Happy Christmas Mr Alek
It is a good point you raise in relation to nailing down whether ourselves and the equally backward UK (in bus terms) are the only European examples of single door buses.
I always liked the German model of no ticket inspection and hefty fine for non-compliance as it serves to increase honesty across society as a whole.
In relation to AP's story it reminds me of James Nix's story of his friend who one Monday buys a car after being frustrated off public transport the previous evening.