Bus drivers on Jeju drive as if they are the only ones of
any significance on the road. Passing on a narrow two lane road happens
multiple times on every ride. Oncoming traffic politely pulls to the side when
a bus initiates a game of chicken. I usually sleep to avoid worrying about all
the risky driving that I have no control over. Still, often I’m awoken abruptly
from the force of flying up in my seat as the bus races over speed bumps.
The buses don’t have kneeling hydraulics to accommodate the
elderly and injured. As soon as the passenger is on the driver slams the door,
and punches the gas. Hunched little old ladies cling to bars and seats while
they struggle to hoist themselves into a spot. Once I saw a Grandma hit the
ground because she was knocked off balance by the force of the bus speeding
away.
Despite all the reckless driving only one of my friends has
been in a bus accident and she wasn’t even injured. To give the bus system some
credit, it keeps an admirably rigorous schedule. Buses run normal hours every
single day regardless of storms, Sundays, or holidays.
Similar to buses in the United States, at least one angsty
teenager is blaring sharing their music. But on Jeju, the musical
ambiance is completed by designer curtains. These curtains come in great colors
and patterns, sometimes they have tassels. Here is an example of bus curtains; not the most outlandish
I’ve seen, but it gives you a small idea anyway. Thanks for reading!
