Dans le bus ou sur le bus

[Crack1]

I left my mobile phone on the bus.

1] J''ai oublié mon portable dans le bus.

Is the first sentence fine? It may be 'sur le bus'.
It should be 'on the bus' in English. To write 'in the bus' in this context sounds odd.

[Frank]

Dans le bus.

"sur le bus" would mean on the roof of the bus!

[Crack1]

Oh!

[Neil Coffey]

Yes, it's just a difference between English and French. Similarly: dans le train = on the train.

[Frank]

Interesting.

Would it be a mistake to say "in the bus"/"in the train"?

What kind of vehicles would you use "on" with, besides trains and buses?

[Neil Coffey]

Yes, I think "in" would hardly ever be used with a train/bus and various other large, collective vehicles. If you really want to stress the idea of being enclosed by the walls of the vehicle, you can use inside: e.g. he was trapped inside the train.

Generally use on with large collective vehicles-- on the bus/plane/train/tram/boat/ship/ferry-- or ones where you're physically on top of the vehicle-- on his scooter/bike/moped; use in with smaller/private vehicles that enclose you: in the car/van/helicopter.

[Frank]

Thanks Neil!

[Crack1]

I met Frank in town.

I met Frank on the bus/train.

I can come on my bike to visit Frank too.

I can come on horse back too.

If I can walk to your place, it may take about 2 hours on feet 15 minutes by car/taxi.

[Crack1]

On feet is wrong. It should be on feet.

[Crack1]

On foot.

I don't know how to edit on this forum.