Only poor people get the bus…

[EmpressOfTheSofa]

..I was told yesterday by a close relative. In the context of mocking me.

I get a bus to work. My bus stop is literally outside my house and ten minutes later it drops me off outside my work. I pay £70 a month for this.

If I drive to work it costs petrol plus £135 a month parking fees, and the closest two car parks are each a ten minute walk from work. It also takes longer to drive because of the one way system/bus lanes. It’s a no brainer.

But I got roundly mocked and told she wouldn’t be seen dead on public transport.

This was in the context of her admiring a new item I’d bought and I said oh funnily enough two separate ladies at the bus stop have also complimented it, she then shrieked with laughter and said there’s a weird contrast between having an expensive X and then getting public transport and that I probably look like a weirdo. That the only people who use buses outside of London are poor people who can’t afford to drive.

She’s bonkers, right? And a tad nasty? I’ve been stewing on this for a couple of days and shouldn’t let her rile me but ffs.

Only yesterday a bus driver refused to let me board a bus because I was carrying my new Bottega Veneta handbag. He said that I wasn't poor enough to take a bus and would have take a taxi, instead.

Did it look like that? Mebbes he thought it was radioactive?

@EmpressOfTheSofa, and I say this kindly and gently with all my life's experience, tell her to fuck off.

You can't just say 'outside London' as if it's some homogenous blur! Buses are really cheap by me, £2 per journey (and can be long journeys too, about 45 mins from one end of the route to another), £1.65 if bought in advance.

To be fair, it's not the most pleasant experience but I definitely wouldn't assume it's just for poor people! There could be lots of reasons, e.g. more convenient, people prioritising the environment, personally 99% of the time I get the bus it's because I'm going to have a drink!

You could be denied a car licence because of a hidden medical condition. Or be such a bag of nerves you keep failing your driving test. Or not want to be 'mummy taxi'.

I have not had a car in over 20 years, living in London admittedly, and the savings mean I can afford more holidays for starters.

About fifteen years ago, our daughter lived near Shoreham, in Sussex. On a visit, we decided to take our grandchildren to Brighton for the day. Being told that parking was a problem, we decided to go on the bus. It was ferociously expensive, especially as it is only six or seven miles away. Two adults and two children both ways cost over £20.

Who cares what she thinks? If you like to get the bus, get the bus. You don’t have to defend it. FWIW my daughter regularly mocks me for getting the bus! Do I care?

Ha ha try being a cyclist if you want funny looks! Do what's best for you. I save hours and £££ per month by cycling to work but there are those who can't imagine any other way of travelling than sitting in the traffic jam each day.
I live in a city with pretty good and reasonably priced public transport and I think far more people should/could use it, so we could have cleaner air, safer streets and better access for emergency vehicles and those who really need it.

Why would you pay nearly twice as much to go to work in the car? Not to mention all the hassle of parking?

Yep she's bonkers and a massive stupid twat.

Ignore her.

£20 for bus tickets is still cheaper than running a car

I thought the same. It’s £5 return, each, for four people with no driving or parking hassle. Cheap at twice the price, I’d say.

What a strange thing to sneer at! It's practically a point of pride around here to have one or no car per family and take the bus for environmental reasons. My three petrol cars are definitely infra dig.

I had to take my car in for a service just outside the city centre. My three teenagers and I decided to get a bus into the city to waste some time. We waited ages for it!

On the way back we got a taxi which was cheaper for all four of us thank the bus, and it dropped us door to door.

OMG I'm embarrassed for you that she's such a silly snob, ugh.
Snobbery sucks anyway, but in this case it's silly because her suggestion that someone with a decent handbag will somehow shock the other punters is absurd and just shows her prejudice as ignorance because she no doubt hasnt actually got on a bus recently...
And just the inference that you wouldn't want people to think you're poor is gross.
I wouldn't want people to think I was a silly snob because that's a character flaw that I could improve on... but I don't care if they think I'm poor as that's a circumstance and not a character flaw.
No wonder you're going off her a bit

She is ridiculous and obviously doesn't give a fuck about the environment or air quality either.

I prefer getting the bus. I like chatting to people at the bus stop, or putting my headphones in and ignoring the world, it’s cheaper than driving, better for the environment and if it’s a nice day and I have time on my hands I can walk home. The bus goes from outside my house to work every 10 mins so why would I put the miles on my car? Means I can have a pint after work on Friday too.

Your close relative is a complete ar$ehole.

Okay… this person isn’t just an arsehole, they’re down right nasty. What a horrible way to behave towards someone!

So it's cheaper and quicker and you get more time to yourself
No brainer whatever your wage. I wish our buses were as good!

My last comment was after reading this! Forgot to quote you.

Hope you’re okay OP. Not sure if it is possible to cut this person out of your life or not. But I’d at the very least give them a wide berth.

You can tell the stupid cow that I don't drive because my eyesight is too bad. Would she really want me behind the wheel? The government should introduce IQ tests before allowing people to drive as your silly relative clearly wouldn't pass.

Shes bonkers. , and a bit of a snob maybe ?
Youre doing the quickest and cheapest version of your commute, thats a no brainer to me!
I wish i could get the bus and get off right outside work ! Its not a sign if poverty IMO

I'd love to use the bus more but it's so expensive as is the train.

For me and my children to get to the nearest town it's £35 return on train, more on the bus. It's why I drive as it doesn't cost me that in petrol and parking. It's rubbish.

The park and ride is a tenner and parking only £3 so why would I use it. Something needs to change so more people do use public transport. The cost is ridiculous

So my point is you actually need a decent salary to afford the bloody bus!!!!

By Jove! I think you've solved it!