We need to discuss London buses.

No, really.

Other than the obligation to share them with strangers and make a few scheduled stops, buses are just large, cheap taxis. They allow you to travel above ground, experiencing London as you go, whilst drastically limiting the chances of you either developing “the black lung” underground or risking (almost) certain death by riding a bicycle.

Which should be the ultimate win-win-win-win.

Only it’s not.

Because while taxis and tubes arrive with a degree of regularity – allowing you to at least start your journey on time – buses turn up whenever they fancy (most usually a minute after you’ve screamed in silence, quit waiting and jumped in a taxi instead).

Happily however, earlier this month, a new solution launched to solve this old problem: the London Bus Stop App.

Cheekily priced at 69p, this application - for both iPhone and Android – will tell you exactly when the bus that you’re waiting for is expected to arrive.

Linked to the onboard GPS systems of every bus in London, the information that you receive isn’t timetabled: it's specifically based on where the bus that you’re waiting for actually is at that exact moment.

It genuinely works, and using it feels a little you’re predicting the future. 

If this sounds a tad far-fetched then just download it and head to your nearest bus stop.  

Once you’ve arrived find the nearest old lady and bet her whole pension that you’ll correctly guess which bus will come around the corner next – specifying exactly when it will arrive – ten times in a row. 

She’ll be amazed! 

And then sad.

NOTE: If, after a couple of times using the App, it doesn’t automatically locate you then click “MAP”, press the arrow icon in the top left-hand corner, and then return to the homepage.