I don't like relying on a bus!

[Angular Chap]

I was thinking just the other day about how good for my mental health learning to drive was. I think this was one of the things that lead to the best period of recovery I have ever had. 4 short blimmin' years.

I was considering what made me feel so great about just being able to hop in my car and go wherever I wanted, pretty much whenever I wanted.

I decided it came down to how rubbish public transport is. How I hated not being able to get a seat and when someone would sit next to me. I hated sitting near the isle or having to stand. I found this particularly distressing. Having yobs on the bus behaving like baboons, and if anyone was targeted by them, it was usually me. People blasting horrible music on their phones. Journeys taking up to an hour longer than they should, late buses, being late due to buses. Buses make me anxious and uncomfortable that's for sure.

All that cured at a stroke by getting a license and learning to drive.

If I was in your shoes I would be very disappointed too.

I was the same. Ugly times taking a bus.

Having to take a bus actually pushed me into getting a motorcycle. It actually felt safer than taking a bus. I somehow managed to endure the embarrassment and anxiety of getting the certificate. It took 3 attempts and 2 training schools, but I got there. Not a full licence, and only valid for 2 years, but it was still better than the bus.

I was never bothered walking down the street, in any part of Edinburgh, sometimes even later at night. Nothing. I used to work in and around areas with a bad reputation, seemed pretty undeserved in my experience. But on a bus, every other day someone would accost me about something or other.

Barely had any incidents riding a motorcycle either.

But I do accept, this and the other issues in this thread are down to social and environmental concerns, rather than just the bus on it's own, which is just a vehicle.

 

[Sherlock77]

Admittedly, it's also the overcrowding issue at national parks and natural areas (as others have said)... As a local, I don't go to Banff during July or August, almost too crowded... Once that shoulder season (and winter) arrives it's far more pleasant with far less people, I was in Banff townsite on Christmas Day and it was relatively quiet to walk around...

Also as a local, I know some of the less traveled areas of the park where fewer people go... There are a handful of "must see" places in Banff (and any other parks too), and those are the ones that get crowded, buses don't generally go to the other spots in the park with less foot/car traffic...

I was fortunate to visit Moraine Lake as a child in the 1980's before the overcrowding happened... And overcrowding at parks isn't a new issue, I've seen documentaries on early vehicle history in the American national parks, photos of massive car lineups on dirt/gravel roads leading into the park

 

[Judge]

Just a sign of the times...but then I'm close enough to Yosemite National Park to understand the environmental how and whys of such things. I wouldn't like it either, but can accept why.

That said I spent ten straight years commuting into San Francisco using public transit. I still recall the day that the branch manager told us the office was moving to the East Bay...right into the town I lived. Where using my car, my shortest commute was 64 SECONDS. A far cry from the 60 minutes it took on BART to get to work.

 

[Jeff T]

Admittedly, it's also the overcrowding issue at national parks and natural areas (as others have said)... As a local, I don't go to Banff during July or August, almost too crowded... Once that shoulder season (and winter) arrives it's far more pleasant with far less people, I was in Banff townsite on Christmas Day and it was relatively quiet to walk around...

Also as a local, I know some of the less traveled areas of the park where fewer people go... There are a handful of "must see" places in Banff (and any other parks too), and those are the ones that get crowded, buses don't generally go to the other spots in the park with less foot/car traffic...

I was fortunate to visit Moraine Lake as a child in the 1980's before the overcrowding happened... And overcrowding at parks isn't a new issue, I've seen documentaries on early vehicle history in the American national parks, photos of massive car lineups on dirt/gravel roads leading into the park

I recall Banff was pretty busy even in the 1970's- when in the middle of the town, it felt like a moderate sized city. Lot of people out and about.

Have you been to Jasper? When I was there it seemed much more laid back than crowded Banff. In fact, I had initial trouble FINDING the town of Jasper. Turned out it is off the highways and on a spur access road. The park itself is fairly similar to Banff, but you probably know all of this.

 

[Sherlock77]

I recall Banff was pretty busy even in the 1970's- when in the middle of the town, it felt like a moderate sized city. Lot of people out and about.

Have you been to Jasper? When I was there it seemed much more laid back than crowded Banff. In fact, I had initial trouble FINDING the town of Jasper. Turned out it is off the highways and on a spur access road. The park itself is fairly similar to Banff, but you probably know all of this.

Yup... Jasper is a smaller townsite and generally more laid back... I think one reason why is that it's much further large cities than Banff... But apparently even Jasper is concerned about large crowds in the summer, the trick is still the off seasons

Banff is just over one hour away from Calgary, so really a very easy day trip for local residents