Points for Attention Plovdiv

People should always behave themselves when taking buses. Although people could throng the stations while waiting for buses, they get on and off in good order that they’ll let the people off first and the ladies, the old and young would take precedence without any exception. It is the custom not to grab seats on buses. Many available seats could be seen at first. If the seats are still unoccupied after a while, they could be taken gradually. There is a view of art and literature above the doors and between the compartments where people prefer standing to enjoy it, which is really a pleasure for those who are used to taking buses this way.

Passengers usually don’t offer their seats to others; otherwise they would offend others by thinking that they are weak. Nevertheless, if those who are aged, old, ill or weak get on the bus, they will give up their seats, which is seen as respectable.

On buses, you will hear some natural courtesies like “hello, please, excuse me, thank you or good bye” as you could hear on the street, which fully shows how civilized this country is. On buses, here is no such thing like smoking or noises, only soft music to make you at ease.

Interestingly, you could see more old people on tramcars as they like taking tramcars very much. Because tramcars move steadily and smoothly like mini-trains on which people feel quite comfortable. There are enough seats that could be 40 at most in each compartment. The tramcars could move through all the streets, forests and tunnels so that people’s lives are facilitated. It is natural and unrestrained and romantic that they could also listen the tram rumbling freely. We like taking tramcars as well. It is a rare treat that we seat down, listening the rhythmic rumbling and take a nap.

The bus drivers are so punctual that they have sense of time. They won’t make the benefits override their driving rules. Like most other drivers, they obey the traffic rules, never run a red light or park arbitrarily, or stop when people wave. It’s impossible to run to catch a bus. Once the door is closed, the bus will leave that it won’t stop again to let you on. The drivers won’t do this for more benefits that no matter how few passengers, they start the buses on time. Of course, it is one of the reasons that most passengers have season tickets (the aged have cards for free riding).

All the busses use self-service ticketing. Before taking a bus, you should buy a ticket at the station. There is usually a ticket counter where some magazines and commodities are also for sale at every station. If you have no time to buy a ticket there, you could buy one from the driver which will cost 0.5 lev. There are a few kinds of ticket. Interesting kinds of tickets are worth 2 lev., which are the most expensive ones that you could use them to take any buses (or subways) within 24 hours. But it is only available during the day you buy it. Because the tickets would be punched by the conductors when you buy it.These kinds of tickets make those who need transfer easier. Attentions should be paid that the first thing you do after taking on buses is to get your tickets punched. The punched tickets are available, otherwise they would be invalid. There is a kind of tickets having five pieces ordered by numbers. The fifth piece is both the ticket and stub, without which the tickets will be invalid. Plainclothes conductors could get on buses at any time, and they will take on their dark blue vests printed with the word of conductor quickly which is very impressive. Then they will check the tickets of the passengers.