what tips would you suggest to someone who's going to start using local transit (bus, train) regularly?

Answer 1

I'm sure every regional transit system is different but in Seattle they offer several options in bus or ferry passes. They are based on distance traveled and duration such as quarterly monthly etc.. I liked the annual pass but it does require that you know you will remain using it steadily all year for it to be worth the convenience.
Here they offer on line trip planning. Put in the start and end point to get the optimal route. They tell you the time it takes, even what side or the road to find the bus if it goes the same route both directions.
If you ask a driver to tell you they will be sure you exit at the correct stop. I either sit just opposite where the driver can see me to tell me, or I return to the front when I think it is near the end so it easy for them to alert me. It reminds them they need to help me if I am visible.
I have a few friends who have driven buses. It is a hard job dealing with rude or unpleasant people so they really respond well if you are nice and thank them if they deserve it. Correspondingly I have never hesitated to call in a drivers number if they where behaving improperly. Bus drivers can have a bad day but sometimes there are individuals who simply should not be working with the public. When you ride with them daily you get to know them if it isn't a smash to fit commute run. It helps all concerned to let the authorities know if there are potential problems. Also to offer compliments.
When I was in college, not starving but certainly not very flush, I had to commute across town. The West bus was the same bus with a number change going North that I needed to get to school. The driver took a 15 minute break at the change point and was supposed to empty the bus while he was gone. Instead he let me stay in the warmth with the doors closed so I could study rather than stand in the bus shelter just to get back on the same bus. I was so grateful and I got a lot of studying done.

Even in commute runs they get to know you after a bit. They aren't supposed to wait if you are running for the bus but they do if they know you. I commute with my bicycle which takes extra time to load/unload so I have everything ready so I move efficiently. They notice.
Commute runs can be very full so it is nice to always sit with bags on ones lap, if there is no overhead rack, leaving space for other riders so they don't need to ask for the seat. I am always aware of this since I have helmet and gear, sometimes wet, that would leave a nasty mess if I put it on the seat. If I am particularly mucky I stay standing. I love the additional range I get with my bike with me so I can stop and shop coming back from the park & ride. Many Park & Rides here have lockers for bikes to be left safe & dry.

I hope you enjoy the time to nap or read. I always prefer the bus to the hassle of a car.

Answer 2

Buy a good watch and remember: The train / bus is always late except when you are.
So if you can, arrive a little early for each journey.

And city buses are flock animals. They tend to travel in groups, so if you have waited a long time for a bus and the one coming is overcrowded, you might as well stay out, the next is likely to be following close and nearly empty.

I do not know how the work schedules are where you live, but here you never meet the same crew on a train or bus for even two days running, so catching the bus or train at the same time because the driver gets to know you makes no sense here.
You better make friends with people who also travel around the same time so you have someone to talk with.

Mostly the system of train lines and bus routes is logical, just try to see the system, or just learn about the ones you are going to use, and when you know the regular ones, learn about the other ones you can try.

If you travel often, more than a few times a week, look into the prices of week and month passes, they are mostly much cheaper than single tickets.
In some towns they have 10 rides tickets, useful for if you only use the bus in bad weather, or sometimes also instead of a weekly pass.

And buy a small back-pack or a comfortable bag with a wide shoulder strap, you will want to carry your bag in such a way that your hands are still free, while at the same time you do not want the (very few) nasty people to walk away with your things.

Answer 3

1) Take a friend with you for the first several times. If the friend knows the bus and train system, that can be very helpful.


2) Try to take the same train or bus (time) everyday - you will get to know the bus driver or train conductor, and they will get to know you. This is not a bad thing. I live near San Francisco, and have had to take the bus to the college I attend for the last several years. When I was a freshman at the college (my first year taking the bus), I almost always took the same bus home. Depending on the day of the week, I would run errands or go to work before going home. I have a special bus pass, and it got to the point where the driver knew exactly where I was going (based on the day of the week) when I flashed my pass to him. But that was only if I caught the 2:13 PM bus coming out of the college campus.

Answer 4

If your area offers a "fast pass," a monthly card that allows you on all transit, buy one. That way you're not scrabbling for money, and if you make a mistake, it's easy to hop on another bus/train.

Get a schedule and make sure you understand it.

Try taking a rehearsal trip of your commute on a day when time is not a factor, just to familiarize yourself with the route.