Here's some good-to-know tips for all newbie Bangaloreans who have to take a local bus to get to places within the city. (till you get your vehicle and do your bit to the traffic congestion). It is especially helpful for people who 1) Normally, do not always travel by bus. 2) are foriegners and 3) are Returning Desis.
The factbook:
1) All bus fares are negotiable.
2) Sometimes they are not. If the conductor doesn't like you, he will charge Rs.3 - Rs.6 extra; if he likes you, you get a discount of upto Rs.3; if u fail to make any impression, then you get a straight Rs.10 ticket, irrespective of the distance of travel.
3) If the conductor gives you a Rs.8 ticket and says 'will give you change later' it means 'Forget it, silly'!
4) If you take the bus for one stop, you get a Re.1 discount and no ticket.
5) If you are a guy, and have to take a bus, lucky you! Travel is free! Tickets are only for women. (If you absolutely must buy one, then you have to embarass the conductor into leaving his favourite spot in the women's section of the bus to go to the men's section. Now, no points for guessing how much you will pay for that ticket!)
6) No, timetables are not guideline listings (as well!). Deal with it!
7) Opposite side of the same bus stop could be upto 600 metres away.
8) A bus stop is any place where a group of people are standing, seemingly aimlessly and looking in one direction. (Shelter, bus listing, name of the bus-stop, etc are wasteful expenditures)
9) This could happen to you:
Passenger: Does this bus go to CMH?
Conductor: Get in, get in.
Passenger gets in. Bus starts
Conductor: No, it doesn't. Get off at Domlur Bridge and take another bus from there.
Passenger gapes; ticket is thrust in her hand.
10) And this is for you environmentalists: After 10pm buses become vans.
