When they get on, they tap their Oyster card or Apple Pay again and ride until their stop. If they want to get off, they press the stop button to let the driver know. Both the Tube and the buses make it easy for people to travel around the busy city.
When I first tried using the Tube, I felt a little nervous. I was worried that when I tapped my card at the gate, it would not open and I would be standing there holding up the line. Luckily, it worked, and I felt proud of myself and a lot more confident. After using the Tube and buses a few times, it started to feel easier to understand. It even reminded me a little of using public transportation in cities like Washington, D.C., Boston and New York. That made me feel more comfortable because it felt a bit familiar, even though I was in a completely different city.
Yes, the way people get around in London is connected to both the culture and the environment of the city. London is a big and busy place, so many people use the Tube and buses every day to travel. Hearing “mind the gap” all the time and riding the bright red double-decker buses are normal parts of daily life in London. I also noticed that the Tube is usually very quiet. Many people read books or sit quietly instead of talking to strangers, which felt a little different from home, where my friends and I might be talking and laughing on the bus.
The transportation system also fits the city because it helps lots of people move around quickly, even though the streets can be crowded.
