I just came back from Hong Kong, and found the MTR trains emptier than anytime since it started service in 1979. Why? Friends don't let friends ride the MTR. They tell you which bus or minibus to take instead.

A few personal examples:

1. After having dim sum near Kornhill in Quarry Bay, a cousin needs to go to Wan Chai North. MTR? No way! Instead of taking gazillion escalators to the train, stand for 6 stops, then another gazillion escalators before walking over Gloucester Road, a friend suggested Bus #2A. Bus every 5 minutes, plenty of seats.

2. I was in Mong Kok and needs to get to a friend's place in Tai Wai, adjacent to the City One stop on the Ma On Shan Line. Instead of switching from Kwun Tong Line, make the long transfer at Kowloon Tong to East Rail, then transfer again in Tai Wai; she suggested me to take Bus #281A. Single ride, bus every 5-10 minutes, plenty of seats.

3. Same day, late at night, I have to head back to Mid-Levels North Point. Ma Rail to East Rail to Kwun Tong Line to Tsuen Wan Line to Island Line? Absolutely not! Bus #182, single ride to Gloucester Road in Wan Chai. Walk a few short blocks to Hennessey Road and transfer to another bus.

4. I was in Prince Edward and needs to go to Chi Nin Nunnery in Diamond Hill for vegetarian dinner. You would think the MTR is a no brainer, right? Single train, fairly short escalator rides at those stations. But no, my friend brought me to Boundary Street, and there's a Green Light Bus #70. It was a straight shot down Boundary Street to Kai Tak, then up Choi Hung Road. 15 minutes door to door. Basically same time as MTR, but guaranteed a seat and not even a single escalator ride.

I probably took the taxi more often than the MTR for the first time during a trip to Hong Kong.

For someone who's residence fall near the Whampoa Area of Hung Hom, form of trains doesn't even go into our agendas often. The Hung Hom KCR is still a 10 minute bus ride and the nearest MTR Station even further away. So buses on many occassions are our best form of getting around (we don't drive here either....$4000 HKD per month for car park space rental in our estate).

As for buses, they are indeed less hectic than the MTR/KCR, sometimes more direct, sometimes faster, and better chances of getting a seat onboard depending on where you want to go. Just came back to Toronto on Friday after spending a week in HK working and celebrating New Year's Eve/New Year. During one of the days we needed to go directly to a relative's home in Kwun Tong after lunch in Harbour City. Took bus 215X directly to the Kwun Tong vicinity which was a lot quicker as oppose to taking the MTR Tsuen Wan Line transfering to Kwun Tong Line. Afterwards a trip to Fo Tan to visit a friend and went with bus 89 directly from Kwun Tong to New Town Plaza where after getting off there, took a short Taxi ride. Avoided the MTR (Kwun Tong Line), Kowloon Tong (Festival Walk) Interchange, KCR altogether.

Just some of the examples why we also prefer the buses, minibuses, and Taxis.

And, of course, the bus can be much more entertaining.