First-Timer Bus Rider

[u/Due_Cloud9266]

Hi all! So, as the title suggests, I am a first-time user of public buses. I hope to start utilizing this method of transportation, as it will be more cost effective. I am based in the US, so I would really appreciate any tips anyone has for finding their way to the bus stop, choosing a route, knowing which bus to get on and when to get off, and navigating their way to the final destination. Thanks so much in advance!

[u/gammaChallenger]

I have road buses in all sorts of cities and one of the most important things is sometimes the announcements don’t work or they’re all messed up so for a bus you generally want to listen for announcements there is an app called Moovit I can announce the stops for you but also what I have been traditionally taught to do is to ask the bus driver when you get on the bus first ask him do you get to the stop just to make sure it’s the right bus and then when you are done with that you also ask him to tell you when you have arrived sometimes I don’t use the apps and I use the bus drivers. Also the front seats of a bus is reserved for disabled people and other people like that so ask the driver if there’s any seats in the front when you get off the bus I will check with the bus driver is this 35th and Bellflower let’s say OK yes it is so now you can get off and choose or not choose to thank the bus driver also sometimes if there’s a bus transfer, I don’t know what side of the street is on. That was my friend’s problem. We knew the other bus stop you transfer was somewhere around the four corners so what I do and it depends on the bus drivers in the city is ask where the other bus stop is I find in Los Angeles County they usually give you accurate information here in Chicago. I got bit a couple times and the bus driver was clueless where the other bus stop was and I ended up having to problem solve last minute and try not to panic and to figure out where the other bus stop is, and sometimes the bus transfer time is like five minutes so you have to try to get over there, which is fun sometimes also asking the driver where the return bus is worth the bus going the opposite way where that bus stop is is also very helpful

I know you didn’t ask about trains, but it’s very different and it depends on which type of train you’re taking light rails usually don’t have people so you’ll have to listen very closely to the stops. I have asked other people who are riding the trains. What stop is this if I can’t hear or it’s too loud or announcements isn’t loud enough and sometimes people will help and sometimes people won’t help in a commuter train I will try to find the conductor, but sometimes they can be hard to find but tell someone let your stop is and I learnt recently asked them what the previous stuff is so you don’t actually miss your stuff so one of my very good friends if not best friend who died and he was a wonderful disciple or mentor or whatever you wanna call him. He had heard that people get shoved down the tracks so what his practice was is to get one of the train station people tell them to help them on the train and tell them which stop he’s stopping at and to ask them to have someone meet you down at the other side because of Safety also don’t be afraid to ask for help. I know some blind people and I’ve been guilty of well. I’m good. I can do everything. I’m independent but part of independence is to learn to ask for help and I don’t mean be helpless but if you need to ask for directions, ask for directions if you don’t know where a bus stop is ask if you need to know what the announcement said and you couldn’t hear it. Ask if you don’t know if the bus is delayed or you couldn’t see the bus and there’s someone there ask

[u/tymme]

It really helps to check your route beforehand. Google Maps, etc., have an option for using public transit that tell you where the stops are.

If you have Social Security & Medicare, keep your Medicare card accessible to show when you pay the fare. It's a quick way to prove you're disabled, which will usually get you reduced fare on most public transit.

When you get on the bus, let the driver know you can't see and it's your first time. Ask them if the major points of the route are correct ("Maps said to get to Blahblah, I get off at this stop and transfer to Route 3, is that right?").

You can ask them to let you know when you're approaching the stop. Some drivers will say out each stop; some systems have a system on the bus or a downloaded app that does it instead/as well. If you do this, make sure to sit where the driver will be reminded you're there, right side up in front or near the back door if possible.

Drivers are used to this kind of thing and will help you out, but it makes them happier when you've done the work you can on your own too.

[u/BassMarigold]

Are you good with Google maps and voiceover? Have you had O&M instruction

[u/aaron15287]

does your town not offer para transit were they can come and pick u up and take u direct to your location.

[u/BassMarigold → u/aaron15287]

I’m not the OP. Our small town has it but it’s crap. There are only two buses and they can’t promise to get you and you have to request two weeks in advance

[u/aaron15287 → u/BassMarigold]

wow and i though ours was bad. u have to book 3 days in advance and there is no online booking u gotta wait ages on hold to book the ride on the phone. and they come late some times.

least with the CNIB card u can a bus pass for 1 year for only $10 so u can ride for unlimited both para and normal transit.

[u/ArtisticBother7117]

In theory, being prepared can help you a lot. Are you taking a few routes most of the time, or many routes? Can you get to the same place by different routes? In other words, how complicated is your particular system map? And how complicated is the part you need to know?

Besides u/BassMarigold's and u/gammaChallenger's points, I would also look at:

• Apps, Web sites, or even automated phone numbers for trip planning, lists of stops, schedules, real-time lists of arriving buses, and route change alerts.
• A cashless pass, or a disabled fare permit, or one card with both.
• The address and phone number of the customer-service office.
• Local transit riders' groups.
• Any strange rules you need to know, for example what happens when two or three buses line up at one stop. (Do they open the doors even though they're not really at the stop? Or pull up to the stop and then open the doors? This is a real rule in Seattle.)

Unfortunately things don't always work smoothly and apps aren't always esay to use, which is why I wrote "in theory" above. But good luck.

[u/BassMarigold → u/ArtisticBother7117]

Also , I couldn’t tell if you have any functional vision. Or are low vision and have lots of functional vision. Functional Vision of course doesn’t make someone a better person, but it may change what strategies you use.

[u/No_Squash_6551]

You should look more into whatever is local to you, see if you can email or Facebook for the bus dept in your city. There are different options in each town. My city has an app that helps you find the right bus. Lots of towns also have minibuses just for the disabled that pick you up directly.

[u/VioletBeat]

Often cities have trip planning assistance, there should be a number you can call. Try the moovit app, and ask lots of questions if you are able to connect with someone. If you'd like I can help you research this, I'd just need to know what metro area. But no pressure.

[u/SanFranciscoDog]

Unfortunately it’s hard to really give much suggestion as it varies so widely from agency to agency. Once you know how your agency designs stops you’ll get a hang of finding them, but at first you’ll have to watch for all the possibilities: shelter, bench, or just sign post. Some agencies use one type more than others, some use a combination depending on stop location.

If it supports your area, the Transit app is absolutely awesome. It gives directions, realtime predictions on when a bus is coming and can even alert you of when your stoop is coming up so you can request it onboard.

I have found that SeeingAI can actually read the head sign on many buses. If you just point your camera towards where the bus will be coming from I successfully got it to read the bus number and destination to me. Most agencies also have exterior announcements for what route a bus is on when the door opens, and you can always check with the driver.

For knowing when to get off, if you already know what stop you will need you can ask the driver to let you know when you get there. They are human of course though, so sometimes they forget to let you off where you asked for. If the agency has announcements for every stop, or the stop you want is a major one, you might be able to wait for the bus to call out your stop and then request it independently. Otherwise you can also use the Transit app as I mentioned above if it has information for your area.