So here goes...
The MBTA.
I hate it. I wish I didn't have to spend my money every semester to absolutely hate one out of every two public transportation experiences I have. I know practically speaking that I need to take the bus and train, and therefore I need to pay the money. But I think its complete and utter garbage that almost every time I get on a bus or train I want to gouge my eyes out.
I take that back...I like the train. I have a thing for the train. The train can stay....it's the buses.
First of all....Bostonian's and particularly Boston University students have absolutely zero bus etiquette. It is actually disturbing that a whole generation of people appears to have been brought up with no common sense at all, and that I'm part of that generation.
Common Sense Bus Etiquette:
1) If there is an empty seat, please...for the love of God....please someone sit in it. Men, just a word about this. If you have a woman who is standing near you, its still expected that you pretend like your mother taught you well and offer the seat up. If a woman isn't standing near you, sit down. You can always get up later. There is nothing more annoying than watching people pile up around this empty seat because no one wants to look selfish and take the seat. I'll tell you what. I take the seat every time, unless there is an older or more pregnant woman than me (aka...pregnant at all).
2) Don't stand at the front of the bus and look dumbfounded when the bus driver tells you to move back to allow room for others. Hello.....the bus is 40 feet long....I don't know if you've noticed, but it goes all the way back. And all 40 feet of this bus need to be occupied by the 50 shivering, miserable people who are trying to get on the bus and will be stranded at the bus stop if you don't pretend to have a heart and move back.
3) Shower before riding the bus. Or at least shower the day before riding the bus. If you haven't showered in a week and are not homeless, I should not be subjected to being in your presence on the bus. If you are homeless...I will make an exception, because I know showers are hard to come by.
4) Bus driver....stop when someone rings the bell. Seriously? How many times does the bus driver have to miss my stop and then tell me its my fault that he missed it. Yeah, because that makes sense. Sorry the bell was rung a full 2 blocks in advance....I would have thought that you had enough time to consider stopping.
5) Say thank you and hello to your poor bus driver. On the same note, bus drivers...acknowledge that you are actually picking up human beings at that bus stop. It is disheartening to only hear the bus driver speak when they are yelling at someone or swearing at the bad drivers speeding by.
6) Students...that backpack on your back is a lethal weapon and an absolute annoyance. Have some thought and spare us all from being knocked aside by your $100.00 chemistry book every time you move.
7) Do not drink so much alcohol that you then ride the bus and puke everywhere. Last time I checked, the smell of vomit actually makes everyone else around you want to vomit as well.
8) Men, leave the poor girls riding the bus alone. I can speak from experience that headphones are a must-have on the bus...even if you aren't listening to music. Although, how romantic would it be to tell your grand kids that you met grandpa on the bus.....uh?!??
9) Hey very noisy foreign language speakers that have rapid fire conversations with someone on the phone while on the bus....I guess this isn't an etiquette thing, but I really wish I knew what you were saying and I really wish that unrecognizable gibberish didn't make my head hurt after a long day.
10) I don't ever want to see your tongue going into the mouth of someone else on the bus. Get a room...matter of fact...get a car and drive yourselves.
