Kira Currier

The bustling city streets and winding avenues that make up London are a lot to take in. Especially for an American country mouse like myself, who has hardly ever set foot on public transit in her life. Take it from me though, public transport is a wonderful thing to have and it isn’t intimidating for long. In the early stages of the trip, I enjoyed the sanctity of traveling with fellow Londoners, but this wasn’t sustainable. Eventually, it became time to start venturing out on my own.

My biggest day of solo public transport was the day I decided to hop around London with a list of animal farms and parks to visit. Through the course of my travels from farm to farm, I rode many different tube lines and quite a few buses. Every new destination I chose seemed to have a new station to visit and a new tube line to get on. I am confident in saying that I learned more about public transportation in that single day than I have ever learned in my life. A few valuable public transport tips I learned are to make sure to tap in/out at every station, hold your arm out at bus stops to flag your bus, and to change tubes at the next station if you find yourself going the wrong direction. These are all little things to learn but deeply frustrating while you are learning them. I remember how irate I became waiting for the 249 bus to arrive every 10 minutes just to see it fly right by me again and again. It wasn’t until three separate buses had passed that I realized I was the problem, not the drivers.

Another challenge I faced was how to navigate getting home from zone four. Since our Oyster cards only work in zones one through three, I had one of two options: pay to top up my card or take a bus to an inner zone and figure it out from there. I bravely chose the latter which is how I figured out the bus system. While on the bus home, I benefited from another valuable lesson I’d learned: do what you see those around you doing. If you see everyone standing on the right hand side of the escalators, you do it too. If you see people flagging down their bus, you do it too. And if you see people hitting the red ‘stop’ button when they hear their stop announced over the intercom, you darn better do it too.

Near the end of my busy day of animal farms and navigating public transport, I introduced myself to Ezekiel, a friendly Customer Service Host at Crystal Palace Park station. During our short conversation I explained who I was, my involvement in the AIFS study abroad program, and asked him what his best advice would be for tourists taking London public transport. In response Ezekiel said, “The best way to get around London is with a monthly Oyster pass. They cost seventy-three sixty pounds, that will go up soon, and they are a good use of your money.” Ezekiel, I couldn’t agree more. I am in love with my Oyster card and the ease that comes with using it in my daily travels. With my greater understanding of London’s transportation network, I will be using my Oyster card with more confidence and with a greater appreciation for public transportation. Happy travels, Londoner!