to say is "Me da un permiso por favor" or "Me das..." to the Tu (younger person). Don't make it more polite than that and "un permiso por favor" is fine for kids. Nothing more polite than that!

Although there are buzzers on both sides up and down the aisle to alert the drivers of a stop, the one at the back by the exit door always works. If you stand on the back exit stairs while the bus is moving and the door is closed (many times it stays open) be mindful of the hinge - the door folds in and can bang you bad. The hinge and mechanism are often greasy so watch your silk shirt and Jimmy Choos.

I always like to jump off the bus while it's still rolling to a stop. Pretty neat. When you are getting off and a bunch of people are also getting off in front of you - just like getting on - don't get off until you can get fully of. Don't ever be one foot on, holding the handle and the other foot on the stret. Many times the driver will take off thinking everyone has exited and someone is stuck in the middle of the dismount.

Vendors will jump on, over the turnstyle and attempt to hand everybody something, give their speech and hope someone buys. Many do. You can politely decline be shaking your head and saying "gracias" as they come by doing the initial hand out of the goods - before making the speech. The good thing about the vendors is that they speak slowly, loudly and clearly - a great Spanish lesson listening exercise.

If you lean on a window in your window seat someone behind you may attempt to adjust the window - open or close. The windows are long.

Towards the end of the day when volume is slowing down the bus might stop at a "Checkpoint" and everyone will have to get out and enter on to a more empty bus that is already there waiting. Consolidating passengers. If you hear an announcement and see everyone getting up you will know what is going on. Exit and head to the bus in front of you that has the same name on the rear window (Robledo, Aranjuez) - follow the crowd - you will enter through the rear door, not through the front turnstyle since you already paid on the previous bus.

This may be obvious my every click through the turnstyle results in 1.200 pesos the driver is responsible for.

The busses run until about 10:30PM but realize at that late the driver may announce to you when boarding that the bus is stopping at ________. If it is late and the driver or his accomplice mention something that sounds like a street or neighboorhood or building this means you might be getting off in an unfamiliar area. Take a taxi instead unless you are sure the place he is stopping for the night is after where you will be getting off.

By rocinante on Mar 13, 2008, 07:15 in Friendly Talkzone.

rocinante says on Mar 13, 2008, 07:28:

You can take the Circular 302/303 and see good deal of the city for 1.2000 pesos. It goes through Belen La Palma - La 80, Av Las Vegas in Poblado, Centro, La Minorista, a few blocks from DAS. It even passes a Mickey D's next to the Exito, another Exito in Poblado, another Exito in Laureles, another Exito San Juan in Centro. I highly recommend this bus in the middle of the day. It just goes around and around clockwise and the other one counter clockwise.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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msaucey says on Mar 13, 2008, 07:39:

I always like it when I see someone stand when they are about to get off and then someone else is ready to sit down, but they have to let the seat cool down or air out before they sit down...

Always found it interesting.... Anybody have a reasonable idea as to why? Just curious...

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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Atrevido says on Mar 13, 2008, 08:23:

The buses in Barranquilla are notorious for giving the pasenger a split second to board. It´s like you better be athletic.

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mranderson says on Mar 13, 2008, 09:23:

The difference in hailing a bus compared to a taxi. I tend to wave my hand higher in the air and look up to make eye contact with the driver in the higher position. That is if there is a taxi right in front of the bus as bus drivers tend to tailgate. Opposite for a taxi, wave your hand low and make eye contact with the lower seated taxi driver.

Also sometimes bus drivers start to pull over but if you look in another direction and don't take any advances towards the bus, sometimes they will just take off. Not always but sometimes.

And if you wave down the wrong bus accidentally...because sometimes they are going so fast and you can't read the sign in the window then no big deal.. just wave him on and he will go. Don't sweat it.

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 13, 2008, 14:55:

And here I thought you were supposed to jump on the bus as it slowed down a bit. Who knew you had to actually wait for it to stop.

La cuidad de la primavera, estoy feliz porque te vuelvo a ver - www.medellintraveler.com

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Man Tequila says on Mar 13, 2008, 20:50:

I just know how to take the short bus.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Chriscan says on Mar 14, 2008, 03:44:

I love the busses in Colombia. I never take busses in Canada but in Colombia I only take a taxi if it's too late or if I don't know where I'm going.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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SiV says on Mar 14, 2008, 07:24:

Thanks for the post. Now can someone tell me how to wipe my arse when in Colombia?

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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rocinante says on Mar 14, 2008, 07:33:

Someone can show how to wipe your ass but when your born a dick no one can really change that. With all the medical advances these day's it really a shame. Sorry man.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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SiV says on Mar 14, 2008, 07:37:

OK, then, if you don't like that one. How do you chew chewing gum in Colombia? Or turn on a tap? Or tie up your shoelaces?

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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mranderson says on Mar 14, 2008, 07:38:

I think you start from the front and work your way back.

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SiV says on Mar 14, 2008, 07:46:

Thankyou, Mr. Anderson, I'm glad someone takes my query seriously. Although, I must say, in Colombia I like to give one final wipe from back to front, as it where. What do other PBHers have to say on this one?

Stultórum númere infinitum est.

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rocinante says on Mar 14, 2008, 08:35:

First I alternate and check - what ever direction gives me the most feedback I continue in that directrion and the last is the opposite direction. Sometimes you get those good days where there's not a lot of paperwork.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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