Ride a Bus in Melbourne
Riding buses in Melbourne is an easy task, which saves money when fuel prices are high, and emits less carbon dioxide - therefore it is more environmentally friendly!
Steps
- Know where you're going. Now, go onto Metlink's Website and use the Trip Planner to plan your trip. Or if you know the specific bus company or bus route number, go to the company's website. You can get bus timetables usually from the bus company's depot in hard copy, or online at Metlink or the company's website. You can also get Local Government Area maps from Metlink, the Metshop, your local railway station or online. If you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone, you can download the Metlink application, which has offline timetables for almost every single public transport service within Victoria.
- Find your bus stop. Ensure you are at your bus stop about 5 minutes earlier than the scheduled time, as buses are only contracted to pull up on time at major time points.
- Wait in a calm and orderly manner. If it's night, try to find a bus shelter with lights. If its raining, try to find a bus shelter.
- When you see the bus and the bus can see you, hail the bus by putting your hand out and clearly signalling the bus. Hail the bus until the bus driver acknowledges you by turning the buses turn indicator light on. If the bus is not the bus you're looking for (different route), signal the driver either by standing back or signalling 'No' with your hand or head.
- When the bus pulls up and the doors are open, board the bus. If there are other passengers getting off the bus, give way to them. If you are a disabled passenger in a wheelchair, or a different passenger with ramp accessibility needs, the driver should pull the ramp out for you.
- If you have a ticket (Metcard or Myki), validate it by inserting it into the validator (the green machine) with the blue front side pointing towards you and the white arrow pointing downwards if it is a metcard. The ticket will go into the machine and it will validate. It should return with either 1 beep for standard full fare tickets or 2 beeps for concession tickets. If you hear multiple beeps, the machine will have printed EXPIRED on your ticket, and this obviously means your ticket has expired. If you have a myki please hold the myki card on the green myki reader until you hear a beep and see a green light to touch on. If you see a red light please try to touch on again. If you still get a red light, your myki has no money and will need to be topped up OR it is expired or has a problem. Call myki on 13 6954 (13 myki).
- If you do not have a ticket, buy one from the driver. Tell the driver what ticket you need and give the driver cash - the driver in most circumstances will not take large notes. Correct fare is appreciated. The driver will then key in the ticket type into the machine. The driver should give you a metcard, which is blank and you must insert this into the validator. If the driver does not issue you with a ticket, you should call Metlink on 131638.
- Once you have boarded the bus, sit down if there are any seats. If you are sitting in the front seats (middle seats on some older Volvo buses) which has a sticker on the top, by law, you are required to free the seat for elderly, pregnant or disabled passengers, on request.
- To get off the bus, you must pull the cord or push the STOP button before your stop - you need to give the driver enough notice.
- When getting off, get off in an orderly manner. It is courteous to signal the driver in thanks or thank the driver verbally.
- If you have a Myki remember to TOUCH OFF YOUR MYKI CARD! If you don't the next time you touch on your myki card to a Public Transport Victoria service you will be charged the fare you should have paid on your previous journey!
Tips
- Drinking alcohol, smoking, vandalizing the vehicle and/or littering in a bus is illegal.
- Remember, legally, you are not allowed to eat or drink on board a bus (except water).
- Authorised Officers have the legal right to ask to see your ticket, ask for your name and address, ask for evidence and arrest you if you fail to comply until Police arrive. Should an Authorised Officer ask you to do one of the following, you should generally comply. You have the right to see the Authorised Officer's badge and ID. The Authorised Officer cannot ask you for money, or fine money on the spot (this would be a bribe) - the job of the Authorised Officer is to report you to the Department of Transport, who issues fines.
- Have correct change if possible.
- If buying a concession ticket, have your concession card ready to show. No concession card, no concession fare.
Warnings
- When getting off the bus, if you intend to cross the road, do so after the bus has left. People can't see you with a bus next to you.
- When crossing a road, look both ways!
- Being an annoyance on a public bus is an offence. This includes, but is not limited to, putting on music (i.e. through speakers).
- Buying a concession fare without a concession card will result in a fine.
- Eating, drinking, smoking, vandalizing or littering on the bus may result in a fine.
- An authorised officer has the power to ask to see your ticket, report you to the DoT for a fine if you are doing something against the law, ask you for your details and arrest you until Police arrive if you fail to comply. Note that an authorised officer may not always be in uniform, but they will always show you their badge. On demand, they must also show their ID card.
Things You'll Need
- Yourself
- Money
- A destination to go to
- Internet (optional)
- Valid Metcard or topped up myki card
