Bus travel
Photo: Mostafameraji, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
All continents, including Antarctica, have some sort of bus travel and unless government regulations or geography prohibit it, you can find some – at least nominal – bus service almost anywhere you go. While comfort and prices range wildly, from the infamous chicken buses, the engines of which may or may not survive the next steep ascent, to luxury buses in countries such as Saudi Arabia, buses are usually the cheapest option at least on short distances.
UnderstandContrary to rail, which is usually organized at the national level, it is often easy for anyone to start a bus company.
RideBus operators have different attitudes towards standing passengers. While it is par for the course on chicken buses, laws and regulations in other places may require not only sitting down but buckling up.
Travel speedAlmost all buses are designed for top speeds no higher than 110 km/h, some don't even reach 80 km/h. In many countries, this is enshrined in laws and thus technical developments in favor of higher speeds are unlikely.
Eat and drinkWhile some bus companies have perfected "at your seat service" to an art form, and others have roving vendors for everything portable, buses in other regions may offer a limited selection only or nothing at all.
TalkA long bumpy bus ride is often the ideal way to meet locals and strike up conversations with "real" people.
SleepSleeping restfully on buses can be difficult – it's easy to end up exhausted after an overnight bus from one city to another.
Bus travel by regionWikivoyage has guides on bus travel in some countries where this phenomenon is either widespread or rather new.
Stay safeIn general, buses are less safe and more prone to accidents than trains, although safer than cars. Buckle up where seat belts are available. They may be mandatory.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Bus travel" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Mostafameraji, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons