Trying to catch a bus in some cities means sprinting with Olympic-level energy only to watch the driver glance into the mirror, lock eyes with you, and then pull off one second before you touch the door handle.

A closer look

Catching a bus should be simple: you wait, you board, you ride. But in some cities, it’s a sport. Picture yourself sprinting across cracked sidewalks, arms flailing, lungs burning, the bus in sight like a finish line. Then, just as you reach it, the driver looks into the mirror, makes eye contact, and pulls away with merciless calm. The heartbreak rivals any dramatic movie ending. In that moment, buses aren’t transport; they’re tricksters testing human endurance. Victory is sweet when you make it aboard, but defeat is unforgettable.