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In Canadian cities there is not as much of an association with those who are poor and taking buses to work, I heard compared to American cities. I guess commuter trains or subways in general are seen as more high class than buses, but is taking the bus pretty mainstream would you say?
Since trains and subways don't always take you right to the doorstep of your destination, commuters tend to have a bus link somewhere in their commute.
It is not assumed that you are taking the bus because you don't have a car. For a lot of people, taking the bus is sometimes just easier, depending on where you are going, especially with parking considerations.
I have a car and use transit as well. I have never had anyone recoil in shock or say anything derogatory about me taking a bus.
It depends entirely on the city. What Natnasci said probably makes sense for most people in Van and Montreal, kind of Toronto, etc. but I live in a mid-sized city with just bus service. It is most-certainly geared to and used by the less well-to-do parts of the city. I ride the bus myself because I'm a student and paying for car insurance and gas is redundant when part of my school fees include a pass.
But yes, people here (Sudbury) probably look down on the bus. I've been riding it nearly every day for years and its interesting how it's like a mini case study on how less education correlates with low income. There's so many people who talk loudly on their phone in terrible english (double negatives, weird jargon) about how their ex is taking them to court for their kid and stuff like that. Sometimes they say things as if they think others overhearing are impressed by their hairdships. All while they have a tin of cigarettes and liquor stuffed between their armpit. So naturally it has a reputation.
For example, I remember last summer I went out drinking with a friend and he was all worried about how we would get to a certain bar after we started drinking. I suggested the bus and how we have a paid U-Pass as university students. That blew him away and he apparently had never even considered taking a bus before.
It depends entirely on the city. What Natnasci said probably makes sense for most people in Van and Montreal, kind of Toronto, etc. but I live in a mid-sized city with just bus service. It is most-certainly geared to and used by the less well-to-do parts of the city. I ride the bus myself because I'm a student and paying for car insurance and gas is redundant when part of my school fees include a pass.
But yes, people here (Sudbury) probably look down on the bus. I've been riding it nearly every day for years and its interesting how it's like a mini case study on how less education correlates with low income. There's so many people who talk loudly on their phone in terrible english (double negatives, weird jargon) about how their ex is taking them to court for their kid and stuff like that. Sometimes they say things as if they think others overhearing are impressed by their hairdships. All while they have a tin of cigarettes and liquor stuffed between their armpit. So naturally it has a reputation.
For example, I remember last summer I went out drinking with a friend and he was all worried about how we would get to a certain bar after we started drinking. I suggested the bus and how we have a paid U-Pass as university students. That blew him away and he apparently had never even considered taking a bus before.
Not to say there aren't some "interesting" bus routes in Vancouver. Taking a Fraser bus at midnight on a Friday would open the eyes of the sheltered! ( when I actually did have to take this bus many years ago, I looked upon it as entertainment. )
It hasn't been the case in greater Montreal and Vancouver where I've lived, but I have heard it is more that way in some small cities like St. John's and Thunder Bay where service is worse and driving thus more common. When it's a worse service, only those with no choice take it, so it's only natural. That said, we are more likely to have better service in smaller cities compared to Americans, so it becomes mainstream at smaller city sizes. Thunder bay, as mentioned, still has a much better bus system then Tulsa which is much bigger, for example.
In Canadian cities there is not as much of an association with those who are poor and taking buses to work, I heard compared to American cities. I guess commuter trains or subways in general are seen as more high class than buses, but is taking the bus pretty mainstream would you say?
Lots of people take the bus or subway in Montreal. The reasons are myriad. They don't want to look for parking. They feel it's more environmentally sound, as many of our buses run on used french fry oil and the metro runs on hydro. It saves money. Some have signed on to Car2Go when they need a car. I have a car but don't use it much.
So, no. It's not looked down on.
Is it looked down upon where the op lives? and if so how does this attitude manifest itself.
Here in Montreal taking public transit is the smart way to go as fighting rush hour traffic,finding parking etc. is not the smartest course of action if you have to get into the downtown area everyday.
Taken buses in the US and I was actually shocked at the amount of drunks and odd people on them.
In Canada and the UK, it's much better and perfectly acceptable to take the bus - why wouldn't you if it gets you to where you want to go?! The exception of course is snow and then they'll be delayed anyway.
In small cities (Windsor, London) it is generally looked down upon. However, these cities in SW Ontario are more Americanized than typical Canadian cities.
As others said I'm sure it depends on the city. Smaller cities such as London yes on the other hand Vancouver is very convenient to take the public transport (Buses, Skytrain, Seabus) rather than have a car (if you're wealthy enough to own one that is).
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