Every bus journey in Manchester has the same soundtrack: Bells pinging, tickets churning, doors hissing – and a chorus of ‘thank yous’.
After reaching their stop, many Mancunians happily bid the bus driver farewell, alighting with a casual “ta”, “thanks”, or the age-old classic “cheers, driver”.
For many of us, it’s a reflex. But others look upon the smiling habit with curiosity, or even confusion.
Most public transport workers don’t enjoy such vocal appreciation, which makes bus drivers something of a rare breed.
Train or tram drivers, for example, don’t get that privilege – and they probably never will. It’s difficult to envisage an era in which people queue up to rap their knuckles on the Metrolink driver’s door and bellow ‘THANKS’ through darkened windows before hopping out onto the platform.
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Day 58 in Manchester: I’ve started to say thank you the the bus driver as I leave.
I’m getting off the bus and thanking the bus driver, man runs past me into the bus, says “no thank you” and runs to sit upstairs. bus driver is creasing and shrugs his shoulders and drives his bus. what a power move, i love manchester 😂
— 🇵🇸amandla awethu means power to the people🇵🇸 (@mxmandla) May 14, 2021
Perhaps that’s part of the reason why bus drivers do enjoy a hat-tip from their passengers: You have to physically walk past them to exit, and ignoring the driver would be far more awkward than showing your gratitude. Very British.
Whatever the psychological motive, waving off the bus driver is embedded into our culture and regarded an unwritten social rule. At least for most people.
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According to our recent poll, over 97% said they thanked the bus driver – with some claiming they had never failed to exit a bus without shouting their appreciation to the person (who is almost always wearing sunglasses, whatever the weather) behind the wheel.
Only a tiny number of people don’t see the point in showing their gratitude for a paid journey through Mancunia – with around 2% admitting they wouldn’t say “ta” at the end of the trip.
The ultimate test of character: Do you thank the bus driver?
So, whilst a small cadre of commuters remain steadfast in refusing to thank their bus driver, the popular opinion is there’s simply no excuse not to.
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Not the din of the engine. Not the chaos of the city centre traffic. Not even being in a foul mood after a truly shit day.
Nope. Nothing justifies slipping out through those sliding doors onto the streets of Manchester without uttering two little words.
Cheers, driver.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons
Feature
The inflatable floating obstacle course you can splash around on near Manchester
Daisy Jackson
There’s a giant inflatable floating obstacle course less than an hour from Manchester, where you can slide, jump, and fall straight into a lake.
At Wild Shore Delamere, you can tackle obstacles like monkey bars, the ninja-jump, the tyre run, and a giant 3.8 metre-tall inflatable tower, all floating on the surface of the picturesque lake.
The adventure hub opened back in 2019, offering families a chance to play on Delamere Lake, or try new watersports right here in the North West.
Let’s head to that inflatable Aqua Park – even as a full-grown adult, this is one of the silliest afternoons you can imagine.
Squeeze yourself into a wetsuit then launch yourself into the lake, ready to clamber all over a course that is essentially a gigantic floating bouncy castle.
The trickiest part is managing to stay on your feet as you slip and slide your way around the course in your 50 minute session – but really, where’s the fun in staying on your feet?
Monkey BarsThe Ninja JumpThe Tyre RunThe Figure EightFeatures of the Aqua Park at Wild Shore Delamere
While you’re on the lake, you can also try other activities like the Ringo, which whips you up and down the water on a huge inflatable, while the operator seems dead-set on flinging you off.
As well as the inflatable Aqua Park, there’s the Aqua Chimp ropes course for the more gymnastic types, plus wakeboarding, paddle boarding, and open water swimming.
Wild Shore Delamere has also added a new sauna this year, which overlooks the water – you can enjoy contrast therapy, switching from the warm sauna to the lake itself.
Wetsuits and life vests are included, so all you need to pack is a swimsuit, towel, and a bit of reckless abandon as you crash beneath the surface.
Paddle boards at Wild Shore DelamereThe sauna and cold plungeThe RingoAqua Chimp
Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
Just weeks after the closure of its iconic, 16-year-old Italian restaurant in the Corn Exchange, the family behind Salvi’s have revealed a brand-new concept.
And this time, the reins are being handed over to the next generation.
Salvi’s founder Maurizio Cecco has helped to shape Amò, but it’s all the brainchild of his daughter, Sienna.
Sienna will run the business out of a unit up on Deansgate Mews, serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza sandwiches, tubs of tiramisu, and two-for-£10 spritzes.
The deli aspect of the original Salvi’s has been carried over to Amò too – you’ll find shelves almost to the ceiling filled with Italian pasta, wine, olive oils, pistachio spreads, and more.
Sienna has grown up in restaurants, with her parents launching Salvi’s when she was just two years old.
She said she wants the space to be a livelier, fresher version of the Italian restaurant that has been so loved by Mancs for so many years.
Sienna outside AmòFresh pasta dishesInside Amò by Salvi’sTheir viral frozen crema di caffeLemon granitaInside Amò by Salvi’sTiramisu pots
Amò, which is Neapolitan slang for ‘my love’, will have loads of fresh Italian dishes, including arancini, gnocchi, and hearty pasta plates.
At lunchtimes, guests can order from a £10 lunch menu, with dishes changing daily depending on the best produce the kitchen can get – it could be a pizza sandwich with proscuitto and tomato, a spicy pasta, or a gnocchi bake, always served with your choice of soft drink.
With its position on Deansgate Mews, Amò basks in the sunshine at lunchtimes.
And while it’s definitely a different concept to the original Salvi’s, Amò looks set to carry the family’s Italian food legacy into its next generation.
The Manc -
3rd June 2021 
