The 28th Episode : Buses didn't stop
[July, 1988 Hong Kong]
We could have time for a half day. I planed to take my younger generation for sightseeing even at least one place, then I decided to take him to Tiger Balm Garden. It’s a mansion and gardens built in 1935 by Mr. Aw Boon Haw and his family who amassed great wealth from the sale of ointments called Tiger Balm. It was opened to the public in 1950’s.
Star Ferry took us to Hong Kong island from Kowloon. No railways to the destination, so a bus or taxi was only the transportation to take. Taxi was expensive. Although much cheaper comparing than that of Japan, I wanted to do like the local people and decided to take a bus. The bus routes were very complicated.
We reached the right bus stop lastly asking people. Bus stop No.xx was the one, where we waited. A bus approached with the number but it passed through. Hey, why? Next one and next one… didn’t stop. Strange. Wasn’t the bus stop right one? Yes, it was correct.
A man came to me asking “what number’s bus are you waiting?” “xx is the one. Some came but didn’t stop here.” I answered. Then he told me “when the bus approaches, you must raise your hand or it won’t stop.”
When somebody is waiting at a bus stop a bus stops in Japan, but not in Hong Kong. Some kinds of buses with different destinations share one bus stop. That’s why passengers need to show their intention which to take. If a bus stops because people are waiting and they would take another one, it would waste time and fuel. To raise hands is the efficient way for buses.
Setting up some bus stops costs much and need places reducing the area of walkways or street. It’s the best way in Hong Kong of small area, and also economic.
