Which direction is the bus heading?

[MacCharlie]

It's heading to the left. Because you can't see the door where passengers board. Since this side has no door, and the bus door is on the right side of the bus (meaning the opposite side is the left side of the bus), the bus is heading left. It's moving to the left. Taking the forward direction as the front, passenger bus doors are generally located on the right side of the vehicle. Is this vehicle left-hand drive or right-hand drive? If it's left-hand drive (driver on the left), then it's heading left; if right-hand drive, then it's heading right. If this were Shanghai, vehicles should be driving on the right side, with doors also opening on the right side. Since this image shows no door on the vehicle, it must be heading left. The driver's position on the left makes it easier to judge and control the distance between the vehicle and oncoming traffic from the left. In terms of ergonomics, most people are right-handed. To ensure drivers can easily reach and operate gear shifts and brakes for safety and reliability, designers naturally placed the driver's seat on the right side of the vehicle. On the other hand, when cars first appeared, most car owners were wealthy individuals who employed drivers. Having the driver's seat on the right made it convenient for the driver to exit and open the door for the owner, as well as to frequently get out and remove road obstacles to prevent punctures to the pneumatic tires. Thus, early vehicles naturally adopted a right-hand drive and right-hand traffic configuration.

[VanAllie]

I've been pondering the issue of bus orientation lately, which might stem from that classic riddle. If a bus in a picture appears to be moving to the right but its door is on the unseen side, it suggests the bus is traveling on a road where the driver's side is opposite, such as in the UK where the steering wheel is on the right and the door is also on the right—meaning the bus would need to be moving left for the door to be visible. When the door isn't visible, the bus might indeed be moving to the right. This relates to our driving direction: vehicle design accounts for the driver's position and door alignment to facilitate passenger boarding and alighting. Uncertainty about direction can easily lead to accidents, such as wrong-way driving or collisions in blind spots. I recommend that drivers practice observing tire tracks or using navigation systems to confirm direction. Regular maintenance checks on the steering linkage and tire alignment can prevent deviation issues, ensuring safe and worry-free driving.

[VanGarrett]

As a driver who frequently takes long-distance trips, the direction of buses is quite crucial. For example, in right-hand drive countries, buses drive on the right side of the road so that their doors are next to the curb. Driving to the left might lead to dangerous wrong-way situations. When driving my own car, I also pay attention to lane rules, as incorrect direction choices like improper turns can cause rear-end collisions or getting stuck in lanes. In fact, vehicle direction consistency affects fuel consumption and tire lifespan—large bus wheels often require regular alignment adjustments. In short, to determine which side a bus is driving on, observe the door position as a reference, and always coordinate with traffic signals to ensure smooth driving and avoid congestion.

[DiMatteo]

After years of repairing vehicles, I've found that bus direction depends on wheel alignment. When the wheels are straight, the chassis runs parallel to the road, but if the angles are off, the direction goes wrong—similar to steering system failures in cars. I've helped many vehicle owners diagnose this issue; incorrect toe-in or camber angles can cause drifting and accelerated wear. Buses also require regular four-wheel alignment checks to ensure straight-line stability and correct directional control.