Which transit idiosyncrasies make an idiot
By Mercedes Deutscher, Staff Writer
Some do it out of struggle. Some do it for economic reasons. Some do it out of consideration for the environment. If you live in Vancouver, you’ve most likely had to take public transit at some point.
Public transit is like a glass of wine; it’s a delicate balance, easy to break, and gets troublesome when there is too much. Understanding that balance makes for smooth riding. Too bad That Guy doesn’t understand where the line is drawn between order and chaos.
That Guy believes that he is the Lord of Transit. He sits in the courtesy seating, his legs spread apart onto two separate continents. He listens to his music as loudly as he can; after all, the Lord of Transit cannot be without entertainment. His royal backpack will also be seated.
When That Guy, the Transit Lord, decides to mingle with the commoners because there are no seats available, he will keep his backpack on. He stands as near the exit as possible, not moving back if more people gets on the bus.
That Guy is a tyrannical Lord, but as a transit passenger, you don’t have to follow his lead.
Unless you are a mother with a stroller, someone with a physical disability, or a senior, you don’t have the priority to sit near the front of the bus or close to the doors on the SkyTrain. If no one needs those seats, feel free to use them. If someone does, give your seat to them.
If the bus is starting to get crowded, be sure to stand near the rear. This allows the bus to hold more people during peak hours.
Listen to your music at a reasonable volume. As great as Katy Perry is, chances are the person across from you isn’t interested. Besides, if you’re playing music that loudly, you either a) are going to need to get new headphones because the ones you have suck, or b) are going to be hearing impaired by the age of 40.
There isn’t too much involved in being a courteous transit passenger. You may even set a good example so that there are fewer That Guys in the world.
