This man travelled from Canada to Mexico on only public transport

William Hui, a 40-year-old systems engineer from Vancouver, Canada, has always had a passion for public transportation. This passion led him to embark on an extraordinary journey from his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia, all the way to Tijuana, Mexico, using only public buses and trains. His adventure began on June 24 and lasted for nine days, during which he explored the scenic US Pacific coast. Mr. Hui set a few specific rules for his trip: he would not use Greyhound buses or Amtrak trains, and he aimed to minimize walking between bus stops. He shared with the BBC, 'At no point in this trip did I have to walk more than maybe 15 minutes from one bus stop to another. ' He was truly impressed by how well the various transportation services connected, especially in rural areas where public transit can be limited. This was not the first time Mr. Hui had taken on a unique travel challenge. Back in 2013, he attempted to travel as far south from Vancouver as possible but only made it to Salem, Oregon. He expressed his frustration, saying, 'I wanted to go further, I just couldn’t because there was no transit pretty much crossing Oregon into central California. ' However, earlier this year, he discovered a new four-hour bus route that connected Eureka, a city in northern California, to Ukiah, which is about two hours north of San Francisco. He referred to this route as 'the missing link,' which finally allowed him to complete his journey to Mexico more than a decade later. Mr. Hui noted that many things had changed since his first trip, including the fact that more public transit buses are now equipped with WiFi and accept credit or debit card payments. However, he also found that some buses still only accept cash. To prepare for his journey, he visited a currency exchange and requested 50 one-dollar bills to ensure he had exact change. Another observation he made was the difference in public transport between larger cities, such as Seattle and San Francisco, and smaller rural areas, where a single bus might travel for several hours to connect people over vast distances. When it came to crossing international borders, Mr. Hui chose to walk. At the US-Canada border, he encountered skepticism from border agents as he explained the purpose of his journey. He remarked, 'There are not that many people who cross the (northern) border by foot. ' In contrast, he noticed a more heavily trafficked route between San Diego, California, and Tijuana, Mexico, with significantly more foot traffic at the southern border. Throughout his journey, Mr. Hui spent approximately $200 on bus tickets, but he felt that the breathtaking views he experienced were priceless. He expressed his awe at the Oregon coastline and the majestic redwoods of northern California, stating, 'I was really there for the journey, not so much the destination. ' As an employee of TransLink, the transportation authority in Vancouver, Mr. Hui's fascination with public transport stems from his appreciation for the 'logistics puzzle' that allows buses and trains to reach their destinations on time. He enjoys the novelty of experiencing different public transport systems and recognizes the vital role these systems play in connecting people. He emphasized, 'One thing that struck me on this trip is how important transit is to the communities it serves. ' He noted that he was never alone on the bus for extended periods, which highlighted the social aspect of public transportation. Another surprising aspect of his journey was the minimal delays he encountered. He remarked, 'That was the amazing part. ' Even with the notorious traffic in Los Angeles, he managed to make all his connections without needing any backup plans. For those considering a similar adventure, Mr. Hui advised thorough research and packing light, as there is often limited luggage space on buses. He also suggested planning bathroom breaks at convenient locations like shopping centers, libraries, or community centers. His most crucial piece of advice was simple: 'Know when the bus comes.