Fares
Buses do not take cash payment. Use Oyster card, contactless card or electronic payment method.
BUT, please, don’t use an electronic system. We use buses a lot and delays getting on a bus are always caused by people trying to get their Apple Pay (or whatever) to work.
And make sure your payment method is ready before you get on the bus. We see people standing in queues for 10 minutes waiting for the bus, then the doors open and they are fishing about in pockets trying to find an Oyster card. Be prepared.
Get on the bus at the front door. If you have been here before, you may remember you could get on any door for some buses, but people skipped fares, and this was abolished.
If it is a single deck bus with only a front door, let passengers off first (to make more room for you).
To the left of the driver is a usual yellow fare reader:
The little light on it will be yellow. Place your chosen payment method flat on the pad for a second, it will beep and there is a green light and you are on. A red light means a fail, try again, another method or leave the bus altogether and sort out your problems.
Sometimes the reader fails and you will be waved on.
If you have a paper ticket, show it to the driver.
If an inspector joins the bus, show them your payment method. You cannot ride a bus without paying a fare and you may be fined or arrested or worse if you do.