Source
r/korea•
InfamousCut

Seoul Bus Rant

건강 | Health

What's up with the sudden braking and ridiculous lurching while shifting. Honestly i think its an inside joke to see how many people they can knock over with their sudden braking (even when there are no other cars/pedestrians around). Also, fellow passengers, I know its getting a little chilly, but please open the windows at least a little to let air circulate. I was on a full bus (everyone wearing masks) but all of the windows were shut tight and it got kinda stuffy real fast.

Posted Oct 16, 2020, 10:07 AM UTC

3047
daehanmindecline•

First time I went to Japan, I had my first experience of culture shock there because the bus I was on drove smoothly.

I've had it explained that the driver was probably trained for manual transmission and buses are automatic, but I'm not sure what kind of gears they use. It is horrible on a crowded bus when everyone's standing during rush hour. Also punishing to experience a taxi driver who uses this technique.

25
InfamousCutOP•

I had the same experience, the ride was so smooth. I think that maybe the drivers there have more respect and consideration for passenger inconvenience and safety. Here, its more about keeping time and beating red lights.

12
pohang-dudeBusan•

Like in a lot of countries, these guys want to finish their route on schedule, so they can actually have a, maybe, 15 or 20 minute break before getting on the road again. That's probably what's motivating their driving style. Would suck to have to start your next route RIGHT AFTER finishing your last one

11
InfamousCutOP•

I understand the need to speed things up, and I am willing to overlook the occasional running of a red light, but its minor driving habits that have nothing to do with saving time. Lurching while shifting and sudden braking have little to do with saving time.

8
pohang-dudeBusan•

I think the crummy shifting might be because some of the drivers suck at driving stick. Just a guess though

I learned on a stick shift, and I understand smooth shifting with the clutch pedal. These guys might not have a clue. Or, the transmission is crap, and they have to yank the stick to change gears. Or, they're just bad drivers to begin with...

4
eunma2112•

Like in a lot of countries, these guys want to finish their route on schedule, so they can actually have a, maybe, 15 or 20 minute break before getting on the road again. That's probably what's motivating their driving style. Would suck to have to start your next route RIGHT AFTER finishing your last one

My experience with bus drivers is more from the perspective of someone driving a car and sharing the road with them. I have come to the conclusion that bus drivers drive the way they do because they are basically just pissed off at life ... being stuck driving a bus all day ... they get zero respect ... so they say fuck it, I'm going to drive like a maniac to pay back society vis-a-vis the passengers and other drivers on the road - for putting me in this shitty job.

Of course, there are lots of reasons why these guys drive the way they do; and we have probably only hit upon a few them.

8
InfamousCutOP•

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, especially service industry people (who work very hard), delivery drivers, wait staff, bus drivers etc. and i try to be as respectful as possible, and there are exceptions, but you hit the nail on the head.
The general feeling (based on the way they answer simple questions, body language, etc) is that they are indeed a very bitter bunch. Driving aggressively and with no regard for passengers' safety i guess is their way exerting their limited power over their automotive domain. Many times I have wanted let them know how reckless they are and that in a few short years driverless buses will render them obsolete but in the end, i bite my tongue, pick myself up off the floor of the bus, tap my card and just move along.

6
daehanmindecline•

My experience with bus drivers is more from the perspective of someone driving a car and sharing the road with them.

As a scooter driver, I strongly agree. Whenever I hear people complain about scooter drivers, I want to grab them by the collar and shout "Have you ever tried sharing the road with bus drivers?" Now you know why we spend so much time driving on the sidewalk.

5
Eyeofthewitch666•

You can still keep time and beat red lights without breaking like a spazz.

2
Akaistos•

It always hurts to hear how these 아저씨s treat manual transmission buses - no one taught them how to shift properly without making the bus cry for help... but oh well manual is cheaper and 서울 has too many buses.

5
ChuckFreak•

no one taught them how to shift properly

Why do everyone thinks this is a driving training issue? It's not. They drive like that because they choose to drive like that. It's considered normal in Korea, so nobody ever complains.

But if more foreigners complain to the city mayors, then maybe there will be some real action to stop this practice which is long overdue.

6
Akaistos•

I didn't comment on their driving skill. Shifting wrong kills the transmission eventually. You can hear the parts grind against each other - then they forcefully shift up and you get that crunching sound. This is not a decision someone takes or a personal preference, either you learnt how to shift or you did not. That IS lack of training.

2
ChuckFreak•

It is not lack of training. Every single bus drivers here drives like that, and every single bus drivers that drove the buses before them, dating back decades and decades. Are you going to claim every single one of them are lacking training?

2
n802de•

Most high-floor buses are manual transmission and most low-floor (저상) buses have automatic transmission.

2
InfamousCutOP•

The electric buses are a little bit better.

1
dokinaIncheon•

Haven’t they always been shitty drivers? Can’t remember the last time I either 1) didn’t almost die or 2) didn’t almost throw up from the motion sickness

18
InfamousCutOP•

Seems like they are extra shitty these days.

2
[deleted]•

I feel like they were worse before, tbh. I actually like riding the bus, apart from the times when it feels like i'm about to lose my teeth to a railing. Beats having to drive to work day-in day-out, though; having 45 minutes to myself before and after work without having to be responsible for a single thing besides my balance is great.

When I was young, a really wealthy family friend here told me that if I had to choose between riding the subway or riding the bus, choose the bus. She never followed up on that, but I did eventually figure out what she was hinting at. it was manifold.

3
InfamousCutOP•

Yeah now since the weather has been nice, I usually choose the bus over subway. I know its much faster and efficient, but something about being trapped in an underground tunnel for an extended period of time packed with random people with no windows seems off (especially these days). A packed bus is just as bad, but at least its above ground and you can (sometimes) open a window.

1
twxxx•

Some of the drivers are just shitty, but I think a lot of it has to do with worsening traffic and them still trying to keep unrealistic schedules (because of traffic). On the route I took I was able to work on the bus with one of the drivers if I left early enough it was so smooth. There was one guy I avoided even if there was no traffic. he just drove like a dick.

I think lot's of traffic also just makes them pissed off and stressed so they start driving like a dick.

1
ChuckFreak•

The drivers are under intense pressure to meet time. If they fall behind on their route too often, their jobs are on the line. When people expect buses to be on perfect time always, the one's who are in the hot seat to be on time without delays, are the bus drivers. Otherwise bus companies are flooded with calls from passengers about buses that came 5 minutes too late.

5
anatolel•

Yes, thank you for mentioning this. The M bus I used to take - where I was warned to wear a seatbelt by another user after I naively got on and just sat down - was driven by angry, angry men and sometimes a woman. I later learned that they've got a GPS transceiver that's tracking their location, so they're never allowed to fall behind. That's incredibly stressful, as is any job that's timed to the second. I hated those buses (and the green village ones - hanging onto the 02 as it careened up Haebangchon hill, those were the days) but I can't imagine doing those jobs myself. They need stronger unions to fight speed-up.

3
Edenelle•

I understand the rant, but I'd still take the Seoul bus experience over buses in other countries that never arrive on time and/or are just straight up gross.

18
InfamousCutOP•

I guess its just incongruous. In a third world country like India or Bangladesh, you kind of just expect the buses to be second-rate given the surroundings. Don't get me wrong, the public transit SYSTEM in Korea is world class. The time table updates, routes available, cleanliness, cost, are all amazing, its the drivers themselves that are an issue (a relatively minor one at that). I suspect that in the near future when the buses go driverless this will no longer be an issue. Its almost like everything is high-tech EXECPT the drivers. I am sure you can probably look at the drivers' union for the source of the problem, fighting to keep jobs while providing sub-standard training.

3
Edenelle•

For one thing, calling developing countries "third world" is just so outdated aside from the fact that it's insulting.

But that aside, you do list so many of the positives about the bus system and point out the big hole, and that's the sub-standard training. What we also need to consider is that not many of the young Koreans end up applying to be a bus driver. The society as a whole encourages stepping up the corporate ladder, so I reckon they make the standard for bus driving low to encourage more drivers to sign up. I doubt bus drivers even get paid well to care about the corporate drones getting thrown forward for their 9-5+ jobs. At least they can get them to work on time.

-3†
twxxx•

it's not outdated and a very accurate description and widely used term. They are third world - be offended if you want to but I certainly don't care for your virtue signaling. It's not like he said they were shit holes.

1†
Edenelle•

It is outdated and an insulting term that suggests certain countries are of lower class when a good amount of nations that people like you would call "third world" has some of the fastest growing economies today. It reinforces a superiority of the stereotypes "first world" countries when many of those countries are living poorly under the veil of looking rich. Look at the bus systems for example. The US never has buses on time, and they're usually outdated and dirty.

If virtue signaling is what you want to call respecting nations and being informed, then so be it. Nobody in the international relations field is calling developing nations "third world". But I can't expect the incels of Reddit to actually accept new information and take the L.

1
Steviebee123•

My main bus complaint is when the driver insists on playing the radio over the speakers and it's always one of those shows where people call in and sing over the phone. Also, one of the radio stations has been using the same Yamaha DX7 jingle/ident for the last 15 years.

12
InfamousCutOP•

I am pretty sure that the radio station is on as a way of keeping time. Radio stations are good at making sure to let the listeners know the time at regular intervals. Also although the content might be a little kitschy but the hosts voices are quite soothing. (minus the callers and sound effects.)

5
sk8terd8ter•

Yes. Mine has it on a talk show. Do the he puts the announcements in even more loud. One day I winced and and said Aya so he actually turned down the announcement

2
beammeupkirk•

I hate shitty bus drivers too.

Always getting woke from my brief nap.

2
sk8terd8ter•

You forgot to mention the whiplash. But yea, I agree. The job sucks so how can they make it as miserable to ride as possible?

I always sit near a window if possible specifically TO open it. Everyone has a coat on now, we don’t need the get cranked up. Hard to open a window when you’re standing, I know.

2
InfamousCutOP•

Or even asking someone who is sitting next to a window gets you dirty looks.

3
gamedori3•

Gyeonggi long-distance G-bus during rush hour: Every time I rode it I had a new story of discomfort.

Never again.

1
DistributorEwok•

I always figured one of the reasons for the jerkiness of buses here wasn't so much the drivers, but the design of the buses suspension systems. It seems like the buses here sway and jerk a lot, and respond to even the littlest input by the bus driver.

1
parnsoBusan•

I don't remember it right but wasn't that something about "saving gas", many taxi drivers do that too, not that it really helps.

1
SnooperMike•

Actually, I'd say 90% of the buses that I've ridden or encountered on the road respect the rules of the road. The bus drivers drive fairly smoothly if not courteously. Then again, these bus encounters all happen on the outskirts of Seoul. Can't imagine the hell of driving a bus in Seoul proper for hours on end, day in and day out.

1
FireRockSails•

From about 12 years ago but still relevant today! hahaha https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fFtTO2yLJvE/USL2bM-_oQI/AAAAAAAAA70/jyQClTckprU/s1600/busblog.jpg

1
KeySlimePies•

When I lived in Cheonan, riding the bus was like bull riding. They never fully braked at stops, just kept on rolling so you'd have to hop out of a moving vehicle. And they just drive past you at a bus stop unless you wave them down. Green light? SLAM ON THE GAS! Red light? SLAM ON THE BRAKES! Honestly riding the bus there was the best full body workout I ever got

1
InfamousCutOP•

Haha i just imagined doing a shoulder roll out of a moving bus like a member of SEAL team 6. But yeah its almost like an F1 race as soon as light turns from red to green they floor it.

0
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-3
InfamousCutOP•

I was actually thinking about this. By no means am I rich, but I am not dirt poor either. If I was making $10 million a year, would I become one of those people who flex a Lambo? I would like to think that I would try to be as environmentally aware or socially conscious as I am now, but maybe you are right, if I could comfortably afford a nice car I wouldn't have to deal with this BS.

But on the other hand, its this type of thinking that has gotten us where were are with all of the car-related issues, traffic, consumerism and especially the environment. Stigmatizing the use of public transport as only for the poor and if you are rich you need to drive an expensive polluting car (even the electric cars are an environmental issue - batteries, manufacturing, toxic materials) is part of the reason why USA, China and other auto-heavy have issues. Frankly I try not to give a shit about what other people think but its very difficult not to fall victim to this kind of social pressure. I compare my driving life back home and my public transit life now and I have to say that overall its causes MUCH less stress and saves me a ton of money. Sure there are minor issues, but yeah the way its set up in Korea its pretty damn easy to live without a car (regardless of how much money you make).

4
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2
InfamousCutOP•

Just because its normal doesn't mean its right.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

2