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| - This is one gritty ass bus station. I have never entered the station through the Berri-Uqam metro underground entrance without being harassed/accosted by one or two homeless guys. This is what it typically looks like: a man (or two men) ask me for some change, I say no or sorry, and then they start screaming at me. It's either that or I give them change and they say it's not enough and start screaming at me.
The station is right across Berri square, a pretty seedy hangout spot for drug dealers, homeless people, etc, and not necessarily the greatest place to be hanging out while waiting for your bus to arrive. The layout inside of the bus station is a little confusing and it's easy to find yourself waiting at the wrong line by accident - I suggest asking the people in line EVERY TIME you come here what bus they are waiting for.
The bathrooms are often closed for maintenance, which really sucks if you've just been on a bus for 5 hours and need to relieve yourself in an intense way. Homeless people often use the bathrooms in the station and/or loiter around the station. Security is usually pretty good about keeping the place safe, but I've seen a woman fall down in front of the woman's bathroom door with a syringe sticking out of her arm, and I have had homeless people come up to me and yell at me and in some cases even try to steal my luggage. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR LUGGAGE UNATTENDED, EVER. Don't trust security to do their job perfectly either.
Be watchful, be patient, and whatever you do, do NOT try to kill time by walking around Berri square if you're by yourself. No matter what time it is, it's not a good idea. I know of a man who asked someone for the time at Berri square and was immediately stabbed in response. Before taking a bus to Philadelphia once at 5 AM I took a walk through Berri square to pass the time and a bunch of guys followed me exhaling crack smoke into my face. There is a heavy police presence but senseless idiocy/violence still exists nonetheless and there is no point in taking the risk of hanging out here.
Apart from all of that, enjoy.
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