Why does nobody talk about how bus route maps can trick you into a scenic tour of nothing?

I read online that using local buses is a cheap way to see a city, so I tried it in Denver. I ended up on a loop that just went past storage units and strip malls for what felt like forever, and it was so absurd I had to laugh. What's the most pointless 'scenic' route you've accidentally taken while trying to save cash?

4 comments

4 Comments

david_johnson631mo ago

I read a travel blog once that swore by city buses for authentic views, but my ride in Phoenix was just endless parking lots and fast food joints! It felt like the route was designed to show off every bland suburb possible. I kept waiting for something interesting, but nope, just another auto parts store. The funny part is I paid for a day pass thinking I'd see the city, not its backside. Your Denver story totally reminds me of that! Sometimes the adventure is in the sheer sillyness of it all.

matthew_singh181mo ago

Ever read those 'hidden gem' bus route articles that backfire?

anna_coleman461mo ago

What if the backfire is the real hidden gem?

the_margaret1mo ago

David's point about seeing "every bland suburb possible" is exactly why I find those rides useful. Those storage units and auto parts stores show you where actual people live and work, not just the pretty parts meant for tourists. If you only see the nice areas, you get a wrong idea of what daily life is like for most folks. The bus has to serve those regular places too, that's its real job. There's a quiet truth in those boring routes that fancy tours never show you.