Riding the Stagecoach By: Ian

We have really started to feel like pros when we ride the bus or tram these days. We both have bus and tram passes; we just show our cards and can ride to our hearts content. We both are really starting to know where all the stops are, where we need to get on and off, and which buses and lines to take. It is a good feeling--its like we really live here, not just visiting. The kids like riding the bus, however, since there are no car seats, they feel an added measure of freedom, and always try to maximize it. Holly, for instance, always wants her own seat--far from Atley typically--and loves to just roam. This is a problem especially when we stop or the bus or tram jerks because she goes flying. We try to get her to sit down so she does not hurt herself, but she doesn't listen. No matter how many times we warn her, an "I told you so" is sure to follow.

Atley on the other hand, loves to press the stop button all the time--he is obsessed with it. The first thing he does when he gets on the bus is run to the stop button and try to push it. The worst is when he gets on the tram, and rushes to the "emergency help" button (which is right at kid level) and we have to explain to the driver that our son is just curious. Despite all this, they love the tram and bus, and we love to ride it with them because it reduces the walk with groceries and the toil of pushing a double stroller up a hill.


This is Holly and the family waiting at the bus stop on a sunday morning on our way to church. The stop is about .8 miles from our house, so its a brisk walk in the morning. Luckily there is hardly any traffic nor pedestrians, so we feel like we have the city to ourselves in the morning.



This is Atley in the front of a double decker bus (the iconic symbol of London and the UK of course, but ours is not red sadly). We are on the top looking out on the street. (Notice that we are driving on the wrong side of the road)



This is the tram. It is a very comfortable ride, and pretty easy to figure out the various lines of travel.



This is looking out from the Sheffield University tram stop. This is just down the hill from where we are living. It is only three stops from here to the Tesco grocery store, and about 12 stops from the mall.