Buses in L.A.
The Good:
1. Priority for the disabled and elderly. There are special seats for them near the driver (and entrance/exit). The front bus doors have an automated mechanism that provides a platform where people with wheelchairs can smoothly enter and exit the bus. There's also a special spot where wheelchairs can be properly secured inside the bus, hence preventing the wheels from moving along as the bus goes.
2. Less cramped, because of less person-to-bus ratio. Seldom will there be pushing when people are entering the bus. More space to move around inside.
3. Space allocated for each seat is relatively larger than the ones in the Philippines. I could wiggle my butt and still stay within the bounds of my seat.
4. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes make it easy for you to "ride-all-you-want".
5. They have several small screens which show news items, trivia, or advertisements to keep you from being bored.
6. There are thick strings on the sides along the length of the bus that you can pull to tell the driver you want to get off (on the next bus stop). You don't have to shout to the driver.
7. They have allocated bus stops. They don't just stop anywhere. This helps reduce traffic and the safety risks. Also, most buses have speaker systems that announce the next stops.
8. They have definite timetables which they "usually" follow. The timetables are more of guidelines to help you estimate the time you have to wait.
9. Most of them go slower than almost all other vehicles, even more so in the freeway. Potentially, they can make you safe.
The Bad:
1. The small screens never show TV shows or movies. Except for the news items, I've gotten bored with what's being shown.
2. From my experience, some buses stink, especially at night.
3. They have allocated bus stops. They don't just stop anywhere. This means more walk for you. Imagine if you miss the bus stop because you pulled the string too late. Imagine if you miss the bus stop because, even if you pulled the string on time, the driver failed to notice it.
4. They have definite timetables which they "usually" follow. At night, some buses have intervals of more than one hour, even if they're the only ones running on that route. Others don't travel at all.
5. You are sometimes at the mercy of the bus driver. The driver can choose not to board you if you are not within the bus stop, even if you're just a few steps away. It is also possible that the driver won't see you and blow past the bus stop. If it happens at night, when intervals are wider, just smile.
6. Most of them go slower than almost all other vehicles, even more so in the freeway. Potentially, they can make you late.
******
These are all based solely from my experiences and are therefore, flawed, faulty, and relative. I've only ridden in buses in the Philippines and Los Angeles.
By buses, I was also referring to the public transportation of L.A., which includes the rail system.
1. Priority for the disabled and elderly. There are special seats for them near the driver (and entrance/exit). The front bus doors have an automated mechanism that provides a platform where people with wheelchairs can smoothly enter and exit the bus. There's also a special spot where wheelchairs can be properly secured inside the bus, hence preventing the wheels from moving along as the bus goes.
2. Less cramped, because of less person-to-bus ratio. Seldom will there be pushing when people are entering the bus. More space to move around inside.
3. Space allocated for each seat is relatively larger than the ones in the Philippines. I could wiggle my butt and still stay within the bounds of my seat.
4. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes make it easy for you to "ride-all-you-want".
5. They have several small screens which show news items, trivia, or advertisements to keep you from being bored.
6. There are thick strings on the sides along the length of the bus that you can pull to tell the driver you want to get off (on the next bus stop). You don't have to shout to the driver.
7. They have allocated bus stops. They don't just stop anywhere. This helps reduce traffic and the safety risks. Also, most buses have speaker systems that announce the next stops.
8. They have definite timetables which they "usually" follow. The timetables are more of guidelines to help you estimate the time you have to wait.
9. Most of them go slower than almost all other vehicles, even more so in the freeway. Potentially, they can make you safe.
The Bad:
1. The small screens never show TV shows or movies. Except for the news items, I've gotten bored with what's being shown.
2. From my experience, some buses stink, especially at night.
3. They have allocated bus stops. They don't just stop anywhere. This means more walk for you. Imagine if you miss the bus stop because you pulled the string too late. Imagine if you miss the bus stop because, even if you pulled the string on time, the driver failed to notice it.
4. They have definite timetables which they "usually" follow. At night, some buses have intervals of more than one hour, even if they're the only ones running on that route. Others don't travel at all.
5. You are sometimes at the mercy of the bus driver. The driver can choose not to board you if you are not within the bus stop, even if you're just a few steps away. It is also possible that the driver won't see you and blow past the bus stop. If it happens at night, when intervals are wider, just smile.
6. Most of them go slower than almost all other vehicles, even more so in the freeway. Potentially, they can make you late.
******
These are all based solely from my experiences and are therefore, flawed, faulty, and relative. I've only ridden in buses in the Philippines and Los Angeles.
By buses, I was also referring to the public transportation of L.A., which includes the rail system.
Labels: buses, Los Angeles, public transportation
posted by Rom
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