h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I take it you mean kids under the age of 15, not 85 like you say...

Nope, I think 85 is what was meant.

Yes, 85 was what I meant!

Just be thankful that they've not got a ring tone for "Manamana" (do do di de do di de do de der do du du du du) What have I just unleashed on you all!? Talk about weapons of mass distruction! It ought to be banned under the Geniva convention.

As for kids on the busses. If they are able to stand and there's no free seat - MAKE THEM STAND - the practice is good for them. There's too much of this wrapping kids in cotton wool. Or why not let the mother/father give up their seat for the kid*.

As for bus drivers, I've personally not been on a bus in about 5 years, but my experience of them was OK. They always tended to help out, loved it when you gave them loads of shrapnel and said "thank you" _before_ sitting down. If the bus wasn't busy, and I'd started to get to know the driver** we'd sometimes even have a conversation whilst the on the move.

*If they've got a seat in the first place that is.

**Using the same busses everyday, I tended to get get to know the drivers. Especially because some of cargo that I took on the busses with me - Kinda stood out a little.

This may be off topic, but I'm intregued, what kind of "cargo", Astronut?

... and on trains for that matter:

I really hate it when people put their bags on the seat next to them when the bus is busy and people are standing. Or, even worse, sit on the aisle seat living the window seat empty. These people stare into space as if on a different planet, and if asked to make the seat available, they look up in a startled manner as if they had just awoken from a coma as if they genuinely had no idea that people were standing.

These people are attempting to make people stand rather than have someone sit next to them. How selfish is that? There was a bloke on the bus yesterday who was sitting in the aisle seat in a determined manner even though the small bus had people standing virtually the whole length of the bus. I asked him politely if he minded if I sat there, and he looked at me as if I'd asked for permission to set fire to his family pets. Before grudgingly moving. There's a word for people like that.

On fridays when I was at school I would always sit at the front of the bus...it wasn't my fault the school scheduled pe (full kit + trainers), art (A2 sized art folder full of paints) and some really heavy textbook subjects on a friday to clash with my cello lesson.

I used to consider it quite impressive that I could manage to carry a rucksack full of books, a plastic bag full of clothes, an A2 sized art folder and a cello onto and off the bus...

but the cello wouldn't fit in the luggage rack or in any of the seats apart from the front seats so once a week I would selfishly hog the entire double front seat on a public bus...sorry if there are any old ladies out there who I forced to walk an extra step...but to be honest that extra step was probably a lot easier than having an overloaded (and I admit slightly greasy) teenager land on your lap

I think it's nice to give up your seat to someone who's obviously having trouble balancing. I was out once at something dressy and had on heels. My ride cancelled on me and I had to take to subway home and was desperately clinging to a pole like a stripper with stage fright. I've never been so grateful as when some random stranger gave me his seat.

Wish London Underground, would reconsider.
They have plans to make cell phones workable underground. cannot think of any thing worse than being stuck underground with loud conversations.. In the rush hour(?)

I understand exactly how Pencil Queen felt.

It's a bit boring really. I was at college at the time, so here's rough list as far as I can rememeber.....

1. Tool box - full of electronics tools.
2. Rucksack, full with lunch, reference books and other stuff.
3. Army uniform! - I was an Adult instructor for the ACF at the time, and didn't have time to go home and change in the evening.
4. Trumpet, and the usual pile of music and stuff.

Sometime's I've also have to carry some kind of training aid that I'd need for one of the Lessons at cadets - Imagine getting onto a bus with all the stuff mentioned above AND a dozen broom sticks (or something else just as whacky). Wonder why I used to get alot of really strange looks.

ooh just realized, I've forgotton to mention that I used to carry all that stuff at exactly the same time... The journey involved two busses and a ferry in the morning and one bus and a ferry in the evening.

Just imagine trying to RUN for a bus or ferry with that lot.... I used to do it all the time!

Interesting... I've never had to carry that much stuff on the bus, although my archery kit garners me some 'looks' on busy buses from time to time, despite it being just a large black bag and a large black plastic tube which rattles (because it's got arrows tumbling around inside it)

Amonst the thing people have tried to bring on to buses I have been driving are:-

a gate-leg table and 4 chairs (students moving to another flat),

a mountain bike (complete with oily chain and mud),

a roll of linoleum (4m long),

a fully assembled fly-fishing rod,

and

a can of petrol.

Our company has a basic rule about what is allowed to be carried on their buses:-

If it can injure someone, or make a mess on seats or clothes, or will block a gangway or exit, it doesn't come on. The decision is left to the driver's discretion.

I would never dare trying to bring any of those things on the bus!

Could we have a section for those accursed $%^%£"$s who actually design buses?

It would be polite of them to remember that their vehicles are occasionally used by people more than 5' 6" tall. I often have to decide between occupying a double seat by myself and snarling at anyone who looks covetous or amputating my kneecaps.

At the risk of overreacting and maybe missing a bit of tongue in cheek humour courtesy the bus driver quoted in the entry...

Children should only be allowed on buses accompanied by both parents?

Yeah, right...

While we're at it, can we also remember that these vehicles are also occasionally used by people less than 5'6" tall. I've lost the track of the number of times I've lost circulation in my legs because my feet don't reach the ground in these seats, and if your head does not hit the head rest on seats it it very uncomfortable.

Head rest?
what's worse if your head hits the metal bar which appears to be there for holding on to by people getting up or in the act of sitting down, or those on the aisle seats when the bus goes around tight corners.

And don't forget if you.ve long hair and go to stand up.