So whats the solution?

I should have actually just included this in the original post, but oh well, its a bit late now, and its going to seem like a doozey.

Since winter is nearly on our doormat, threatening to slam the door shut in a bout of anger, we should use it to our advantage. Nobody likes taking public transport when its raining, cold and hard to get a seat. It makes it even worse when people on the same ride as you have diseases. Mainly the infectious ones like colds and flus. So what I propose is that everyone just pretends to be sick about every day of the week on the bus. That way, people have less incentive to take the same bus as you.

To get out of it, they'll drive, or find another mode of transport, leaving more room on the bus for you and the rest of the sick people. Oh what fun.

I could elaborate, but one of the 'big 4' consulting firms just told me to shove it (in a much more polite way), so inspiration isn't really holding up.