Taking the Public Bus: A Guide for Students at AISB

Your CCA went late, nobody can pick you up, the next Uber is an hour away, and now you’re standing outside the Atrium, trying to figure out how you’re going to get home. Then you see it: Right there, across the street. Red panels, a wooden bench, and a sign that reads “Stație”.

So why not take the bus? Why not pick the cheaper, more environmentally-friendly option?

VisitBucharest, a website dedicated to helping tourists visit and navigate the city, claims that, “Bucharest has Romania’s most extensive public transport network and is among Europe’s most significant public transport networks, serving more than 2 million inhabitants”. In fact, in a survey conducted at AISB in March, out of 13 students, 84.6% responded that they had taken the bus. 

For those 15.4% who haven’t, and those who have questions or suspicions about the bus system, this article is exactly the source of information you need to read. 

What Does AISB Think?

Below are some of the AISB community’s opinions and experiences with the bus system. Their words highlight both the convenience, possible safety concerns, and the benefits that come with taking the bus.

Diploma programme coordinator, Cory Haugen highlights the convenience and cost-effectiveness of taking the bus:

It’s open and easy to get on and travel where you need to go. Navigation is simple. It’s cost-efficient and I think provides a level of freedom to allow you to explore the city that you wouldn’t normally have as a young person.

He also discusses both the environmental advantages, as it doesn’t pull gas or coal-powered electricity from the grid like an electric car, the convenience, and the cost-efficiency of taking the bus, highlighting how cheap it is compared to a taxi or Uber.

Students at AISB generally think similar things, many believe that it can be both more convenient and cheaper than other forms of transportation, though some recognise that there are some downsides. Below are some thoughts that students expressed in The Bite’s Survey:

Grade 9 Student Rudolf D. says: “[It’s] convenient because if I want to go to the city myself without my family, I do not need my Mom to drive me. Also much cheaper than uber”

Similarly, Grade 9 student Ema T. expresses: “It can bring you places whenever you like basically and it is free for students. It’s also better for traffic and the environment.”

In contrast, an Anonymous Grade 11 Student voices: “Sometimes the timing is unpredictable and the app is wrong most of the time, but it gets you there. I live pretty close to the school so it’s just one stop. I’m sure it’s different for people who live farther away.”

Staying Safe

A concern that many students may have with taking the bus is safety, especially affecting female students at AISB.

An Anonymous Female Grade 11 Student who responded to The Bite’s Survey says that:

There was only one instance I felt unsafe because of a man that was acting weird, but for the rest it’s always safe

In an interview, Grade 8 Student Ambar C. recounted a terrifying encounter that she experienced when taking the bus. She says:

One time I got followed home by a man in the bus stop. I decided to walk home instead of taking the bus because I was scared he was going to get off [at] my stop.

She recommends that students who feel unsafe stick to school zones, as that’s where she generally feels more safe, and she says: “I think in all areas it’s just safer if you’re going home, and especially if you’re a girl, just go with a friend.”

Grade 9 Student Ema T. explains this further: “I find it safe because the line(s) I take to and from school are often filled with elderly people / students at the time of day I take them and out of the many times I took it only once did I feel slightly unsafe.”

Likewise, Grade 9 student Ana C. observes: “I find it relatively safe when it’s the morning because it’s not so crowded, but at night it might be a different story”

Bus Routes for the AISB Community

Bucharest has hundreds of bus routes for every part of the city and suburbs. Buses usually run from 4:30 in the morning to around 22:50 at night on weekdays, and are then replaced by 24 night buses. 

While it’s not possible to include information about every single bus line in this article, more details can be found on the official STB (Societatea de Transport Bucharest, the company that operates the buses) website or by downloading the free Info Transport Bucuresti app on your mobile phone (available in App Store and Google Play).

AISB has five bus routes that stop right in front of the school, the 459, the 488, and the 449, all leading further down Pipera Boulevard. There is also the 301, leading towards the centre of Bucharest and Băneasa Mall, and the 301B, taking the same route as the 301 but going further up into Tunari.

The 301 and 301B routes are the most convenient for AISB’s students, as they have several stops where many people live along Pipera Boulevard and Erou Iancu Nicolae. It also leads directly to Băneasa mall, making it perfect if you want to hangout there after school with your friends. 

A Bus Journey Along the 301

For a more detailed visual explanation of what taking the bus is like, The Bite put together a video for you showcasing a typical ~20 minute bus ride from AISB to the Mall. The video is sped up, but highlights the stops along the way and things to look out for.

How to Pay

A bus ticket costs 3 lei for 90 minutes of travel, and a few students who responded to The Bite’s Survey replied that it’s very affordable compared to other places they’ve lived in.

One Anonymous Grade 11 Student says: “It is very cheap compared to other cities I’ve lived in.”

Another Anonymous Grade 10 Student remarks: “I think it is rather affordable, since it’s a lot cheaper then in other European Cities.”

The easiest way to pay is with your bank card/app directly onto one of the validators (like the one in the photo below, though they do also come in orange). Once you pay, the screen should flash green meaning your method of payment has been accepted.

Other ways to pay include using transport cards that you can load trips onto at kiosks that can be found all around the city (you can find one near the bus stops at Baneasa Mall), or by sending an SMS to 7458 before boarding the bus.

In the same survey, when students were asked if they found the bus to be affordable, many replied that:

“It’s free for students, so I don’t have to pay.”

Anonymous Grade 9 Student

“Every student in Bucharest can take the bus for free which is amazing.”

Anonymous Grade 11 Student

While this is true, that doesn’t mean they can get on the bus for free and not be stopped by controllers. To actually travel for free, you need to first apply for a student discount/subscription card (which can be done at any transportation kiosk). 

To apply you need an ID Card or a Residency Card (with a CNP) and, as AISB is a private school, you also need to request a proof of registration for the current school year (to prove you actually attend this school). This can be easily requested at the attendance office.

After submitting these documents at a transportation kiosk (like this one at Băneasa Mall), you should end up with a Student Subscription Card, that looks something like this:

You can simply validate it the next time you hop on board (you only need to validate it once) and avoid having to pay an 80 lei fine if you’re stopped by controllers.

Rules & Regulations

Likely the most important thing to keep in mind when taking the bus are the rules and recommendations in place to ensure that everyone on the bus can have a safe, civilised and comfortable experience. STB stated on their website:

• Do not consume food/drink on the bus
• Do not litter in vehicles
• Do not put your feet up on chairs
• Avoid talking on the phone (especially loudly) and listening to music without headphones 
• Give up your seat to elderly people, pregnant women or children
• Do not encourage street vendors (people trying to sell things) or beggars
• Pets are permitted on the bus, dogs must be kept on a leash and with a muzzle at all times. Small animals can be held in arms.
• Do not keep valuables (phone, wallet, etc…) in plain sight
• Be careful when getting on/off the bus to avoid accidents

Final Thoughts

So, next time you find yourself waiting for an Uber after school or walking home, consider crossing the street and taking either of the 5 readily available, more convenient, environmentally friendly, and cheaper Bus Lines. If you’re nervous about taking the bus or worrying about your safety, do as other students recommend, take it during the day when it’s less crowded or go with a friend.

For any further questions about how Buses operate in Bucharest consult the STB Website, they’ll likely have an answer to whatever’s on your mind.

Feel free to leave a comment below and share your own thoughts about the Bus system in Bucharest, so other members of the AISB Community can hear about your experience.