Jumping off buses, bus conductors

D'you remember when buses had an open platform on the kerb side at the back on which the bus conductor used to stand most of the time when he was not collecting fares? Many, mostly male, passengers used to get off the bus by hanging on to the upright bar on the platform and then, when the bus slowed to go around a corner, glance behind to ensure that there was nothing likely to run them over and then, timing to perfection, drop one foot off the bus swiftly followed by the other; it was, actually, quite easy and I never saw anyone hurt doing it. The bus conductor in the 50s had his tickets on a wooden holder - about10" long - on to which the different value tickets clipped; he (or sometimes she) had a big shoulder slung money pouch. The conductor collected the fares after people had sat down and could often be heard saying "any more fares please" and, where the bus was getting full "move along inside please" or "plenty more room upstairs" (it was upstairs that smoking was permitted). Most bus conductors were cheerful and helpful and would help people with babies or lots of parcels on and off the bus; they had a storage place, just off the platform under the stairs, where one might stow a suitcase or pushchair. Later, the ticket holders were replaced by a machine which was worn around the neck and rested on the stomach and these dispensed printed tickets on something like a til roll. It was good to have bus conductors. One of their functions was to press a bell to advise the driver that he could pull off or to tell him that he should stop at the next request stop.