Why can’t passengers just ask “Do you go to xxxx?” Today was typical with a young lady getting on the bus which was on its stand at Winchester Bus Station. “Where are you going?” she asked. I gave my usual reply “Where it says on the front” which is a much easier than listing every stop between Winchester and Stockbridge. She obviously had read Stockbridge because she then asked “Do you go to Kings Somborne?” “Yes”, I said. “Where do you stop in Kings Somborne?” came next. There are five stops in King Somborne and I really didn’t want to describe each one so simply asked “Where do you want to go?” “Eldon Close” she replied. My response was “Fine” as I punched the destination into the ticket machine I told her the price.

It would have been so much quicker and easier if she’d got on and simply asked “Do you go to Eldon Close?” Most people do just ask in a straight forward way but it’s surprising how many make such hard work of it.