Trip to Glasgow shows how Lothian Buses are simply the best - Susan Morrison

The revamp of George Square has shut down the streets around Queen Street Station. This is mildly annoying. It’s not that long ago they reopened it all following the revamp of, um, Queen Street Station.

The M8 is on a need-to-travel basis. By this I mean seriously, do you need to travel? Only half of it ever seems to be functioning. The Viaduct work alone is using virtually every cone in Scotland. Cocky drivers try to rat-run through the city. Bad idea. That idea is just bait for a trap. Yes, I speak from experience.

And now a disastrous fire has shut down more heavy duty city centre roads.

This week, emboldened by my triumph navigating the public transport around Berlin, I tried to catch a bus from the city centre. How hard can it be?

Pretty tough it turns out, especially when the bus in question just vanishes. It had been there on tracking apps. Teasingly the bus stop digital sign kept promising arrival in just two minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, there was no bus in sight. Thus being Glasgow, an entire outraged community had sprung up. Questions were asked, advice sought and opinions expressed, quite forcibly. New friends were made. I’m not sure, but I think I was invited to a wedding.

We were all shouting. We had to. Glasgow has discovered the motor car has a horn and is not afraid to use it.

The bus had become a ghost, probably trapped in traffic forever, only to be glimpsed from afar, circling the city like a sort of automotive Flying Dutchman.

A woman sighed and told me that the Vanishing Bus trick isn't unusual, even without fires, the M8 and the George Square glow-up.

Yes, I said, it happens in Edinburgh sometimes. Not often. Oh, she replied, her eyes going misty. Yes, you’ve got great buses.

And at that moment I suddenly realised. Lothian Buses, I pure love you.