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.

Buses are great, shame there are not more in rural areas.

I do loads of walking, don't have to walk a circular route (back to the car)
because I catch public transport home.

Most people who slate bus use seem to have an insecurity about others perception of them. Hyacinth Bucket style
They often also have under developed glutes.

I came on here to say I think that OPs SIL has internalised Thatcher!

Best way to deal with silly comments like that is just to reply, oh bless your heart, and smile very kindly.

Maybe it depends where you live but I live in a city which is just hideous to drive in and everyone I know uses the buses, even the rich people…..apart from the hipsters who are all riding round on cargo bikes to prove who environmentally friendly they are.

My friend is like this... her back side is glued to her car seat.

I've recently started taking the bus after breaking my shoulder. I've taken it to hospital appointments, to work, to the neighbouring town. It's been great and fuss free especially with parking. I'm going to start driving again soon but I'll keep using the bus for trips to town and maybe even work. Its not exectly cheap, except this month where all trips are £2 but still worth it. Silly snobbery from your relative, what's her view on trains or flying economy?

I usually wear my Tag, DD wears her Rolex on the bus

It's hugely expensive to get the bus where I live. It's mainly students and pensioners using them and the occasional mum with dc.

I’ve never spotted anyone wearing a Rolex on a bus

This is one of the most mental things I've ever read on Mumsnet.

I think if you aren't a city with good public transport then no it's not poor people that get the bus. Taking the bus is usually cheaper than parking, faster and better for the environment.

However, I now live in a rural area and the bus services are atrocious. They are unreliable, poorly scheduled and generally anyone who can afford to has a car. It takes me 35 mins to drive to work up the motorway but it would take 2 hours 2 buses and a train to make the same journey by public transport. Oh and all day to cycle because of the massive hills.

You aren't being serious about thinking about this for 2 days are you?

That's ridiculous, why would anyone care about such a stupid thing?

How could this possibly be worth any head space at all?

I've used buses for years, have rarely had any issues with 'crazies and drunks'

I bloody love being a buswanker!! Can drive and have a lovely car but the bus is convenient, less stressful and I feel like I'm doing my bit.

The rolex comment was also bonkers

Bus prices where I am are insane. A 15 minute car journey takes 2 hours on the bus (back roads) and costs £11 return.

@EmpressOfTheSofa Your relative is very silly. I use the bus all the time because it's easier than trying to drive where I live. I love the buses - you can listen in to people's conversations, and all of human life is there. The only thing that irks me is that so many people on buses just stare at their phones and miss what's going on around them.

If I'm not on the bus, I'm walking. Cars have their place (and I'm no eco-warrior), but I'm all in favour of buses (and trains).

You are absolutely right. This didn’t happen in a vacuum though and is chipping away at me. I’m having a bit of an awakening at the moment. I don’t understand the mindset or motivation of someone who claims to be my greatest ally who delights in this kind of ‘banter’.

She can't possibly have meant you should drive a car, though, can she? Unless possibly she's a time traveller from the 1950s. I don't think there's even anywhere to park a car in my city any more. I'd have had to assume she meant I should be riding some souped-up top-of-the-line all terrain electric bicycle rather than taking the bus, and that random people at the bus stop would asume that I couldn't afford a proper bike?

How bloody ridiculous. I'd get the bus too if there was a stop right outside my house and it saved a decent amount of money! It's common sense....what a snob she is.

Why drive when you can be chauffer driven?

Where is that because I do an 80-mile round trip by bus for £7.

Been in prison, have you? Op's relative might be right after all.

@FOTTFSOFTFOASM 😂sssh, everyone will want to go

To those saying buses are expensive, cars aren't exactly cheap to run and maintain

This thread is making me nostalgic for my bus taking days now!
I made friends on the bus, and had some lovely conversations, even met a FWB on a bus! 😁 It reminds me of when I was young with no responsibilities!

Echo the comment someone made about university academics getting the bus. I've known this a lot. They are hardly poor.