I have been taking the bus more frequently recently because the subway is inconvenient and taxis are too expensive, so I have no choice but to choose the cheap and abundant bus.
I have had a shadow on taking the bus since I was a child because I would get carsick and vomit if I took the bus for more than half an hour. Later, I found out that it wasn't just the bus, but also those shuttle buses that made me uncomfortable. I suspect it's due to genetic inheritance because my mom also has experience with motion sickness.
Speaking of motion sickness, I have to mention the "motion sickness prevention" techniques I have developed over the years. First is the distraction method, where I distract myself from being on these types of buses by listening to music or meditating. Second is the fresh air breathing method, where I open the window to feel the flowing air and take a look at the scenery passing by. I thought of this method because I found that I can ride a motorcycle for however long without getting motion sick, not only that, but I also enjoy it. So I thought of treating the bus as an upgraded version of a motorcycle—it just has two more wheels and a larger size. The last ultimate method is to simply fall asleep, with no worries, but there is a higher risk, as missing the stop would be troublesome.
With more experience and age, my ability to resist motion sickness has also increased. Now I can ride for two hours before getting motion sick, so taking the bus for a few tens of minutes is no problem at all.
The buses in Beijing are quite luxurious, at least much more luxurious than the buses I have seen elsewhere. This luxury not only refers to the hardware configuration but also includes the personnel configuration. The interior of the bus is clean and simple, with powerful air conditioning and complete Wi-Fi, needless to say. In terms of personnel, in addition to the bus driver, there is usually at least one accompanying staff member, and the extended version of the bus is equipped with one in the front and one in the back. I suspect that the double-decker buses even have three of them, but I haven't ridden on one, so I can't be sure. These staff members on the bus are mainly responsible for maintaining order and determining the timing of opening and closing the doors for the driver. Recently, I also discovered that they hold a small flag in their hands, and at specific moments, they extend it out of the window, wave it around, and then retract it and close the window. Based on observation, I guess it is to remind the following vehicles when the bus starts or turns, to prevent rear-end collisions. Of course, in addition to these basic tasks, their most important role is to prevent disturbances and disruptions on the bus, especially behaviors that disturb the driver. Such incidents have occurred quite frequently in recent years, so their work is necessary.
The life of the accompanying staff must be very boring, as they cannot chat or play with their phones, they can only sit or stand. I often see them muttering to themselves, as if they want someone to talk to them, but they are also afraid of someone talking to them. Once, I wanted to continue their conversation, but the words stopped at my mouth because I was worried that they would become addicted to chatting, and I would be the one feeling awkward. I also worried that they would be punished for not doing their job properly due to chatting. Speaking of their work, it feels like they are security guards in a kindergarten, only serving as a deterrent in terms of security. If a violent incident really occurs, they would be difficult to handle. But they are indispensable, at least for now. As for their age, they are generally elderly men in their fifties or sixties, and I don't know if they are volunteers or official positions. If they are official positions, the flags they hold also have the word "volunteer" written on them. If they are volunteers, judging from their expressions, they don't seem like volunteers, but rather have the same deadpan expression as the common "office workers". So I'm confused.
There are many benefits to taking the bus, not to mention the green travel and the cheap price. But these are not advantages for me. I think the most interesting thing about taking the bus is being able to see the scenery along the way and sometimes seeing what people on the bus are doing. Since taking the bus, I have learned about ongoing construction along the route, where the greenery is better, and who is playing with their phones when crossing the zebra crossing... This kind of observation makes me feel like I am truly living. In contrast, I used to take a taxi to work or take the subway. As soon as I sat in the taxi, I would start playing with my phone, and by the time I looked up, I would have arrived at the company. The subway is even more boring, surrounded by people, and the view outside the window is just darkness. Going in and out of the subway station, and I would arrive at the company. Looking at it this way, taking the bus is much more interesting.
In addition to enjoying the scenery along the way, I have also resumed the habit of listening to podcasts. Looking back, during the past half year of taking taxis, I didn't listen to a single episode of a podcast. It was so comfortable and the time was so short that listening to podcasts became an awkward thing. But it's different when taking the bus. Sometimes there are no seats, and even if there are seats, you can't just stare at the screen. The best option is to listen to some podcasts. I start listening as soon as I leave home, and by the time I arrive at the company, I have just finished listening to an episode, the timing is just right.
Of course, there are also many disadvantages to taking the bus, as those who have taken it know. When I was in Wuhan, I often had to worry about the safety of other people on the road—the drivers were not just driving, they were racing. The old and poorly maintained buses were speeding on the road, and the bus would rattle, feeling like it was about to fall apart in the next second. In addition to worrying about safety, you also have to be on guard all the time, as a slight carelessness could throw you several meters away. There is also the discomfort of stopping and going, which you can only understand if you experience it. When encountering traffic jams, it becomes even more agonizing. It's not just Wuhan, the bus drivers in Beijing are not much better in terms of driving skills, they have to give you a shake before it can be considered a bus ride.
In conclusion, taking the bus is quite interesting. After all, as the most basic public transportation in a city, the bus can reflect some local customs and allow you to appreciate the city's appearance along the way. If you don't care so much about time, this is also a way to get to know the city.