The Strange Thing About Vilnius Public Transportation...

[@lagynas]

In Klaipėda you're advised to enter through front door to not block exit through back door. But at the same time not allowed to exit through front door.

[@guodaripinskaite6314]

same in kaunas, but exceptions happen regularly

[@WHATTHEWHISKERS]

its literally the same in london lol

[@iitsukami]

some drivers in Klaipeda won't even let you enter through the back door

[@SSS92934]

Exactly the same in Budapest!

[@sejozwak]

yeah it makes complete sense

[@rokasbaltusnikas6065]

Its also worth to mention that it can be a habit from Ikarus 260 or Škoda 14Tr, where the whole front section of the bus was separated for drivers personal space with a sturdy metal and laminated glass wall, also incorporating half of the front door. When in late 00's old Neoplans and Mercs started flowing from the west by charity, some drivers simply welded in these separating walls from their Ikaruses, trying to keep their safe space, because these western buses simply couldn't provide enough barrier from aggresive and drunk passengers. Times were different.

[@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x]

It makes sense, it's like this in trams also.

[@transportromania]

This is stil valid in Romania. All new buses are ordered with separated cabs, incorporating first half of the door. And the drivers will immedeately isolate any gaps in the wall with ducktape or everything they can use. Next step is adding curtains, paper or, in some cases, paint the glass of the cabin wall, to be sure noone sees them. As for the winter, at older buses and trams, heat coming from inside the vehicle will cause the outside mirror to fog.

[@bronkolie]

In the Netherlands you're supposed to only enter through the front door at stops. I get why, but it's annoying when there's no one exiting and tons of people entering, but the bus driver only opens the front door

[@Sjorsvg]

It's because the bus driver can see that you have checked in

[@AbdullahAlEslamiBaluchistanev]

In romania you enter where you want and you pay by card inside because if you dont pay the talibans give you fine

[@tecmons]

We have the same in Belgium (except on Brussels)

[@kFY514]

In most cities in Poland, the doors on buses and trams are actually co-operated by the passengers. The driver "unlocks" the doors at stops, but they don't actually open until a button next to the door (available both on the inside and outside) is pressed. Unless it has been pressed before the stop. In other words, the doors only open after _both_ the driver and a passenger have pushed their respective buttons to open that door. Of course the driver still has the ability to override everything, but that's how the doors work most of the time. That allows the drivers to "open" all doors all the time, but if there is no-one to use a particular door, it doesn't actually open. This system was introduced sometime around the mid-2000s, and it required a bit of getting used to, but I guess it solves most of the issues, including both heat conservation and optimizing passenger throughput.

[@user-nl9xh8iw4v]

sooo much better than forcing entry and/or exit from specific door(s)

[@modellesvasut]

I didn't even know they don't use the front door there. In Hungary it's the other way around. Most buses only allow you to board through the front door so the bus driver can check your ticket or pass.

[@MariyanStoykov]

As a bus driver myself(and actually a third generation), these are the reasons(nothing connected to the corona): 1. Keeping the front part warm, because the drivers are still human, they can get sick. Bus drivers usually spend around 8 hours in the bus while the passenger only between 5 and 30 minutes. 2. It's especially annoying when someone enters from the first door and stands around the driver when there is unoccupied space in other part of the bus These reasons are before and after the corona and always present. In the first year or two in my career I was aggravated that people don't enter from the front door, even when I open it earlier and even if the people are coming like the case you ran towards the bus. That's because for years and years the other drivers didn't open it and even were aggressive towards the passengers, so people got used to enter from the other doors. I'm in my seventh year as a bus driver and although I open all doors(it's quicker and it's actually cringy and uncomfortable to point to a passenger to enter through the other doors), I'm very annoyed if people stand by me. Everyday there are people that from an absolutely empty bus(12/18 meters) they sit on the first seat and watch the driver. That's why I began to put a curtain so I would have some privacy(at least knowing I don't feel people's eyes on me). And don't get me wrong, for me it's nothing personal, I don't know the people I drive, it's just part of the job that includes working with people. In other jobs many people don't show their frustration, but it's there, believe me. That's why in my free time I try to be of ease to people on their jobs. But in our job many people are selfish and don't care about that. Not to mention that we are actually responsible for the lifes of hundreds and hundreds of people every single day. One mistake or distraction can lead to a tragedy. That itself can be very stressful. And of course we don't think about it(because we won't be able to work), but it's not for everyone. Cheers!

[@fokus5097]

I am one of those who sit in front to watch driver work. Reason is simple, its just interesting, and interesting to see driver navigate city. And I will not stop, your curtain not gonna help, I still gonna be there😀

[@MariyanStoykov]

@fokus5097 well, it's not forbidden, the seats are for everyone. You just won't be able to see me! 😜

[@cree_VI]

@@fokus5097 😂

[@giedreli3775]

i always sit in the front because i like the view:D also it is quite interesting to watch the driver, i didnt know they even noticed let alone felt uncomfortable. ill try to remember not to do it so often😅

[@MariyanStoykov]

​@giedreli3775 don't get me wrong. It's not forbidden. The seats are for the passengers. Sometimes it's just annoying, if the whole bus is empty and people sit on the front seat(as I am writing this, it happened again). Enter and sit somewhere else... 😅 I'm driving in Munich and on the end station instead of having the "pause" alone, the passengers are staying in the bus. So it's annoying if the driver eats, sleeps or whatever in the next 5-15 minutes and someone just sits there and counts every bite, expects every movement, etc... 🙄

[@strazdas1989]

I recently worked in VVT as a driver and I can tell you it is way easier to open all doors on most buses rather than just middle and back, since there is a button to open all and then separate buttons for each door. My reason to not open the door was to preserve temperature in the bus, but if there are a lot of passengers or good weather, I would always open all. However if you find a driver who opens all, and take a ride with them, you will notice that people dont like entering through the first one, and will go out of their way to enter through middle one just to go to the fron of the bus inside. Weird, but that is mostly the case. As for the response from VVT their trainings are a joke compared to anything. New drivers are merely suggested to act one or other way. Also, older drivers will be personally offended if a passenger wants to enter front door. One of the worst jobs I have ever had, but I am glad I had the experience and a look at different people groups behaviours.

[@pok81]

Seems to be a VVT only problem as all other bus drivers in the world are able to survive even though they open the first door.

[@bazzakeegan2243]

Just back from my 4th Christmas trip to Vilnius...My 9th overall trip to Lithuania....Fantastic country! Happy New Year from Ireland! 🇮🇪👍🇱🇹 Keep up the interesting work on your channel!

[@ashikashik7482]

Hello

[@MDCrabTank]

Even in Estonia bus drivers in Tallinn do not open front door if nobody is standing there as embarking and exit is through other doors

[@realhawaii5o]

I really like using the front door 😅 I enter and take the first seat that has the nicest view and usually it's free, compared to others.

[@realhawaii5o]

(and yeah, I live in Tallinn :p )

[@accarze3645]

I was about to write that this tendency used to be also in Tallinn like until 5-6 years ago or something. I do remeber many drivers being kinda annoyed when you tried to enter/exit through the front door (by giving you a look or making a loud sigh). However, I have personally not experienced that for long, long. Also worth mentioning that these days I somewhat rarely see drivers not open the front door, and even more, never been refused to board or alight through the front door. From my experience, that very tendency in Tallinn is long gone.

[@imaginox9]

Funnily enough a very similar situation exists here in Brussels: in 2006, a front door boarding rule was implemented (on solo buses only) to reduce fare-evading. This rule was gone with the pandemic when the front area was blocked for the same reason as in Vilnius. Then after the pandemic, most drivers still only open the rear doors, and the company kept the additional card readers at the back doors anyway (before the pandemic they were only installed at the front doors on solo buses, articulated buses always had all doors boarding here to minimise stopping time) and people also got used to it just like you said in your video

[@aufschiene]

Fun Fact: In Minute 0:12 there is a Bus shown what used to drive in Vienna :)

[@szoszk]

It's fascinating in Berlin, before covid measures, everyone boarded at the front door and showed their ticket. Then covid measures happened, but even after they stopped, and officially we went back to the old rules, it didn't change in practice. People still mainly board at all doors, and drivers don't expect to see a ticket. But still even buses purchased since then have a sign at the back doors saying to board at the front door, that is just ignored by everyone.

[@ok-vk9fv]

In Riga they always open all doors. There are even select routes where only the front door is used. And also on every route after 21:00 you have to use only the front door.

[@MaxVliet]

In England outside of London buses only have front doors, even the double deckers. It's a real pain in the arse during busy times! 😢

[@johannessamuelsson6578]

I don't understand this weird tradition.

[@antontsau]

Traditional Soviet approach, with entry and exit from all doors, instead of western approach with entry from front only (where they get ticket from driver) and moving one direction. Faster load, but less convenient pax flows.

[@skullgeezer7174]

its also worth mentioning that sometimes drivers on articulated buses with 4 doors don't open the rearmost door for one reason or another. this can sometimes be a bit frustrating, especially drivers on route 31 doing this. On most occasions, they do open the fourth door, but considering Vilnius is about to order articulated trolleybuses, possibly quad-door ones, I hope drivers get into the act of opening all 4 doors.

[@CaptainM792]

Interesting video!❤ I am interested in all sorts of topics centered around public transportation. 🚌 Here in Hong Kong, all passengers board public buses on via the front door just like in many other cities around the World, the main reason is because we only have fare collection box and machines at the front of the bus, next to the driver’s cabin. For Vilnius city buses, one reason I could think of for not using the front door is related to this bus announcement that I’ve heard over and over again: “Please proceed to the rear and keep the doorways and driver’s sightline clear.” The first part of this announcement addresses a similar issue in Hong Kong public buses, mentioned at 2:00 of this video. Why drivers might not want to open the front door? Because if too many passengers were standing in the front of the bus, driver’s visibility to the right sideview mirror might get obstructed by standing passengers.

[@TadasTalaikis]

It was done way before pandemic in order to not distract driver with constant passenger moanings.

[@MatthewBluefox]

Especially moanings in the mornings. :)

[@TransitAndTeslas]

Here in the US it depends on the city. In Phoenix you only board through the front door lock, in San Francisco you can board through any door but they have fare inspectors to check for cards.

[@qckreplacementvideos7561]

For some reason, Liechtenstein also doesn't open the front door.

[@codefident4939]

In Krakow (and many other cities I visited) drivers typically do not open the doors, passengers do it by pushing the button located on the door or right next to it.

[@pandus47z]

Not opening the front door is a post-USSR thing, not just Lithuanian. Especially among tram drivers

[@EnolMuks]

In Germany it is usual to get in at the front. In big cities, however, it doesn't matter because you can get in at the back or the front door

[@onuraycicek9135]

in Turkey you can only board from the front door.Except Istanbul's Metrobus (BRT) system which you go through turnstiles before arrving to the platform. This allows passengers to board the busses from all doors.

[@tangosierradelta]

Let me give you a tip: When you do get to board via the front doors, say something nice to the driver even if it's a simple "Good morning", "Hey, how are you doing?" or something like that. If the drivers start to have positive feelings/experiences when operating the front doors for passengers, being friendly greeted, they might start to be less hesitant. I'm a busdriver in the Netherlands, and here it's mostly common to use the front doors (prevent fare evasion) when boarding, the back doors are often only for getting off the bus. But when it gets busy, it's an unwritten rule that you can board the bus (as long as you activate/scan your ticket). In colder times, a lot of drivers choose to open only one of two doors (when the busmodel features it). I don't like the narrow passage and I'm also not easily cold, so I'd open both front doors in almost all situations. Anyway, don't forget to greet your driver, you'd be surprised how much it can mean (especially on dreary days!).

[@itsonepixel]

I thought I might share how it's done in other places. For example, in most places in Sweden, the front door is used only for embarking, and people scan their in-app tickets by the scanner by the driver's seat. Then people proceed to spread out through the bus, and later get out of the bus through the middle and back doors (which are only used for disembarking). The whole method is kind of similar to the one that Vilnius did use between 2010-2015. In my experience, I think that this is a very efficient method, so maybe Vilnius should consider re-implementing it?

[@n.k.939]

I remember when this was the case - it was implemented as a "measure" to make sure everyone activated their tickets and no one rides for free. It would take a longer time for everyone to onboard the bus. People were upset about this new way of doing things, and it was cancelled by the next mayor.

[@fidenemini111]

@@n.k.939 I remember that time as well. Populist mayor Zuokas changed this practice appeasing the complaints. So now we have all smelly free-riders in our public transport. Thank you Mr. Zuokas!

[@euflopapark]

In my city it is specifically advertised to passengers not to use the front door if possible to prevent cold air draft for the driver

[@sma_wwong]

I operate 3-door single deckers in Singapore where all doors alighting / boarding is practiced. Whist I do that when the bus is empty and at major stops, I will choose to keep the front door closed when the bus is crowded to avoid people boarding and squeezing from the front which blocks my view of the mirror and side. Also most 3-door bus has a button to open and close all doors at once, he doesn't have to open and close them individually unless required.

[@philipsutton5652]

At least you've still got 2 other doors in use. Outside of major cities like London, most of the UK buses only have front access.

[@tomekdarda]

Fascinating! There are several systems around Europe, as others have mentioned. Yet another option: I live in Poland and here almost all buses and trams have a button that a passenger needs to touch to open the door, so basically you choose what suits you, I believe it was made to spare warm air in winter and only use the door that is needed, regardless if it’s 1 or 20 passengers exchanging. And save the driver some thinking? That was introduced some 20 years ago.

[@mewosh_]

I hate it when not all doors of the vehicle are used. Especially in cities where you have to "tap in" your transit card so you can ONLY board through the front door (like in London for example). It's just lost unused efficency. Warsaw, where I live, is planing to change its ticket system to the one where you have to tap your card while boarding and I hope they don't introduce such door policy.

[@watarod]

In Poland busses have a button to open them! Tho some drivers still open the doors themselves.

[@genadijzhdanov2645]

They usually don't want anyone standing or bothering them, also getting cold from the front door so they avoid it at all costs. In winter bus drivers drive to the very front of the bus stop to make front doors aligned to a huge pile of snow, so no one boards the front door

[@realhawaii5o]

Hello from Tallinn! Over here, the drivers open the front door when there's someone there trying to get in or out. Drivers don't sell tickets (also, most riders have free public transport). On the Trolleybus, they usually open all doors, but these are not circulating these days, it seems...

[@eruno_]

I always prefer the way Kaunas does public transportation

[@dominik9214]

Its so much slower

[@jokubas3391]

@dominik9214 how can it be slower if it uses more doors lol.

[@dominik9214]

@@jokubas3391 in Kaunas they go into the bus only through the front

[@jokubas3391]

@dominik9214 in reality half or a third also enter though other doors. Anyways, more doors, more speed. two doors is ridiculous and slow. I use both cities buses

[@fidenemini111]

Me too, it's much more orderly.

[@travelvideos]

I like those POV shots; they make me feel like I'm running for that bus. I also like it when drivers are not sitting behind a glass partition; it makes it easier to exchange a few words, like confirming my route or bus stop. It's like with Balkan drivers - they are paid much less than Baltic busniks and traffic is 3 times crazier, but their attitude towards passengers is much friendlier.

[@xx752xx]

Well in Bulgaria more specially Burgas the bus drivers almost always open the front door if you are there. Doesn't matter if you are only one person or there are 5 people waiting the front door is open. Also most of the times both doors infront open since our drivers are not used to using the drivers door only. It's really interesting to see how otehr parts of teh world are complete opsite even tough they look almost the same.

[@jakobwinder3687]

In my hometown drivers don't open the front door if it is too full because they don't want people standing in the front. They would block the driver's view because they would stand in the front.

[@user-ge4uk9ui8y]

One driver told me that he doesn't open the front door because in winter he doesn't want to work in a cold environment, he only opens the back doors to preserve a higher temperature in the front.

[@nooneels_]

In panevezys they sometimes open the front door when rushing to the bus but during the cold part of the year they NEVER open the front door because it can get real cold in a bus so making it cold for the driver too would be bad but in the summer it is more likely due to the heat of the bus some drivers even drive with the front door open

[@bz3b]

Warsaw, Poland and Minsk, Belarus, Kyiv, Ukraine the bus driver's cabin was separated from the passenger compartment by an incomplete or hollow partition, as an example of the Ikarus 260. Apparently your mayor of Vilnius ordered the wrong bus equipment

[@RockstarRomania]

Also most Romanian cities and recently, Rome.

[@AdakanUwU]

In Częstochowa (Poland) most drivers also doesn't use first doors, but some do. Most times they open them if someone is in rush or want to buy ticket from driver

[@isib4428]

Why do long buses have just 3 doors there? In Sofia and many other cities have 4?

[@tchanel8277]

In Budapest there are lines that are strictly front door boarding only. I guess this is to help combat people riding without tickets cause you must show your ticket when you get on the bus at the front door, and also, to make the passenger flow much faster, people get on at the first door and move into the interior while other people get off and the back doors

[@Danikole100]

I believe this is a relic from a period maybe nine years ago, there was this thing that , passengers were allowed to offloaded from front, but they could not enter through front, I remember there was even the stop sign on the front door when you wanted to board the bus

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

That's interesting because in London we have the opposite rule, passengers are ONLY allowed to enter through the front door

[@marekolen7355]

Why Estonia, Latvia and Lithutlhania not agree make 1 train throught capitals why 3?!?

[@jannuarytrash]

in my city in siberia we have the same sort of thing on larger buses, even though the driver cab isn't accessible from the front door what's also annoying is we have these new trams and trolleybuses with buttons on the doors so you can open them yourself and the driver doesn't need to open all the doors on every stop - and the drivers still open all the doors on every stop while it can be like -20° outside

[@nikkkk1633]

because babushkas and hillbillies will be staring at doors and shout "open the door, blyat" since it requires a lot of brain work to guess pushing the button even if there is an announcement written on the door encouraging you to do so

[@krasnalthegreat]

In my town in Poland the front door is barely used and the i once asked why they don’t use it is because when people use the front door people will block their point of view and it blocks their view of the passengers and the pedestrians and everything around the bus

[@NeLagina]

in Kaunas you have to go though the first door and the middle and the last doors are for exiting ,but a lot of passengers go to the first middle last

[@milokojjones]

Not a driver and not from Lithuania, but I think the main two reasons will be conservation of the temperature at the front of the bus and also keeping the area clear of passangers so that they have better view behind ( like for driving / looking if people are still going through the other doors ) - here in Czechia we have the same busses / trolleybusses and the front sections are usually marked by yellow as places where you should avoid standing in general, and people are often reminded of that by the drivers themselves, so that would be my guess.

[@mratp123]

As a transport enthusiast and self made mobility expert from Tallinn, I must say, we also faced this problem. Drivers were used to having their own area and door (including not opening the front door) during covid. This caused the loop you also talked about in which actions mirror. Nowadays, this problem in Tallinn is mostly fixed, with some exceptions, due to hard work by the transport company who retrained drivers and enforced the service level operation. As Tallinn's transport is free (for locals) and drivers haven't sold tickets for a long time, we didn't face it that rough I must say, but the covid effects on public transport are still visible.

[@extanygaming7928]

It's like this in Poland and Austria, because people either buy tickets before hand or on the bus on a screen thingy

[@moover123]

in my town it is "not allowed" to enter through the fron door due to the cold U wonder why they don't order busses where the first door is further in the back.

[@zaired]

In Montreal, its the opposite, they only open the first door, which sucks, and they order buses that have smaller back doors, which makes it way less useful to use all doors

[@WatermelonCatLeo]

Here in Sweden and like everywhere else, except for covid we always enter through the single front door and out all of the 1-4 back doors

[@tabbi5328]

Im a bus driver from hamburg and its a similar situation here. Since covid when people in a hurry run towards the bus and i open the front door, often they run to the scond door anyway. Some drivers also like to have it quiet at the front. If they dont open the door they must not answer questions etc. also in hamburg our buses have a button that opens every door except the first one. Maybe its the same in you town. But i agree it makes no sence to leave it closed. I open the front door if i see someone wanting to get in, but also only then :) cheers!

[@Cojo2701]

Every bus/ trolleybus has a button that opens all the doors at the same time, it's easier to press only one button than 2 buttons

[@Rikamo_]

Where I live, loads of drivers don't open the front door if no one is there, just so the front of the bus stays warm in winter or cold in summer.

[@feta_cheesecake]

Most regular bus routes (non “high level of service” ones) I’ve been on across 2 continents, 5 countries and over a dozen cities all mandated boarding from the front door (mostly for fare checking reasons) and disallowed exiting from it (to prevent cluttering at the front of the bus and to separate the flow of boarding and exiting passengers). Actually in Casablanca, the opposite phenomenon exists: drivers will almost always refuse to open the 3rd door at the very rear of the bus (and the 4th on longboi buses), probably to further limit fare evasion.

[@1strixer149]

I heard about the sponsor. I attended a few conferences of theirs. Its a great company with great values! Definitely recommend checking them out.

[@Canadianinvesting]

Kind of seems like an oversight on the part of the design. If you have to press 3 buttons to open the doors (ofc im not sure of the layout maybe its easier then I think). Just have one button that does all three doors for open and close. Win for all parties; increase the power of A/C or heating for the drivers to make them comfortable as well. The doors open in Tallinn on the transport but some of the bus designs only half of the front door opens which is impossible to enter with luggage. That also means if you need to pay (for tourists and non-residents) that you have to trudge through half the bus to get to the payment box which is counterproductive to recooping costs. Ergonomics is important.

[@salemas5]

atleast in Solaris busses there are 4 buttons for door control. 3 for each of the doors and 4th for all the doors at the same time.

[@Mgameing123]

You need to seperate the front and back door buttons. You need minimum 2 buttons as many places have a front door boarding only policy.

[@reellezahl]

I would kind of agree, but I am sure this is a security risk.

[@FUARYER]

In Riga they always open all doors or some routes people get on bus (front doors only) and get off (back doors only)

[@FUARYER]

But in rush hours always all doors opened

[@MrSovetsky]

In Riga they do open the front door, but reluctantly in the cold season. Because tha cab is open and the temperature fluctuates all the time. So they tell me at least.

[@_OS_]

On some bus and trolleybus routes, boarding is only through the front door (I think in the evening), judging by the signs on the other doors and stops. It needs to reduce the number of people without tickets. It seems like this should be the case throughout the European Union. But whoever came up with this is most likely in a warmer country and doesn't know how feels to open the door at every stop when it's freezing outside.

[@truedarklander]

​@@_OS_Here in Lisbon it's front door boarding only on all bussed, from both the municipal Carris and the metropolitan Carris Metropolitana, regardless of the number of doors

[@AmiAmi-kb7zy]

no only vilnius but its common in many post soviet cauntries, Poland the same. People not using front door so drivers are used to not open them, but if you stand in front door it will be opened :)

[@aurimay5720]

In a city called Siauliai. There's a rule that you can only enter through the front door and exit through the middle or back. But then its annoying if you're crowded in the front and theres people and you cant exit, you litrally have to push through everyone.

[@jimmeade2976]

Are bus rides free in Vilnius? In most cities, passengers must board through the front door because that's where they must show their ticket/money to the driver or fare machine.

[@paul1993willy]

My 2 guesses were: - Preventing crowding in their sight zone. To safely operate their bus, drivers need to maintain clear sight lines to their left and right. This is why they need passengers to stay behind the yellow line, aka their cabin. Passengers like to crowd around doors, which created visibility and safety issues. I think drivers realized they can curb that problem if they prioritize rear doors. - Is related to my first guess. Assuming the accessibility ramp is at the front door, wheelchair users probably have an easier time boarding busses if crowding is concentrated to the back. Drivers can easily obtain that result by not opening their front doors.

[@gabrielebianchi8976]

When I'm from suburban busses open the front door only when all people who need are off from the middle and back door. One driver once, said to me that the reason for that it's because people tend to get off from the front door and cross the street, if passengers do so they are not visible from the vehicles that are behind the bus.

[@Canleaf08]

I have noticed that in Albuquerque, NM, the rental car shuttle busses at the airport do not have doors in front, only in the middle. This is not very public transit, partly off topic, but it looked off. Instead of the front door, two seats were installed. Normally, the North American bus are similar to the European busses, two doors in front, two in the middle, if articulated, another two doors in the rear. The thing is also with the point of sale, where you get your transfer to travel on the bus. I can imagine that some transactions took ages to buy a ticket on the bus and the driver had to move on AND give change. Since everyone has an app or a prepaid travel card obviously, there is no need that a bus driver needs to open the door in front.

[@szymex22]

In my city some of the older busses dont have buttons on the front door, so the driver has to open it manually (unlike other doors which have buttons). So while you can use the front door, often times the driver doesn't notice youre trying to enter or exit or some drivers won't open it just cause. Must say, Vilnius requiring boarding through front door at risky stops is pretty smart.

[@olivier2553]

I't think that having entry at the front and exit at the back would means faster loading and unloading and shorter stops and tighter schedule.

[@anzelmasmatutis2500]

I believe, in Vilnius there was time in past ALL boarding had to be done through frontal door. But it was dropped, I guess, due to prolonged boarding.

[@anzelmasmatutis2500]

7:58 oh, right, you mention it in video.

[@OldLordSpeedy]

Looks for me more that nobody need a ticket from the driver after the ride is free or they use smartphone electronic tickets only.

[@GobgobArgentDawn]

While we are on the topic of bus doors, as a Dutch person it is fascinating how inefficient the people themselves go about boarding/unloading the bus. It is typical that individuals entering stand right in the middle of the door, as if there is not anyone inside at all. This always leads to some should bumping while exiting. It makes so much more sense to gather on the sides until the bus is unloaded. What do you guys thinks of this?

[@alexandersmirnov5664]

By the way, while I was in Vilnius for Christmas in 2023, my girlfriend and I had been wondering on why VVT's trolleybus drivers tend to miss the bus stop sign? We are used to the fact that in Riga, we have busses usually stopping right before the sign, but in Vilnius we had situations where a trolleybus would pass the sign completely and stop somewhere in the very end of the turnout. Is this some kind of a local rule or it's just drivers being careful that some other bus or a trolley might need to get on the bus stop too and they just allow for more space in the turnout?

[@v1das007]

Not sure how it is interpreted today, but in the older days there used to be 2 different stops for buses and trolleybuses, one after the other. So, the trolleybuses did not stop in a bus stop, because they are not busses - they stopped in the trolleybus stop 20 meters further. I assume this is how they tried to control space in the stops to avoid jamming, maybe it is an unwritten rule nowadays, not sure.

[@Malamesa]

Not sure myself but it's probably so other busses can also "park" there, its conventient. It's the same everywhere in this country.

[@windsfriend]

You're probably talking about stops in the city center, especially Zaliojo Tilto (Green bridge) stop, which is a very long one. The main reason is that some stops are super busy, and there're many times when multiple busses and troleybusses stop at the same time, so the rule is that the first bus stops ant the very front of the stop, so there's more space for others. The Green Bridge stop even has a sign in Lithuanian "first bus stops here".

[@KoichiFirst8092]

Similar to Murmansk, where front doors on buses and trolleybuses are only used for alighting passengers.

[@deemuss]

In some cities in Ukraine there is a similar situation, which, however, started much earlier than the pandemic. From my experience, most bus and trolleybus drivers discourage the passengers from using the front door because during rush hours passengers tend to stay as close to the door as possible and they start obscuring the view. If there were trams in Vilnius, you would probably see the front door being in the most active use because the cabin is better separated, and the door is mostly wider for passengers. Surely, in winter this matters as well since the cabin is cooling more actively than the rest of the bus, and frequent use of the front door makes the cabin the coldest place in the bus

[@sodden9732]

On my daily route: at my bus stop i get on and driver doesn't open the front door for me. Cool, I go to the front for more space like you mentioned, sometimes even lean on the door since I know it won't open. I'm on my phone or something, boom, randomly he starts opening it. I curse so hard in my head when it happens lol

[@MariyanStoykov]

Well, you can play with your phone on a seat(if available), or somewhere else and definitely not leaning on the door. Not to mention that as a passenger a person has a responsibility too and it's not to just buy a ticket. One hand on a handle(for your personal safety) and only if possible the other one on the phone. I don't believe there's something more important on a "smartphone" than a person's life. And obviously it did not occurred to you, but you're blocking the view of the driver(and yes, he needs visibility to both wings of the front door)...

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I caught a bus in next door Riga and I think that you had to board by the front door and a the bus had a ticket seller on it who wasn't the driver.

[@christianlink6903]

In Germany there is often a barrier behind driver position that allows entering from front but not leaving the bus. Don't see that here

[@MonkeyDRuffy82]

In Dresden we don't have the Barriere. But Driver stand the Bus so, That you don't use the front door. But our Buß have 4 doors even in the 15 m versions.

[@domasmilasevicius3846]

Pretty much the same situation in Panevėžys, drivers don't open the front door because nobody ever tries to board through it. I've seen people get on the bus through the middle door and then go to the front to buy a ticket.

[@MATCHLESS789]

I haven't been living in Vilnius for 20 years but I remember the same being the case even back then.

[@sidabrine]

I think there is another reason why drivers avoid opening the front door. When people stand next to the driver, they block sight of the right side of the road and this could cause problems when driving. That is completely understandable but I think they could hang some signs to inform passengers about this issue but instead drivers choose to yell at passengers to get out of the way

[@dominykasmik8699]

You could do a collad with Not just bikes, both of you are Canadians that moved to europe, it would be an interesting video.

[@Tesswrench111]

4:52 just randomly caught the fieriest sunset of all time

[@fauzirahman3285]

From VVT's statement at 4:03, it seems the focus is more on disembarking than boarding.

[@MaxVerstappenFan79]

I’ve noticed that some drivers switch shifts, and the driver walks through the front door to quickly switch shifts/places. I’ve actually seen that happen before. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why they don’t really use the front doors

[@KenanTurkiye]

Interesting, don't you all enjoy railroad trams, trains etc are just so cool take a ride in my ''transportation'' folder, (folder 2 in my playlists) :)

[@DanTheCaptain]

This is so odd and the only place I’ve seen this happening. I think it’s a combination of people being used to it, the company not giving a shit, and bus drivers being lazy or just straight up not liking opening front doors. This definitely should be stopped because it is visibly effecting service.

[@keahnig164]

It's the same here in Switzerland. Nothing strange about that. It has been this way since I was born and even before. It's a sign of respect to the bus drivers. They spend the whole work day (or night) in there and by not opening the door, in winter, cold air and in summer, heat can't come in. Also It's important to keep the front area clear, to not block the drivers view. Give drivers their space!

[@Ganslit]

becouse it is too cold to open firs door for driver . But i remember those times, about 20 years ago in 2000, when only firs door was opened that driver check ticket to ride.

[@cree_VI]

In Kaunas you have to enter the front door, but if there are lots of people it's ok to get in through any doors. Sometimes drivers stop that people get in thru other doors.

[@CosminSandu2907]

Maybe is about the cold air and passengers that stay in the front of the bus after entering the bus.

[@gaikaviortas455]

I was born and raised in Vilnius, and sice I could remember ( late 70's) it was always like that - front part of the bus was for elderly and for families with kids. So drivers usually didn't open the front doors unless there were older or people with kids were present.

[@Trajanas-1923]

7:50 Not summer of 2015, but beetween July 2010 and summer of 2011

[@peczek804]

I must add a comment with my observations. I've visited Vilnius for the first time on 2007 and I think, that the not-opening the first door in buses might also have a historical heritage. As for the newer vehicles, eg. Volvo 7000 and Mercedes Cito/Citaro and the second-hand buses had normal doors, the old Karosa buses had a "full" drivers cabin, which reached the entire width of the first door. Regardless to the technical differences, the drivers didn't use the first door in all of the buses. Most of time the space in the front was free or a drivers colleague was standing there. I'm not sure, but I have a feeling, that in more modern buses there was a barrier made of railings. In my city (Warsaw) the first door is always available for passengers, but the drivers don't always like using it because of the temperature difference. All you need to do to open it is just press a button next to the door. Even if there wouldn't be a button, the driver will open them for you.

[@SamSitar]

how do you pay if you enter through another door?

[@Nokšė0]

nice creator im a Lithuanian myself and i ask this question.

[@ZNZBRGEM]

We always use the front door in Klaipeda

[@gediminov8644]

And Kaunas to

[@windsfriend]

Vilnius had that, but the queues to enter the bus where very long, especially when the busses were mostly full already. Long entering queues messed up bus timetables - they were always late, so this rule was discarded.