I decided that instead of riding the cable car today I would take a nap. This worked out great at the time but left me without material for today’s blog.
I’ve taken the opportunity to make a list of 5 (yes, it’s a nice round number) bits of public transit etiquette.
1. Scoot over. As I posted in an earlier blog, you look like a jerk (and, well, are one) if you don’t scoot over. Unless the bus is empty or you are getting off at the next stop you need to take that inside seat. Look at it as an opportunity to see the beautiful city (or not so beautiful city if you are in say, Beaumont) out the window.
2. Put those nail clippers away. I don’t know why this is such a popular activity on MUNI, but I am constantly bombarded by a shower of other people’s nail clippings. It’s gross both because I don’t want little bits of your protein flying at me and because the noise – “click, click click, click” is unbearable.
3. Food and beverages are banned for a reason. If you’re really hungry and you have a handful of nuts, a small piece of bread, or some other odorless, crumb-free, non-staining food it’s fine by me. But please, leave your Chinese takeout and friend chicken in your bag until you get home. Those of you who are arrogant enough to think that you can drink coffee on a packed commuter bus should all have the good fortune to spill that drink all over your new silk shirt on the way to the office.
4. You have bad taste in music. No matter how much you think the world should enjoy the music you are sharing with them, I can guarantee there’s at least half a bus full of riders that hate it. No matter how much I would enjoy hearing that song on my own ipod or in my car, no matter how good the music is, it sounds terrible coming from your crummy boom box or, even worse, through your headphones that are so loud I can hear them from across the isle. Save your hearing – damage is irreparable – and turn that music down.
5. Have your money ready. No one wants to hold your coffee while you search for your wallet. Unless you are one of the very fortunate people who just caught the bus and didn’t have time to get it ready, have your money/pass/token in hand. It will save everyone time and if everyone practices this very easy bit of etiquette we’ll all get to our destinations sooner.
Readers, what is your pet peeve while riding public transit? What do you wish every rider would do to make your trip better? Please share by posting a comment.
I don’t have any peeves, but I do have a pet perplexity.
Here in multicultural Vancouver, about once a month, when I board a loaded bus, a South Asian woman would offer me her seat.
I’m a caucasian GreyBeard, but a young South Asian woman cashier actually mistook me for her uncle! She said “You look just like my uncle! Last time you came in I wondered ‘how can he be here – he’s supposed to be in India.’ ”
I have lived in India & imbibed intricate cultural complexes & also enjoyed rich friendships there. I feel a deep empathy with these very intuitive people.
So I wonder, are these sacrifices of a seat to an elderly gentleman culturally induced gestures of submission to elder male authority, or might they be infused with empathetic recognition of a kindred spirit?
Any other readers with similar experiences?
I just recently moved to an area where using public transportation is practical, so I don’t yet have a list of pet peeves – but I’ve learned a thing or two from this post and will do my best to stick to these guidelines!
This was a good peice! I don’t ride the. Bus often but I do ride the shuttles into work everyday at LAX! And one thing I can’t stand is when people sit down and place their bag or purse on the seat next to them lol! As if to say the seat is taken. I usually will pick up my lunck and purse and hold onto them when I see someone come on board who will need a seat. But u made some obvious points here! Now you should get together some ideas on the “how to be a proper professional bus driver” lol! I’m sick and tired of the drivers cutting people off, honkin their hornas like mad men and driving so damn fast you’re sliding back and forth in the seat! And then rude as ever can be!
Amber, so true! I once had a driver stop mid-route on a very busy street. He was out of the bus for a few minutes and we began to wonder where he could be. Turns out he was picking up some food at a restaurant we parked in front of, as if no one was waiting.
I would add loud conversations to the list, especially on cell phones. All too often I have to hear about some girl’s one night stand or ignorant boyfriend while riding. I probably wouldnt care about the story if it was my sister or good friend, so I certainly dont care about this stranger’s sex life.
On a similar note, one time I was on the N and a couple was having a heated argument for way tooo long. They were near the front of the car, and eventually the driver stopped and came on the intercom “Either stop fighting or get off the train, you’re driving everyone crazy”. The couple was quiet for a bit, but then got loud again and the driver asked them to leave. After they left he got back on the intercom and said “You know you were all thinking it, someone had to say it”.
This goes with your previous post about how gross some people are. On BART I once saw a creature that vaguely resembled a human or perhaps once was one him/her self, go between the cars (through those doors that take the strength of Hercules to open), squat down and well need I say more. The creature was grunting so loudly you could her it through the closed door. Without a doubt (one of the) grossest things I ever saw.
I have three pet peeves one is talking on the cell phone and talking so loud that everyone can hear as you noted. Really I don’t care to hear how your friend’s boyfriend cheated on her with her sister really I could not care less!
The second is listening to your music either on your phone (with no head phones) or on your ipod so loud that the whole subway car can hear!
My last pet peeve is people coming on the train to scream at everyone for being a sinner and informing us that we need to find Jesus and we need to let him in to our lives! For one thing that is not what my 2.25 paid for and second a subway car is not a church! Keep Jesus out of it and stop screaming at me!
That’s sooo funny rachel! Seriously though, when u get on the bus ur not asking to hear the word of christ and that ur a sinner! Hahahaha! I can’t stand it when I’m minding my own business and someone comes and asks me “if I know jesus?” Lmao! UGH! Where’s our next post girl!?!? Lol!
I just wish people would shower more, those buses get crowded and we’re stuffed in there….
I can empathise with you on all of those types of people. Here in Manchester, we have the busiest bus route in Europe! It’s a straight North – South route that is densely populated, with students from two universities and several colleges and schools. One of my pet peeves is when fit, able bodied, youthful 16-25 year old college/university students get on the, already crowded, bus and squeeze in past everybody… only to get off one two or even three stops later! Again squeezing past everybody on their way off the bus. When it’s raining I can almost come to terms with it, but when it’s a hot sunny day and the bus is like an oven?
Oh, I have to admit that I usually take up two seats, because my femurs are just too long to sit normally. I usually take the top deck or back seat with nothing in front of me, so I can share if necessary.