You won’t be exchanging pleasantries or networking, to be sure, but if the encounters we share with strangers as we shove and elbow them in the bus aisles don’t count as greetings, what does?
If you’re a frequent bus rider like myself, these vicious sounding encounters between Virginia Tech students shouldn’t surprise you. The buses are typically full. With a student body of more than 28,000, chances are they’ve got class times that coincide; there’s just no escaping the crowd or 15 minute wait at the bus stop.
So yes, Blacksburg Transit wouldn’t hurt any feelings if it utilized a few more buses, but there are ways to make the period between waiting for and getting off of the bus a lot easier.
To begin, Bus Etiquette 101 makes it clear that those who arrive at the bus stop first should get on the bus first. If someone has obviously been waiting longer than you have, letting him or her go ahead of you is common sense.
On the same note, if you’re first in line for the bus, be assertive. Uncompromisingly maintain your spot at the front, because once the bus shows up, there’s no denying that it’s a free-for-all.
Remember, it’s not necessary to run onto the bus, but do everyone else a favor and don’t take your time. Have your fare or ID ready before the bus arrives so the line moves faster. Drivers have checkpoints they have to get to, so don’t make it harder on them to get somewhere on time.
The line also moves faster if people who are already on the bus make room for newcomers. Take a few steps backward so that the bus can accommodate everyone. The back of the bus is not a scary place you’ve never been to. Also, take off the enormous backpacks and store them in a way that creates space, so the bus can be filled to capacity if necessary.
With that being said, if you place your bag on an empty chair while others are being forced to stand, I will personally knock it onto the floor and encourage others to knock you onto the floor as well. I speak from experience, as a girl last week decided that her oversized purse required the seat next to her.
Meanwhile, many others and I were standing in the middle of the aisles. I furiously stared at her as numerous bodies blocked what might have been a physical confrontation. I couldn’t believe someone could be so rude, or such an idiot. So for the record, don’t take up more than one seat on the bus.
Please don’t get me wrong; I understand that plenty of us enjoy our personal space bubbles and that sitting next to a stranger or two can cause discomfort. Imaginary bubbles aside, this is a necessary part of riding on the Blacksburg Transit buses. I once sat between two guys who happened to know one another and spent the entire six-minute bus ride yelling over the top of my head. Not only was it uncomfortable being squeezed into the middle seat, but I sat awkwardly in the middle of a conversation that I wasn’t part of. A student of Bus Etiquette 101, I repeatedly offered to let them sit next to each other but they refused. If any of you should board the bus and see a friend, don’t refuse the polite proposal from another to have the two of you sit together and talk.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 25 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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Thanking your driver is a very good thing, just hard to do itvquietlt when your leaving out the rear door. Also, I am at a time check and waiting for the bus longer than 5-10 minutes becomes worthless because walking to campus takes 20 minutes...and that is walking slowly.
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But, but, I'm special! That's what my mommy has always told me. That's why I always get to be first in line, why I always get to have my own seat, why I always get to walk in front of the bus and all the cars at the crosswalk (never mind that the big bus or pickup truck is _right there_ it HAS to stop for me!). I'm not talking too loud, you just shouldn't be listening to my conversation, besides what I have to say is really important. Loud music? My music is the bestest music anyone could want to listen to, who cares if it makes your ears bleed, that's just how good this group is, what do you mean you've never heard of them? You just don't know your heavy metal bands. I have to get off the bus first, that's why I'm standing up and pushing from my front seat, I have to get to class so I can sit up front where the professor can see me, so get out of my way, why did you put your foot there so I had to step on your toes! I could have tripped and then you would have been in trouble.
Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. Gotta love the "me first" generation.
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I call em the Time-out generation but thats just me haha
Your bad, think about what you've done
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Yeah buddy. And it's only going to get worse.
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Hey author, you ever ride a city bus or subway in say New York or Chicago or DC etc.?
I'm guessing not because the BT is like eating a babies candy compared to those. If you don't like loud crowded spaces where people are going to fight like sardines to get off first then walk or ride a bike.
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It seems that you just want us to act like robots. I’ve exchanged pleasantries along with conversing with strangers on the bus. You think riding the bus in Blacksburg is vicious environment? I can see you sitting on the bus with a blank robot stare probably with thoughts of what everyone is doing wrong. Think about how other people. Maybe they are having a really busy day such as multiple exams, maybe broke up with their gf/bf, conversing with a recognized random classmate or just feeling good about themselves and feel like listening to music and laughing.
Yes people do act rude, but haven’t we all at one time? No one is perfect and that doesn't give a license to shove, take up 2+ seats etc. But it up to us to adjust our actions accordingly such as asking that girl to move her purse and not just stare at her and pout about it later.
Yes having more buses won't hurt. However raising prices for more buses will. We can adjust by taking the earlier bus...or, juuuuuust maybe, walk to school.
Having personal bubbles is fine. But to expect it on a public bus is silly. One must adapt to the environment because everything in this world isn't perfect.
I do agree with many suggestions such as: having the card ready when boarding, moving to the back when a line of people are behind you, exit the back of the bus, thanking the bus driver.
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I enjoyed reading this article, now we need one on dining hall etiquette. Has anyone actually noticed how rude some people are to the servers and cashiers?!
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