I recall this incident, which is still vivid in my memory. The incident dates back a year, while I was travelling in an overcrowded Nepal Yatayat bus. I had to stand all the way to my destination. Standing next to me was a lady, probably in her mid-thirties with a kid, struggling for some space in the crowd. Just beside the lady was a man making advances towards the lady and trying to get closer and fondle her. It was obvious that the lady was embarrassed. I felt furious and was embarrassed at the same time not being able to help the lady because it was so embarrassing. But this is not the solitary case of woman being sexually harassed at a public place. I believe that as in other sectors, the administration should effect a strict provision while travelling.

— Shikha Basnet

Of course, public transportation is a compulsion for those of us who do not have our own means of transportation. I have a very bitter experience about it. I used to study in a college at Baghbazar. On that particular day, I had my chemistry practical exams from 10 am. I boarded a public bus from Bhaktapur to Ratnapark. Unfortunately there were some obstacles placed on the highway by some unidentified persons at Babermahal. So only private and small vehicles were allowed to pass through. Due to this, the bus had to take another route and I and missed my exams.

— Saroj Bhurtel

I was recently on my way back to Kathmandu from Pokhara and I had one of the most horrible experiences of my life. The bus started almost an hour late and midway into the journey a minor scuffle between the locals and the driver delayed the journey by another couple of hours. After it was all settled, the driver still persisted on getting more passengers stopping and looking by for passengers at every other stop. And that was not the end because despite my requests the driver kept smoking his cigarette fuelling my exasperation. The ultimate act of defiance was when he waited for the cable car at Manakamana Cable Car Station looking for more passengers. When all us eventually shouted at him, he started to drive at a breakneck speed and when we complained about it, he retorted that it was us who had forced him to do so. I wish there was some way we could teach the drivers to be more responsible.

— Bhavna Adhikari

The most funniest and interesting as well as embarrassing incident happened to me just few weeks before on New Year Eve, in the streets of Thamel. I was with my friends and was about to head home at around 7.30 pm. Though my house is just 15 minutes walk from there, the crowd was so wild, I decided to grab a taxi. I got a taxi but hats off to the heavy traffic that day as it took about half-an-hour for me to reach Ratna Park from Thamel. The taxi’s meter read Rs 44. But when I reached inside my pocket for my wallet, it was not there. Redfaced I asked the driver to wait till I got the money from home. Instead of shouting at me the driver said “Bhaigo bahini ma pani ghar jana lageko, chodi dinus.” (Forget it, I am going home too so let it be). I’d really like to thank him once again.

— Regina Tuladhar

Once when I was travelling by Nepal Yatayat, many pretty girls boarded along with me. But they got down before I reached my destination and for a moment I too wanted to get down with them. After I reached my destination and groped for my wallet, I was shocked beyond words. I never realised that those pretty girls were pick pockets had had stolen my wallet. Fortunately the conductor let me go without getting mad at me.

— Navalok

Travelling by public transportation makes you rich with many different experiences. The way the conductor deals with the passengers, and the way they are crammed with stinking passengers often make the journey a horrible experience.

— Mrigendra Nath Rimal

We were appearing for our high school board exams and at the time the student unions had called a strike. Only a few vehicles were plying and it was raining heavily. I boarded a bus to Thimi that got a puncture halfway through the journey. However, we made it to the exam hall all fully drenched. We got our answer papers all wet and we almost spoilt our exams.

— Hari Sundar Kusi

It was the happiest moment of my life when one day I was travelling by a local bus on my way to Patan Dhoka. I was looking outside the window and had been thinking about a certain girl. I never realised that the girl seated beside me was none other than my that girl who I’d been thinking about. I was shocked when we stood face to face as we got ready to get down at Jamal. I offered to drop her to her house but she refused. Anyway, that was the happiest moment of my life.

— Sunil Nakarmi

I was waiting for a public transportation on my way to Patan and had my two young children with me. I was holding the smaller kid to my chest and I wasn’t quite comfortable in my saree, which I had only learnt to wear recently. I tried to hop into a three-wheeler as it stopped before me, and all of a sudden my the pallu of my saree dropped off my shoulders. When I moved my hand to get it back in place, it hit a woman sitting nearby. The woman got furious and hit me hard on my back. It is disappointing how callous and heartless even women can get at times.

— Subarna Shakya

Once I was travelling by bus when this middle-aged gentleman sitting next to me took out a cigarette, lit it and started smoking. It was quite natural for all us to request him not to smoke. But inspite of our requests, he went on smoking nonchalantly. This incident also made me to realise that our country needs to prohibit smoking in public.

— Eklaxmi Nepal

As a regular passenger in public transportation, I have undergone innumerable experiences. A few years back, I was on my way to Palpa. Since a direct bus service to Palpa was not available then, we had to change buses. But as bus service was not available that day, I boarded a long distance bus to Pokhara. But as is the case in most cases, all the seats were occupied leaving me no other option other than to stand throughout the journey. By the time the bus started from Butwal, it was packed with passengers. As the bus began its journey to Pokhara from Butwal, I prayed to god for a safe journey as I was not sure whether I would reach my destination. Though my journey was safe, thinking about the risks still gives me goosebumps.

— Ambika Pandey

There’s no dearth of lecherous folks prowling in most of the public tranportations. Most guys don’t mind nudging and making sexual advances, particularly with females who seem to be travelling alone. As I’m usually aware of such folks, I kept my bag and books next to my seat to prevent these unnecessary hassles. However, inspite of all my precautions one gentleman was not deterred at all. But I’m not among the types who keep mum. I took off my safety pin and pricked him. After that he maintained a decent distance from me.

— Jyotsna Rai