Dreaded buses

I absoultely hate catching buses in xi'an. I don't think i've ever had a comfortable bus ride during my entire stay here. There are 2 types of buses that operate - the larger proper sized buses and the mini buses which are about half the size of a normal bus.

I don't know if either of them are private or government, but it would seem they're privately operated judging by the way they are run - as fast as possible. I don't think there's a timetable, they just try to make as many rounds and pack on as many people as possible to make the most money. This is one of the reasons why everytime you see a bus pull up people actually scamper and run to board the bus for fear of being left behind.
The little buses in particular are nasty. On those types they always have a ticket conductor (it's alway some short and stumpy aggressive woman) who ushers you in and out of the bus as fast as possible. Be prepared to have your shirt sleave pulled into the bus.
Sometimes they check where you're going as you get on. i was unfortunate enough to get the wrong bus one time and when the conductor realized i was just about to get on the wrong bus and waste 2 seconds of their time she physically gave me a solid push back down the stairs onto the road, scowling 'wrong, get off the bus get off the bus'. These conductors also act as crowd directors during peak periods when it's absolutely chockers inside the bus. she'll call out 'who's getting off at the next stop?' and then direct other people to move aside to allow those getting off to get close to the door.

The bigger buses aren't much better. Theres hardly any chairs in these types, but somehow every bus is still packed. Sometimes it's so packed with people you don't have to hold onto any railings since theres no space to fall into. It's amazing as to how many people they can squeeze into a bus. even when you thought theres no way they can fit any more passengers, the bus will still stop at the next stop to try and squeeze in more. Then they play that recorded voice other the speakers in chinese 'please proceed to the back of the bus, please proceed to the back of the bus', about 20 times even though nobody can physically move down any further. Prepare to have no personal space during commuting time, cuz for sure you'll have all manner of limbs across your face and bums rubbing against yours. It's a good idea to perhaps stick an elbow or knee out if theres room around you, in attempt to reserve some personal space.
Another thing is you have to know when you're getting off, and not rely on announcments over the speakers. more often than not the announcements are usually lagging behind by one stop.

And the drivers are something else. They drive buses like they're driving sports cars. I've seen a woman flung halfway across a bus before. If there is room for you to fall, you really have to hold onto dear life when you're standing. not suprisingly of course buses get into their fair share of accidents. I've been in one bus involved in a little collision, and the whole busload of passengers had to wait around for 10 minutes while the bus driver and the taxi driver had their arguement outside on the road. They didn't even move their vehicles to let traffic pass. Meanwhile passengers who were sitting close to the collision spot were shouting out the window giving their 2 cents on what happened. At least the government has recognized the problem though, and is currently building a metro. In typical chinese fashion it'll be ready in record time, sometime this year or next i believe.