I am not about to proudly march into the anonymous section of a local paper to complain about people playing music on the bus. Sometimes, that’s annoying, but occasionally, you get a cool grandpa pushing his walker playing smooth jazz, and that’s okay. But also, this is an anonymous section, and I am anonymous, so who cares about my musical opinions?
I will gripe, however, about those of us riding crowded buses on the daily (especially you, my dear SLU workers). I am just asking you to be mindful. Mindful of your backpack, that you are still wearing while standing, smacking everyone around you when you move. Mindful of those who need your seat more, where you are avoiding looking at grandma and her cane so you can watch a video on your laptop (in the priority seat, no less!). Mindful of moving to the empty room in the back of the bus, so the six people forced into an unwilling mosh pit in the doorway can finally assert boundaries again.
We should consider ourselves lucky to not be driving. We can read, we can chat, we can scroll, and that’s so much nicer than staring down the luxury SUV that has cut us off only to get stuck at the same light (again). But if you are not mindful of the fact that this is not a private vehicle but a shared space, it makes it suck WAY more for everyone else on the bus. This is Seattle, and no one will call you out on it, but I promise you, everyone is thinking mean things about you if you’re the one guy not getting with the program.
Sincerely,
The Bus Rider Stuck In the Doorway Moshpit
P.S. Remember to say thank you to your bus driver, they deal with so much shit.
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When a backpack hits me, I push it aside. And I always thank the driver.
Americans simply don’t transit well when compared to our European or Asian counterparts (too many Americans simply believe they are the main character versus a member of a society).
Aside, if some shithead is not giving up priority seating, call them out / publicly shame them (passive aggressive seething does not make for a better society).
Fair reminder. Give up the seat to the elderly, pregnant, people with young children, and people with injuries/disabilities. Keep your music in your ears, no matter how cool you think your musical taste is, and for God’s sake, don’t sing. No one is happy to hear you sing; they think you’re mental or obnoxious & mental. Oh, and definitely be nice to the bus driver.
I’d be happy to deal with all of these normal bus riding faux pas if half the people on the bus would shower regularly and the other half would pay and not be cracked out and covered in their own urine.
Also, if you are next to a homeless man (or woman) who has soiled themselves please offer a wet wipe. Please open a window to let your fentanol smoke out and don’t shame the gentleman having a psychotic episode next to you, he’s just part of the flavor of public trans!
What’s not to love about public transit?
It turns a 45 minute commute to the burbs into a 2 hour ordeal.
We all spend to much time with our families anyway.
Also, I don’t know if a bunch of people just have balancing issues or what, but…
I keep noticing people who don’t start getting up from their seat until AFTER the train has arrived at the station and opened the door. Then they’re fighting through the wave of people entering.
If possible, prefer for your exit as the train is approaching the station. You don’t have to be right at the door. But don’t sit there fiddling with your phone until after the doors open, when the person sitting next to you has to then get up and let you out of the seat and then people watch you go against the tide.
Came for the people signalling they don’t ride transit with their poverty and addiction fanfics. Never disappointed lol.