Bus journeys - can I take my dog?

Norma_Desmond

I agree that everyone seems 'allergic' these days, I was just really giving my own views as a non-doggy person; the last few bus journeys I've had, dogs have stuck their noses in my shopping bags, been allowed to sit on the seats and one shook the rain off itself soaking everyone.
I know that some humans are horrible on buses tho'!
I'm in north Pembrokeshire btw - not known for its' great bus service anyway!

TravellingAbuela

I have travelled extensively on buses, especially since the advent of the free bus pass and can quite honestly say I have never encountered a nuisance dog passenger. It's a small percentage of humans who don't know how to behave when on public transport! You set off on your travels downshifter and enjoy them in the company of your doggie.

givememoney

Bit off topic I know.

We went on holiday to Weymouth and used our bus pass extensively going into Weymouth from our camp site. Lovely, bus stop just up the road every 10 mins into Weymouth. No parking fees or trouble finding a place to park and no fuel.

Anyway we decided to visit Lyme Regis, just a hop along the coast. We got on this bus and it went round and round the houses, no road signs anywhere to Lyme Regis. Two hours later we finally got off at Lyme Regis, as we had left a little late, there was time for a pee, a quick cup of tea, a glance round then back on the bus for the two hour journey back.

Sometimes it's best to take the car

moonpenny

Why does the world assume that everyone has a car?
I have never had the means to buy and run a car and never will have. There is a lot of people in the same position who have no alternative but to use the bus.

As for dogs - I don't have a problem with them on buses, as long as the owners don't let them sit on the seats.

EdInvestor

Quite acceptable on buses in E.Sussex, at driver's discretion, some like only one at a time to avoid any fights.

PasturesNew

If you wanted a touring holiday in Cornwall, I think there's 30 separate bus companies covering the county, including one which is actually a lift in the post van.

That's a lot of ringing around to check.

lightisfading

I have no real issue with well behaved dogs on buses but given I'm scared of them* I can't stand when people let their massive dogs lie across the aisle, so you have to squeeze round them. Not so much fun if you're not keen on them! Same applies to people who tie their dog up so it's completely blocking a shop doorway!

*I appreciate that it's my fear, not everyone elses, and that it's irrational... unfortunately however hard I try I'm still scared stiff (almost literally) by large dogs that I don't know.

downshifter

lightisfading wrote: »

I have no real issue with well behaved dogs on buses but given I'm scared of them* I can't stand when people let their massive dogs lie across the aisle, so you have to squeeze round them. Not so much fun if you're not keen on them! Same applies to people who tie their dog up so it's completely blocking a shop doorway!

*I appreciate that it's my fear, not everyone elses, and that it's irrational... unfortunately however hard I try I'm still scared stiff (almost literally) by large dogs that I don't know.

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me, mine is a very cute medium sized hound, however she can be a tad enthusiastic in her love (and she loves everyone and assumes everyone loves her!) so I'd always ensure she was under control and sitting between my feet on the bus. I hope that would be acceptable.

DS

keithrjones

are dogs allowed on all trains?

Romano10

I take my dogs on the trains all the time. I can't drive as I have no binocular vision so will never be allowed to, so often I have no alternative but to take my dogs on the buses/trains for emergencies such as visits to the vet.

I would never let them on the seats but from my experience of buses it's often very difficult if you have a larger dog to not have some part of the in the aisle because there is simply nowhere else for them to go.

If they aren't allowed on the seats and can't fit underneath them, there's often no room between the seats either, so where else can they go? I much prefer and always try to travel on trains where possible because there is usually a lot more room than on buses and so you are less likely to be in anyone's way if they do have a problem.

I've only ever had one person react badly and frankly quite rudely and that was on a bus. My dog was well behaved and well out of their way but they looked at me as though I'd just walked on the bus with a cow or something. I was only on the bus at all as the trains were cancelled and it was a rail replacement bus with very few people on it so there was plenty of room for everybody.

Honestly though I don't think I've seen such an overreaction in my life, they were covering their faces and screwing them up and saying how dogs should be kept outside and away from people etc, as though they were some sort of livestock. From the second they saw me get on the bus they started and they didn't stop all the time we were on there. They were vietnamese and were so rude and making such a fuss despite the fact we were sitting about 10 feet away from them, that in the end I got off the bus halfway through my journey and just got a taxi home - many taxi firms will also carry dogs providing you ask them first.

They had no allergies and they weren't afraid of dogs, they were just of the opinion that dogs were livestock that should be kept outside. They actually said this to me by the way. I realise some people may have a problem with dogs but some people are also just idiots who enjoy complaining. I don't particularly enjoy other people's kids screaming their heads off and running up and down the aisles and playing loud music on buses and trains and franky I'm not struck on them, particularly as I have a disability which means their noise causes me pain but I tolerate them nonetheless, it's just a pity other people can't have the same consideration.

In this case the situation was that I am disabled, have no other form of transport and had to rush my dog to the vets, only to find our train was cancelled and replaced by a bus which I had no alternative but to get on as where I live taxis won't come out to you. I think people who like complaining should bear these things in mind, not everyone can drive so for some of us public transport is our only option.