[ajuc]

> A mid-sized petrol-powered car consumes three times as much.

Average ICE bus consumes order of magnitude less per seat than planes. The only reason planes win vs cars is that cars aren't public transport and planes are. So you divide by many more seats.

[dzhiurgis]

Try taking 1000km trip on a diesel bus once and tell me if that metric matters to anyone.

[KronisLV]

You know, I've actually done a few multi day trips by bus, around Croatia and its many places to visit (all the way from Plitvička Jezera to Baska, Krk and Vrbnik, then over to Venice), as well as Egypt (Hurghada to Luxor and later to Cairo). Oh and also a bit around Norway (though i only have Flåm tagged on my map, don't remember the route).

I would say that longer trips by bus are not as unpleasant as you might suggest - as long as you don't attempt to do them in one go, but rather make stops along the way and get some fresh air, walk around and stretch, get something to eat, or maybe do some shopping if needed.

There's probably something to be said about travelling more slowly and enjoying the locales along the way and maybe using motels for the longer trips, as opposed to viewing travel as purely getting from point A to point B as fast as possible. Of course, to be honest, that might not always be possible either in our fast paced culture.

Now, there can be certain drawbacks in practice:

  - certain places will only have old buses, so no Wi-Fi
  - for some reason many buses don't have USB outlets for charging
  - many buses also disallow you to recline your seat, what's up with that?
  - some of the older buses also have pretty poor AC, then again, the weather in Egypt was pretty hot to begin with
  - for some reason the head rests are always smaller when compared to those in planes, making sleeping less comfortable
  - some of the drivers really love to drive in ways that appear unsafe to the passenger (perhaps due to the long wheelbase and suspension)
  - this feels especially uncomfortable mountainous roads

In short, try to take the newer buses whenever that's possible but otherwise just hope that the old ones will get replaced eventually.

Though personally I'd still say that trains feel like the safest mode of travel, followed by buses and then planes feeling the least safe of all, regardless of what engineering excellence goes into making them. That's enough to sway my personal choice.

And if that's somehow better for the environment, then why not? Plus, the food in roadside eateries seems better than airplane food.

[dzhiurgis]

Does the toilet ever work?

Is the seat same size as Ryanair?

Vibration so bad that $500 noise cancelling headphones don't cope?

[KronisLV]

> Does the toilet ever work?

No need to use bus amenities outside of emergencies, just go to them at your nearest rest stop, far more comfortable than any plane!

> Is the seat same size as Ryanair?

I'd say that depends on the bus - many of the older ones or cheaper ones can be cramped, but most are fine. Plus, the chances of having two seats to yourself are higher.

Where planes are better: premium seating options, akin to getting a ride in a car.

> Vibration so bad that $500 noise cancelling headphones don't cope?

That's never been an issue for me headphones or no headphones. Depending on the roads, motion sickness could be a bigger problem for some folks, especially depending on the suspension, much like how some folks also get sick in planes.

I'd say that good buses or trains are amongst the most comfortable in regards to vibrations, followed by planes like Airbus cruising in clear skies, followed by most other buses. Whereas most planes would be less comfortable than those during takeoff, landing, climbing, or whenever there's turbulence or the planes are just older. Older trains would also take one of the latter positions, but they're probably not as bad as planes that are gaining altitude.

Actually, should probably mention boats while we're at it, those can be better in regards to sleeping, but otherwise the experience varies based on the conditions in the sea and size. Of course, the environmental impact is debatable, especially cruise ships.

[ajuc]

> Try taking 1000km trip on a diesel bus once and tell me if that metric matters to anyone.

I did some such trips. Never bothered asking if it was diesel or petrol but whatever. Don't see much difference from a car (in fact it's more convenient than a car cause there's more space).

[dzhiurgis]

Guess you never used electric bus?

I’m tall so I prefer to be squeezed for 1 hour instead of 14 hours.

[ajuc]

I'm using electric buses every week but they are driving inside my city, never seen them used between cities nevermind countries - it wouldn't make sense cause of small range. Also inside they were exactly the same as normal buses so I don't understand what you wanted to say.

> I’m tall so I prefer to be squeezed for 1 hour instead of 14 hours.

Add 2 hours of standing in queues without your shoes, but yes, planes are faster. I was talking bus vs car though.