To be 1 minute late?

[liladough]

What would you do?

I have an appointment tomorrow at a healthcare facility. It’s an NHS appointment but at a private contractor. I have waited 6 months for this appointment.

I have to get the bus there, it’s an hour long journey (just one bus). The appointment is at 3:20.

I can either get the bus that gets there at 3:01, or get the bus that gets there at 3:21. I don’t want to be waiting outside for twenty minutes as it’s a really dodgy area, they have a cage on their door and you have to buzz up, just for context. There’s no where within a 5 minute walk I can go to get a coffee. Judging by their reviews I would have to wait quite a while to get seen anyway. So if I have to wait 30 minutes to be seen, that’s nearly an hour of waiting in there which would quite frankly do my head in.

On the other side, what if I get the bus that gets there at 3:21? Can I risk that the bus would actually get there for that time and not say 15-20 minutes late? What if I get there at 3:21 and they say sorry you’re late, we can’t see you, try again in 6 months.

YABU = 3:01 Bus
YANBU = 3:21 Bus

Buses are always late, in my experience. I wouldn’t risk having the appointment cancelled because of lateness.

I'd get the earlier bus, buses aren't renowned for running to time so getting one that you know will get you there late is asking for trouble.

3:01 take a coffee and a snack and a book and wait.

Get there early if the next bus is late or doesn't come it's going to be a big problem. I would have thought they would let you in a bit early.

Earlier bus and be prepped for the wait.

You’re making a big assumption that the bus will run exactly on time! If you’ve waited 6 months for an appointment, I wouldn’t risk being late and not being seen. I’d get the bus that gets there at 3.01, or actually one earlier as I’d stress about being late.

Earlier bus. Could you not buzz to be let up when you get there so you’re not waiting out on the street? Do they not have a waiting room inside?

This

Get the earlier bus which will be late then ask to go inside because you don't feel safe waiting in the street.

Definitely the early bus. That’s the latest I’d want to arrive when reliant on public transport. 20 mins is nothing to wait.

Earlier bus and get off a stop or 2 early and walk the rest to use up time? Or is the entire area undesirable?

20 minutes really isn’t that long to wait, and that assumes that the bus runs exactly to time.

Early bus for sure. It'll be sods law and the later bus wont show up, or there'll be a mad traffic incident and roadworks everywhere.

Early bus, cuppa and book.

Get the earlier bus, buzz to be let in and bring a book.

Obviously you can’t turn up late, because you are aware the bus might be late, and nobody should have to wait for you (and you shouldn’t waste people’s time) just because you didn’t want to wait outside.

There really isn’t anywhere I’d feel unsafe for 20 minutes in broad daylight tbh, regardless of how “not nice” the area is, however if you feel unsafe, ask to be let in early.

Can you get off the bus nearby (to a coffee shop) and then get a taxi to the door?

3.01pm no question at all. Then you have a 'spare bus' just in case.

Headphones, sunglasses, fuck off expression.

Definitely early bus, not worth the risk. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere in the UK I’ve felt unsafe, just walk around the block until your appointment

Really??? Of course get the early bus 🙄

And if this is a health facility they will surely have a waiting area, otherwise all the people waiting and those there to accompany patients will be all stood in the street.

Hmmm
I'd definitely be getting the 1501 bus and contemplating the 1441 bus tbh. Hospitals can be big and distance from the bus stop especially if you don't know where you're going.

Early bus. Buses are ALWAYS late, you'll be lucky to get there on time even on the 3.01.

You normally have to check in for NHS appts about ten minutes early. I'd go as early as I could bear, just in case.

I would probably aim to be about 20 min early anyway, especially using public transport.

I'd get the 14.41. I'd rather be where I need to be and waiting than miss the appt due to a late bus!