I was coming home from work yesterday, and I had to get off the bus. The doors opened, but not the one I was at, which was in the back. There were three doors, and the first two opened.
I thought at first I had to push some sort of button to get off the bus, but didn't see one. Someone said to go to the middle. I looked and saw the middle door open and went to go out as it was closing.
The bus driver started yelling something about the correct door. I could not really understand him clearly (it was in German).
All I could manage in German was "talking loud to me does not help. Let me out".
Why is it that Swiss people start yelling and acting foolish when someone makes some sort of mistake, someone who is more than likely a foreigner. Back home I find it hard to believe a bus driver would act that way. He would simply say something or nothing at all (probably the latter) and let me out.
I've seen this behavior before and talked about it with my fiancee. She said my observations are correct, but it is generally old people who feel the need to "speak their mind" to you, even when it does not directly concern them, and usually loudly in a hostile tone.
I don't get it. Most people seem quite friendly here, although introverted with foreigners. It is amazing to me how angry and generally rude they can get at something that is quite insignificant.
I wonder how they would feel if they were on vacation in the U.S. (where many like to go) and they make a mistake and some American starts screaming at them (something unlikely to happen, but possible). I'm sure they would not like it.
bus driver has cameras on each door, most likely he didn't see you. the easiest bet is then to open the middle door.
if you want him to open your door press the stop button on the door you are at and he will take a look and open them
okaY I see. I didn't press the button, because someone else already did, usually, at least where I'm from they just open all the doors. Here I guess you need to signal. No biggie, cool. He didn't have to be an aschloch about it.
Look at it this way if he hadn't shouted at you, you would not have found out about pressing the button to open the door. (Yes I am sure I have been here too long!)
I think it is a habit: in winter they like to keep the heat in the bus, train or tram and so they only open the necessary doors.
Nope. In Geneva the buses have little lights on the doors that tell you if the door is going to open or not. Buttons in the bus open different doors. I agree though that the driver didnt need to yell
I wonder what the wording of this thread wold have been had the driver said something to you in a 'normal tone of voice'. From the front of the bus to the back you'd never have understood what he said even if he had said it in perfect US English - it wouldn't have been loud enough.
Anyway, he is probably used to little old ladies like me wanting to get out of the wrong door and we don't hear so well any more.
on each pole of the door of old tram and bus will be a square boton, in new tram or bus will be a circle boton on the door that will light green when pressed. on the door that is next to the driver i havent found the boton yet but he or she normaly opens for me
I believe the buses in St. Gallen have lights on the doors too, which is what I was looking for, but Zug does not, at least not the button I was one. I looked at the next bus I had to get on, nothing. So I think the Ouchboy is correct. There are buttons on the outside, but the buttons on the inside, to stop the bus are on the poles...
You could be right, but I think I know the difference between normal yelling and an angry tone, even in German. He was, annoyed.
I didnt get what you mean. Yes buttons on the inside are on the poles. Thats what i mean. Older buses dont have lights. Next time do what most people do. When the tram gets near your stop find a button (any button!) and press it
Suggest you go to France and make a rather minor mistake and watch the result
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No, the button only refers to the door in question and not to the other doors, so that you HAVE TO PUSH the button in place of YOUR door.
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1) On most buses (in zurich) the buttons relay to the closest door - press the button and it signals for the driver to open a certain door. I suspect though that it opens a gate in the circuit so that when the driver flicks the "open door" switch the right doors open
2) If he was running slightly late (maybe as much as 30 or 40 seconds) he might be a little annoying for someone to wait until the doors almost close before trying to get out.