10 Experiences In Public Transport Every Londoner Has Had

Public transport in London is a place that is as iconic as it is unpleasant. If you are living in London, you are probably all too well-acquainted with the London transport systems. Instead of taking pricey cab rides, Londoners tend to depend on noisy trains and chaotic buses. With that in mind, it isn’t unsurprising that most of us have had unforgettable experiences in public transport and I have decided to gather the most common ones. These are some one of the experiences in public transport in London.

1. Running for The Bus.

Every Londoner has at one point had the unfortunate experience of sprinting like their lives depend on it to catch their bus, only to have it drive off as soon as they get there. Sometimes the bus driver may take pity on you and wait for you to get on the bus, not everyone is so lucky. This is one of the experiences in public transport in London.

2. Tube Strikes.

It is uncommon to have to take a rail replacement bus to get to your destination because there is a tube strike. This is sometimes a great excuse to take a day of work or school, not so great when there is somewhere you have to be. This is one of the experiences in public transport in London.

3. Central Line on a Summers Day.

We all know that London has finally been having a heatwave recently but that has meant hell for those of us who take the train. Being sweaty, probably hungry and incredibly dehydrated does not mix well with packed London trains.

4. The Signature Drunk.

Are you really taking London transport if you haven’t had to pretend there isn’t a very loud drunk person causing a disruption? This is one of the experiences in public transport in London.

5. Bus Going on Diversion.

There are times that you decide to stupidly trust the London buses to take you to your destination only to find out on the way that the bus has completely changed its route. This one is particularly a pain in the ass when you have somewhere important to be.

6. Jumping the Gap.

A lot of people outside of London often ask me if there really are Grand-Canyon-sized gaps between the platform and the train, I am here to tell you that this is not a myth. There are certain platforms that require you to physically prepare yourself before jumping the gap. This is one of the experiences in public transport in London.

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7. The Crazy Bus Driver.

Many people have probably had the experience of riding on a bus that makes you question whether you will actually make it to your destination without visiting the hospital first. This bus driver tends to drive like a maniac and probably misses a couple of stops that he shouldn’t really be missing.

8. Fight with the Bus Driver.

Chance are that you have at least once had the bus driver turn off the engine and wait for someone to get off the bus because they haven’t tapped their oyster card. This is one of the experiences in public transport in London.

9. Bag on the Chair.

A lot of people tend to reserve the seat next to them for their personal belongings which is absolutely fine in an empty train or bus. However, there are those who still do so when the train is completely packed, and people are battling for seats.

10. Buggy Trouble.

Now this one is specifically for the mothers out there. Travelling with a lot of family members who have children of their own has introduced me to the struggles of parenthood even though I myself am not one. In the London buses, there are only two spaces for pushchairs which are also for wheelchair users, this means that it can take missing many buses until you are actually able to ride one.

Which of these experiences in public transport have you had in London? Let us know below.

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