#Canada #Montreal #Busbud #Travel Survey #Passenger Etiquette

Understanding Bus Etiquette: What Drives Travelers Mad?

As we approach one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, Busbud, a leading global ground travel booking platform, has conducted a significant survey involving over 4,500 intercity bus travelers worldwide. This survey aims to uncover the most annoying behaviors exhibited by fellow passengers during bus journeys and reveals some surprising insights.

Key Findings from the Survey

The survey results bring to light that participating in sexual activities on the bus is one of the most cited annoyances. However, the annoyance levels vary by country. North Americans, including both Americans and Canadians, and British, alongside South Africans, ranked poor personal hygiene as their top irritant, which is quite revealing about cultural sensitivities toward cleanliness in shared spaces. Below are the top nine behaviors that bus passengers find most bothersome:
1. Playing music loudly
2. Engaging in sexual activity
3. Poor personal hygiene
4. Smoking or vaping
5. Talking loudly
6. Passing gas or burping
7. Leaving trash around their seat
8. Arguing with other passengers
9. Reclining the seat without prior permission

Culturally Specific Annoyances

When it comes to specific countries, there were notable differences. For instance, poor personal hygiene topped the annoyance charts in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and South Africa, while playing music loudly was primarily reported by travelers in South America to be a significant irritant. Notably, sexual activity ranked higher among complaints in several Latin American countries.

Reclining Seats: A Universal Controversy

A salient feature of bus travel is reclining seats. Interestingly, despite 89% of passengers reclining their seats, it remains a sore point for many. In fact, 42% expressed annoyance when others recline without asking. Chileans topped the list as the most frequent offenders, with 99% admitting they recline often, while Canadians and Brits are more conservative, showing restraint with only 60% admitting to reclining.

Seatbelt Usage and Safety Concerns

The survey also highlighted stark differences in seatbelt usage. North Americans were found to be the least likely to buckle up, with 28% reporting they rarely wear seatbelts on buses. The concern for safety varies; while over half of the Americans, Canadians, and Brits feel safe during their travels, South Americans tend to worry more about the overall safety of bus operations rather than personal safety.

Leisure or Disconnection?

Interestingly, a common thread among bus passengers is the desire to disconnect from the fast-paced digital world during their journeys. Americans, Chileans, and Brazilians view buses primarily as a space for resting or sleeping, while British riders prefer the tranquility of window-gazing. On the other hand, Canadians and South Africans seem to have a distinct preference for staying connected online.

How Bus Operators Can Enhance the Experience

Despite minimal safety concerns reported by passengers, perceptions of safety differ across the globe. However, issues of personal safety do weigh heavily on the minds of many. Only a small percentage prioritize entertainment options as significant, indicating a general satisfaction with the simplicity of bus travel. The majority, a whopping 68%, stated they never complain about their bus journeys, with email or review sites being the preferred method for any grievances.

Conclusion

As we head into the holiday season, a time when many prefer buses for family visits, understanding these etiquettes and preferences becomes important. More than half of the surveyed travelers disclosed visits to friends and family as their primary motivation for taking the bus. This season, let’s ensure we maintain good manners on board, recognizing that a little courtesy can go a long way in making our journeys pleasant for everyone.
For more detailed findings and interesting tidbits about this survey, visit Busbud's official blog.

Methodology

The findings stem from comprehensive data collected from over 4,500 intercity bus riders across various countries, including the U.S., Canada, England, South Africa, Chile, and Brazil during the tail end of 2024.

About Busbud

Busbud is a pioneering global mobility group facilitating ground travel bookings, offering services across more than three million routes in over 80 countries. It also provides B2B software solutions tailored to ground travel operators.