Since a cell phone is pretty necessary, people still take those devices on to the bus, but it's risky to actually use a phone while on the bus. You’re also supposed to sit in the aisle seat, regardless of whether there’s already someone sitting in the window seat (ignore your manners!). This is to make sure that you can get out of the bus quickly if you feel uncomfortable with whatever is happening on the bus.
The unfortunate reality of this situation is that buses are the most common sites for robbery. Sometimes a pair of people will board the bus and walk down the line, demanding cell phones and money from passengers. Often, these people will use force or harmful weapons to threaten people who don’t want to give up their phone or money.
In order to avoid getting their phones stolen, people usually carry with them an extra “throw away” phone to give in the case of a robbery. Mostly due to this reason, El Salvador has one of the highest mobile phone subscription rates in the world (150 phones per 100 persons), which is higher than the U.S.!
Outside of the risk to personal safety, it takes about two or three times as long to get around the city on the bus. Because of the hot, humid climate and the amount of traffic here, I think taking the bus requires a lot of time and energy that can be spent elsewhere.
I took the bus once to get to the U.S. embassy when I didn’t yet have a car. I felt really anxious because I had to take four different buses to make it down to the embassy. Furthermore, I knew I couldn't check my phone to know where to switch buses. Instead, I had to ask other passengers, making it obvious that I didn't know what I was doing.
