Mass Transit Etiquette #2

When the bus approaches your stop, don’t wait until the bus has stopped moving and the driver has opened the door to get up out of your seat and start pushing your way through the crowd toward the door, shouting “coming out!” the whole way.

Your fellow passengers want to get where they’re going, and you’re inconsiderately forcing them all to wait for you.

Get out of your seat before the bus arrives at your stop. Get to the door before the bus arrives at your stop. Be at the yellow line waiting for the door to open so you can hop off of the bus and your fellow passengers can be on their merry way.

Mass Transit Etiquette: A Prolog and Rule #1

I’ve lived in cities with great mass transit systems (Boston). I now live in a city that has a not-so-great mass transit system (Seattle). And it occurs to me that one of the big areas of differentiation is how riders act when they’re waiting for or riding mass transit. Could it be that the only obstacle to Seattle having a “great” system is widespread adherence to a few simple, common-sense rules? Probably not, but it sure would take us a long way toward being less awful.

So, without further ado, here is Rule of Mass Transit Etiquette #1: When preparing to board a crowded bus, first wait for everyone who wants to exit to actually exit. Boarding prematurely only serves to make the exit that much more crowded and prolong the stop.