Bus Trip

After one and half years I was travelling in metro transit (transportation resource for the twin cities). Unlike India, buses here arrive on or before time but never late.
If the arrival time is 9.27 A.M, one can except the bus in the stops at sharp 9.27 or 9.25 A.M.
We googled MetroTransit official site to get the bus route to Cathedral Church and Mall of America (largest mall in North America).

We scheduled our time of visit between 12.30 -9.30 A.M and we had to spend close to 2hours in our to and fro bus trip. We rushed to enter the bus in one of our stops, the dual role driver (driver here issues the bus ticket using the e-machine in addition to driving the bus) asked us to wait and gave importance to one of the physically challenged passenger. Wow what a system and what a patience the bus driver has ? whispered me and my friend. The driver patiently secured the passenger within the wheelchair belt. Our Indian drivers work under pressure to manage the crowd and traffic whereas U.S drivers work with patience, safety and punctuality.
Indians might lose their patience travelling in U.S local bus as they either have frequent stops or long routes.

Unlike India were the rates differ depending on the distance covered, in U.S the bus tickets are of standard rates (1.75$) , no matter whether you get down in the next stop or in the last stop. But the ticket can be used to travel in different buses within a duration of 2.5 hrs. I still remember the days how Pallavan Transport conductors used to struggle giving the right change to the passenger.
In U.S if you don't have the exact change you will either be kicked off the bus or no change returned. Say if you insert five dollar note for two tickets, the change (1.50$) would not be returned to the passenger. Total discipline from the passengers is expected. The passengers are monitored using two cameras one in the front and the other in the back door. Passengers can get out of the bus through the back door but can ever board the bus using the back door.

In India ,school students are provided with bus passes, similarly U.S students have a bus card, which they need to swipe after boarding the bus.
Approaching stops are announced in mike by the driver in U.S, whereas Indian drivers
waste their energy shouting each stop names. People in U.S respect bus drivers.

As I was travelling in four buses today, I keenly observed every small feature in the bus. I have learned to be patient after today's bus trip.
I love travelling in bus no matter whether it is in India or in U.S.