I’m going to caveat this by saying that I have no clue about Western Europe, but here in the East (and particularly the Balkans) bus travel is a world away from the American experience. Thank goodness!
In the U.S., bus travel has become a thing for not the lower class, but the underclass. Illegal aliens appear to be making high use of busses, while those who can’t drive or fly because of legal issues (much less cost) join them. Seating and rules are not enforced (at least on the hound) and altercations appear to be the norm based on my experiences last year. Again, the employees of the hound presume everyone on the bus is underclass and it is rare and nice to find one that is polite, helpful, etc.
Here, my experience with long-distance bus travel is pretty much the exact opposite. On both long-hauls there were retired couples just out traveling, a number of apparently middle-class people out and about, and a smattering of younger people. I will note that in both border crossings, it was a younger passenger that apparently had some questions asked of them and were checked out before being allowed to proceed. About a 20 minute delay both ways for them to make inquiries and such.
With one exception (who got a word from the driver) everyone was polite and well behaved. There was none of the drama you get on the hound. The exception was an older lady who was VERY in charge of her apparent husband and special-needs son who joined the bus at one of the last stops before the border, apparently no reservation, and tried to be a diva. A quick word from the driver had her in a seat and quiet almost instantly. Like I said, night and day difference.
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