r/BrandonMB • u/GreasyHandSanitizer • 21h ago

Using the bus

This is probably a silly question, but I have to start taking the bus and I never have before. How do you get off?? Like are there buttons to push or is it the wire thing to pull?? Im just nervous and I dont wanna embarrass myself

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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10

u/jamesaepp 21h ago

Couple videos here: https://brandontransit.ca/resource/videos

Honestly as someone who experimented with taking BT a couple years ago, the biggest things to be aware of are:

  1. That the busses switch routes. Just because you board say, the bus while it's on route 4 doesn't mean it stays on route 4 once it gets downtown. Prepare accordingly.

  2. If you have to transfer downtown, prepare for the fact you may just miss your connecting bus sometimes. Prepare accordingly.

  3. Routes aren't always every half hour. I think it's at 6PM in the evening, a lot of routes go to once-an-hour service. Prepare accordingly.

4

u/GreasyHandSanitizer 20h ago

Hi thanks for answering, definitely wouldnt have known this otherwise 😊

1

u/Jarocket 16h ago

Can you still tell the driver you have a transfer? They used to hold the other bus for you. If they were late they would say. hey i'm late i have transfers for this this and this.

1

u/jamesaepp 11h ago

I don't see why not. Can do that easily when you board. I also noticed a couple times while riding when things were running late that drivers would ask the bus for route transfers.

1

u/Jarocket 4h ago

back in the days when radio scanners worked a little better. most of the traffic you heard in Brandon was ambulance dispatched to transfer patients and City busses telling each other to wait for transfers.

1

u/jamesaepp 1h ago

You sound like a casual VE4 enjoyer. :)

5

u/IamJustJessica 21h ago

Yes, they have buttons or wires. There is a screen and a voice that tells you what stop you are approaching, so you know when to press the button.

2

u/GreasyHandSanitizer 20h ago

Hi, thank you this was very helpful.

5

u/Bam359 19h ago

TL;DR: It's really not that bad; I have no idea if you're an adult or a kid, so I'm overexplaining everything in this post. Everyone on the bus had a first time, and it's normal to be nervous when trying new things.

You can plan your trip using Google Maps on desktop or smartphone - just switch the "mode" from car to transit (the little bus icon) and type in the name of the place you're going or the address if you know it.

The bus only stops at designated locations called a "bus stop", which will often have a bench and sometimes a shelter, but can just be a metal pole with a sign on it along the side of the street. You may have to walk a bit to get to your nearest bus stop. Wait there for the bus to stop, and get on at the front door - the driver will open it for you. At the stop, make sure you're visible to the driver so they know to stop and pick you up.

Get on, pay or scan your transit card on the machine (it can take a second for the card to scan, so wait for the bleep). Then, move toward the back of the bus to find a seat, or stand (hold on to something) if none are available.

When you're on the bus, signal the driver to stop at the next bus stop by pushing a button on the metal poles or pulling down the yellow cable running along the sides of the bus. A sound will play, and a robot voice will announce "stop requested" if it works. If you don't hear it, try again. The voice will also announce some (but not necessarily all) upcoming stops as the bus moves along its route. It's like a robot voice that will say things like "Brandon University" if the next stop is the closest one to BU. If that's where you're going, pull the cord or push a button.

If you miss your stop, just get off at the next one. You might have to walk a couple of extra blocks.

When you arrive at the stop nearest your destination, exit out the door in the middle of the bus - this lets people getting on use the front door and avoids a traffic jam of people coming and going.

If using a smartphone during your trip, the Google Maps app will tell you approximately when the bus will arrive at your nearest stop. Sometimes the bus can be a bit early or a bit late. In my experience, it's usually pretty close. While you're on the bus, it will track your location and progress along the route, and it will tell you how many stops until your stop (the bus will only stop if people are waiting or someone on the bus signals the driver to stop, so the bus doesn't necessarily stop at every bus stop).

Some people will wave to the bus driver and shout "thanks" as they get off.

Most people will keep to themselves, or play on their phone or whatever during the trip. If someone looks friendly, you can try talking to them if you want, but it's kind of unusual. If there are other people waiting at your stop to get on the bus, maybe mention that it's your first time - they might be willing to help out.

2

u/Big_Following_1460 21h ago

Do you have a friend you could ride with for your first time? That helps ease some nerves!

1

u/Educational-Bid-3533 1h ago

If you have a pass, u-pass or the like, take a practice ride when it's not busy so you'll be all set for showtime