Public transit etiquette
October 6th 2010 04:08
Although I haven't done so in many months, I like taking public transit. It's best in the city, of course; in the suburbs, service ranges from the mediocre to abysmal. My favourite is the subway, followed by the streetcar. Unfortunately, where I live currently (a concrete jungle west of Toronto), we have only buses. Still, taking public transit is ultimately cheaper than driving a car, and while it does suck sometimes--especially when weather is intemperate--it's the green way to go. Plus, I get to squeeze in some reading time that I might not normally have.
BUT...Despite the inconvenience of walking to and from bus stops in the rain, or anytime in winter--which in southern Canada can feel like half the year--there is yet one thing that bothers me even more about commuting on public transit. And that is the other commuters who do not obey the tacit, but vital, rules of taking public transit.
Give Up Your Seat
I think it's fairly common sense that an able-bodied person should offer to give up their seat for the following passengers:
I should note that throughout my two pregnancies, I was offered me a seat on maybe five times (I took the bus every day for work). I never needed or wanted a seat--as long as I had music or a book, I was fine with standing, but it's the principle of the thing! People have no manners.
Don't Do the Butt Swivel
It's a simple thing, really, but it irks me because it's discourteous. The butt swivel is what 99% of people do when they have the aisle seat and the passenger in the window seat has to disembark. Instead of getting up and moving into the aisle to allow the other passenger to get out easily, butt swivelers stay seated and crab-walk their legs while pivoting on their butts. Why so lazy?
Don't Crowd the Back Doors
It's rush hour. The bus is crammed with people. It's so packed that you're afraid you'll miss your stop unless you camp out right at the doors at the back of the bus. You know what? That's annoying. Many people have to get off the bus before you do, and you are taking up valuable space, making it hard for them to get off the bus in a timely manner. Same thing applies to subway doors.
Stop Blasting Your Music/Talking Loudly on the Phone
Why do people do this? Don't they realise that their hearing is a precious thing? Talking loudly and listening to loud music is detrimental to your hearing. Using a cell phone, instead of say Bluetooth, is detrimental to your brain. (Mmm, irradiated brains.) And no one wants to hear your gossip, your idle chit-chat, your arguments, or the trivial conversations you have when you're bored on a long commute and need to yap. Shut it.
BUT...Despite the inconvenience of walking to and from bus stops in the rain, or anytime in winter--which in southern Canada can feel like half the year--there is yet one thing that bothers me even more about commuting on public transit. And that is the other commuters who do not obey the tacit, but vital, rules of taking public transit.
Toronto subway.
Give Up Your Seat
I think it's fairly common sense that an able-bodied person should offer to give up their seat for the following passengers:
- people with physical disabilities
- pregnant women
- senior citizens
- people carrying large packages etc. *
- small kids who aren't in strollers
I should note that throughout my two pregnancies, I was offered me a seat on maybe five times (I took the bus every day for work). I never needed or wanted a seat--as long as I had music or a book, I was fine with standing, but it's the principle of the thing! People have no manners.
Don't Do the Butt Swivel
It's a simple thing, really, but it irks me because it's discourteous. The butt swivel is what 99% of people do when they have the aisle seat and the passenger in the window seat has to disembark. Instead of getting up and moving into the aisle to allow the other passenger to get out easily, butt swivelers stay seated and crab-walk their legs while pivoting on their butts. Why so lazy?
Don't Crowd the Back Doors
It's rush hour. The bus is crammed with people. It's so packed that you're afraid you'll miss your stop unless you camp out right at the doors at the back of the bus. You know what? That's annoying. Many people have to get off the bus before you do, and you are taking up valuable space, making it hard for them to get off the bus in a timely manner. Same thing applies to subway doors.
Stop Blasting Your Music/Talking Loudly on the Phone
Why do people do this? Don't they realise that their hearing is a precious thing? Talking loudly and listening to loud music is detrimental to your hearing. Using a cell phone, instead of say Bluetooth, is detrimental to your brain. (Mmm, irradiated brains.) And no one wants to hear your gossip, your idle chit-chat, your arguments, or the trivial conversations you have when you're bored on a long commute and need to yap. Shut it.
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