• ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I always find it interesting how Americans name public transport as “the” bus. As in singular.

    • NoPanko@feddit.uk
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      4 days ago

      Here in the UK we do the same, I’ll say “I caught the bus from [place]”

    • Qwazpoi@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      It’s because if you say you take the bus it implies that you only need one and have no transfers. If somebody needs to go two cardinal directions to get to their destination they need two buses, ie they are lost to the American public transportation system and won’t be seen until archeologists find their remains.

      The hubris of those who wish to travel 7 kilometers or more using public transit in the States is punished. Those who wish to travel 5 miles swiftly learn that feat is only attainable in a a minimum of 4 hours or alternatively you can walk or bike and get run over at a crosswalk by a pickup with more blindspots than a Abrams tank.

    • Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de
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      4 days ago

      Is this uncommon?
      Expression is the same in German, even in the places with really good public transport: “Sollen wir den Bus nehmen?” - “Should we take the bus?”

          • ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            Where I live we usually just say the station name. And because you have multiple fast lines to get to said station, it doesn’t make sense to say, I take the bus, or I take the underground, or I take the train. Because all of them take you there. It’s mostly about preference.

      • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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        3 days ago

        Yeah, I imagine it’s the same most places. You aren’t taking all the busses. You’re only taking the one. Multiple may exist, but they aren’t the one you’re on.

        It’s the same for cars, trains, etc.