To think that I shouldn't have to be "poor" to get a bus to work?

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I commute to work either by bus or cycle. I work in the same town under ten miles away from me.
It costs less to commute this way than to drive, we do own a car but we only use it for longer journeys/large shopping trips.

I enjoy it, I get to work and home again stress free, if theres a wait I read my book/listen to music.

All previous jobs have involved extensive travel/commutes by car and I have been massively pissed off by traffice jams/petrol costs etc etc.

Since starting to commute this way I've had quite a fe comments along the lines of "oh you poor thing, when will you be able to afford to drive again?", one friend has taken to posting regular messages on facebook/group emails such as "hahahahah you get the bus. Poor people get the bus" etc etc.

Have deleted said friend, but I find it odd that the general attitude is that I commute by bus because I am down on my luck, not because I choose to.

I find it really depressing that the environmental aspect has only been mentioned once on this thread. Am I being completely naive in thinking that somebody else out there somewhere is trying not to use their car all the time?

I'm a bus user, I never knew there were bus snobs

Last winter I used public transport to get to work because I live on a hill that never gets gritted. It took about three times as long as driving, BUT I really enjoyed not driving. Using public transport (in my case train and bus) isn't a viable option for me timewise, but I wish it was. Unfortunately the buses and trains don't run in sync with each other and I have quite a wait between them.

If my workplace was near the station I would ditch the car and just get the train.

I would also love to be able to walk or cycle to work, but there is no housing within walking distance of where I work (on a trading estate next to a steelworks).

I never knew there were bus snobs either! Seems a very sensible way to get around-I prefer them to driving and parking in towns.

I We use the bus (and our feet) to get everywhere, but it is becoming increasingly more difficult to do this as:

1)the three bus services surrounding me have all been reduced, (including the one that takes me to work and is the nearest shopping area. This bus is now once an hour)

2)The fares have gone up so much that it is now cheaper for two people to take a taxi into town than get the bus.

3)Last winter the (very hilly) roads near me got so icy that we were actually trapped in the house.
When I rang the council I was told by the guy in Highways that the council only grits the roads.
When I asked what about the old people? (in my town in seems that it's only really old people and poor people who get the bus)I was told "well, yes, obviously there are vulnerable members of society around but thats not our problem. Most people drive."
!!!
I pointed out that "vulnerable members of society"who can't leave their houses actually are the councils problem, but also that I do not consider myself vulnerable simply because I use public transport!

I thought the powers that be wanted us to use public transport. It seems I am wrong.

stleger i thought it was only me. That's my hobby

I would love be able to use the bus but I can't really afford it as its more expensive than driving, take 3x as long and I wouldn't be able to get home after 6.30.

I also wondered why no one seemed to mention the environmental aspect.

So, when she asks you "When will you be able to afford to drive again?" you can answer by saying "I don't know, maybe when global warming stops. How about you? How do you justify driving your car everywhere?" Maybe that'd shut her up!

I don't have a car quite simply because i am a single parent and can't afford it. A lot of the time i get offered lifts to and from work anyway, so i'm saving money all round.

I also think some people (not all people) choose to drive because of laziness. I work with people who moan because i eat chocolate bars and never put on any weight. This is because walking to and from the bus stop burns off extra calories. Simple. I also get to work a lot quicker and in less time because the bus shoots down the bus lanes and is not stood still in a traffic jam.

I would also advise you to delete any fb friends who make snide comments on this subject. They don't happen to be people you work with do they? I have a strict rule about not adding people that i work with. I hope my answer has helped.

I used to commute to the next big city, took an hour and a hlaf on 2 buses. I loved it, peace and quiet, and a nap if I got a seat all to myself

Now I work about 10 miles away but there aren't any buses so I have to drive and get stressed. AT least I can smoke while I am driving. That is the one bonnus.

They are nobbers, clearly. Tell them you don't want to add to pollution, they'll either shut up and not want to get into green discussions or think you are a hero!

very odd, i didn't know people anywhere thought like that

where i work nobody would be stupid enough to drive and pay on-street parking charges (and no car park) in fact, all the sympathy goes to those who have to bring a car in one day because of a meeting elsewhere.

Maggie, i agree. I worked with someone who was telling every bloody day how 'unfair' it is that i ate everything but she had to watch her calories. Well, she was driving door to door while i was fast walking everywhere.
And what about those who drive to the gym and pay money to burn calories? Thats double cost plus boring.

I love to daydream on the bus ...I can even MN if my phone is in a good mood

YANBU. We have never had a car and have managed without one because we live in an area with good public transport.
A work colleague burst into tears when I told her I wasn't getting a car, because she didn't see how I was going to manage to have a baby without a car .
I'm glad in a way we have lost touch because the thought that I'm having my third with no car might give her a heart attack!

I love buses. Door to door with no parking hassles

id love to get the bus to work. rural here so buses are crap and i have to have my own vehicle to do my job. cars are just money pits. if someone used the bus to get to work i wouldnt assume it was driven by lack of money, id assume the lucky person lived near a bus route and cared about the environment.

I would suggest your "friend" is an idiot! Not only are you being green, but you get to travel to work without thinking! you can read or daydream out of the window.

Next time your "friend" says "ha ha you get the bus" Just comment back, "ha ha your husband/wife is sleeping with your brother/sister/mother/father!" That should shut them up!

Wonder why i have no friends ? ha ha

How incredibly immature your "friend" sounds. Personally I'm impressed with those who can function completely without a car and use only public transport. We've done that and in the rural area we were living at the time, it was a nightmare trying to get to places in a reasonable time.

Now that we're in a less rural area with better bus service, we have decided to get a monthly bus pass for me to use. We have a car (and it's technically mine I suppose as DH can drive but doesn't after a dreadful accident a few years ago which has made him fearful of driving), but it is cheaper to use the bus for daily stuff and save the car for those occasional things, like popping over to visit MIL, large grocery shops, and Christmas shopping.

London bus user here. Use the bus over the tube. Your friends are odd.

Altough I did once read the rather depressing phrase "anyone on a bus over the age of 35 is a failure". Maybe Warren Buffet or someone. Rather a limited definition of success, I thought.

We intentionally down-graded to one car when we moved here because it's easier for hubby to get the bus into the city centre than to even consider driving. Considering we had a limited stop coach service into the city centre over the road from his office - would be daft NOT to get the bus.

Now he's got a new job we need to go back up to two cars again as it's at a site without easy public transport links.

Not poverty or anything - just the easiest way of getting to where we needed to be at the time.

Pfffft. Let them think what they want. I have a car but I usually cycle to work as it's more enjoyable, cheaper and better for the environment (and for my bum!).

Personally, I'm happy to see anyone using public transport - the less it's used, the more it's cut back.