Metrobus:
can’t live with it, can’t live without it
Breathing
someone else’s exhale is not a refreshing way to spend your mornings getting to
work.
But
when it is the swiftest transport vehicle in city to get you from A to Z… you
don’t have much of a choice.
The
Metrobus. Needs little introduction, the infamous long-tail, zigzag bus weaves
its way through the city, in its own designated lane, heedless of the horrendous
traffic other vehicles are caught up in.
Metrobus
is one the fastest overground transit route in Istanbul with 45 stations following
the city’s ring road via Avcilar, Zincirlikuyu and the Bosphorus Bridge to
Sogytlucesme (Asian Side).
Combining
the best of both worlds, the fast transit service of the underground metro and a
bus, an overground vehicle-- the Metrobus has undoubtedly revolutionized the
transport system in Istanbul.
After
two years of extensive construction, Metrobus is used by a number of Metrobus
lines, with operates within a closed system carrying 800,00 people daily.
For
Istanbul residents, the metrobus is way of life. City dwellers rely on the Metrobus
to travel about the city for work, leisure, or simply to enjoy a city tour.
Metrobus
is equipped with an aggressive network of routes that connects every part of
the city—often merging out-of-town outskirts, like Beylukduzu, with the city
center (Mecidekoy or Sisli).
Love-hate
relationship
Many
commuters spend more time with Metrobus than they do with their special
someone. If you ask any Istanbul resident about their relationship with Metrobus,
they will tell you: “It’s complicated.”
The
very notion of having an overground public transport service whizzing by every
minute in its assigned lane is worth jumping out of bed for in the morning.
On
the other hand, the thought of getting your head caught under someone’s sweaty armpits
is sufficient to keep you home for the day.
It
is like a scene from wildebeest migration in African savanna: predators anxiously
lurk behind the Metrobus line, and as soon as the bus approaches, a stampede of
commuters flood the bus doors hunting the prey (vacant seat)—in what has been
dubbed as ‘survival for the fittest’.
Tips
on manning the Metrobus
Break
up is hard. Especially when there is no rebound. There are ways to mend your
relationship with the Metrobus and keep this “good thing” going.
After
all, you are not the only one in a relationship with the Metrobus, so are 14
million city commuters. So, technically it is them; not the Metrobus.
The
following powerful tips will help you rekindle your passion with Metrobus and
get you on the road to relationship bliss.
Learn
to Surf. You don’t have to take a long-haul fight to Australia and join a
surfing cash course to learn how to surf like a pro, when you can crash waves aboard
the Metrobus.
From
all-out paddling to the most basic pop up, Metrobus surfers can cash in on a
thrilling, high-intensity aerobic exercise plus some lower-intensity balance workout.
Practice
musical chairs. If you mastered the skills of the traditional game of musical
chairs as a child, you will definitely manage to hunt an empty seat and get to
your desired destination in total comfort and peace.
Avoid
peak times. While that sounds easier said than done, but you can still avoid
the rush hour times by waking up 15 minutes earlier and leaving 30 minutes late
from work. In metrbus world, 5 minutes can make a big difference.
If
you decide you have had a good run with the metrobus, I hear you! Metrobus is
not for everyone. But hang on. Before you apply for a bank loan and buy a
chopper, it is important to know that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is
planning to expand 23 metro lines. The system currently consists of four lines
names M1, M2, M3 and M4.
More
metro lines are under way: M5 (Üsküdar-Çekmeköy/Sancaktepe) runs on the Asian
side; while M7 (Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey), and Mini-Metro (Levent-Hisarüstü) will
be on the European side.
So
there you have it, your Metrobus rebound. Happy travels!
