Ordinary bus - quicker than 4-o-clock*
*A Filipino saying that means exaggeratedly quick. For example, "He's back at his desk from lunch quicker than 4-o-clock when the boss is around. " Nobody really knows why 4-o-clock is made as reference or if its AM or PM.
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Only a handful of people I know ride ordinary city buses. There are in fact a good number of reasons why riding an ordinary bus is the better choice.
*A Filipino saying that means exaggeratedly quick. For example, "He's back at his desk from lunch quicker than 4-o-clock when the boss is around. " Nobody really knows why 4-o-clock is made as reference or if its AM or PM.
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Only a handful of people I know ride ordinary city buses. There are in fact a good number of reasons why riding an ordinary bus is the better choice.
Known Facts
1. Naturally cooled - no airconditioning, no fans
2. Bench-type seats - old-school, no soft backrests, seat recline not yet invented
3. "Pull-string" to stop - signal the driver to stop by pulling the string on either side of the bus; the string runs from rear to front and is usually attached to a bell - or for the updated version, a lightbulb. Of course, you can always jump off while the light is red.
4. Cheaper ride - (as of Jul 2009) P9 is the minimum fare vs P11 for airconditioned buses
Cool Facts
1. At summer, sardine-packed airconditioned buses are actually less comfortable. While everyone tries to get into the airconditioned ones, there is always ample room in most ordinary buses. A good environmental rating too, if not for the old engine and resulting smoke.
2. Who wants to seat on leather or cloth anyway? especially if a thousand people sat first
3. Aside from puling the 'string', you can always opt to hit hard any metal on the bus with a coin, that works too
4. Cheaper is cheaper.5. Passengers are nicer too. No loud (read: boastful) mobile phone calls or collegiala-wannabe noise.
6. Very safe - try yelling from inside a full airconditioned bus, all curtains down, in a stick-up situation
7. Virus-less - all windows open, just as the good doctor ordered
8. Very Fast - This is the best part, ordinary buses always prove to be the faster mode of transportation. Ordinary bus lines do not usually stop to queue along with other aircon buses nor their own. You need to hurry if you are to catch up and ride an ordinary bus whose drivers always seem to be itching for the road. A plus side is that the air is often cool as the bus speeds happily along.
You can try to clock time riding an ordinary bus from LRT Buendia to Ayala-Paseo at morning rush hour and compare that with any other transport including a taxi on the same route. You will be surprised.
Warning: As I said, they are fast. If you signal to stop and the driver obliges, be quick on your feet.
/pnt
Posts
100% agree! I am one of the few people you know who rides an ordinary city bus. :P Marikina Auto Bus Line is truly my fave. :D
ReplyDeleteTwo things:
ReplyDelete1. I stand corrected, not all ordinary bus lines have the "pull string to stop" mechanism. I guess that's copyrighted to Marikina Auto Bus, Wayne's fave.
2. I chanced catching another ordinary bus on my way home the other day; it was the usual traffic at Buendia and I really can't help but pity the other guys on the airconditioned bus beside us. They were standing and getting all stressed out while here I am sitting comfortably on a seat good for 3 and paid 2 pesos less than them.