Bus passenger pet peeves

[DaTransitMan4608]

Saw a thread like this in an OMSI forum, so the credit goes to them for the idea.

 

Anyway let's get this started. Tell your stories about what other bus passengers do/how they act that annoys you. It can be any form of transportation, B/O's are more than welcome to partake in this discussion.

 

My biggest pet peeve with other passengers who ride the bus are the ones who blame the T/A for the problems with their commutes. This is big problem here in NJ. Whenever there's traffic, which causes delays, people are quick to point their finger to NJ Transit. It's not their fault the Governor poorly funds Mass Transit. They're just doing their jobs.

 

Another pet peeve I have are those people who refuse to move their bags off the seat. It's rush hour and the bus is damn near full, tough s**t, put the bag over you in the luggage compartment! That's what it was made for!  

 

And my last pet peeve, for now, are the people who complain about the littlest crap (and yes I'm talking about all you 139 riders out there complaining about the Multilevel seats on the buses). "Oh my bus came 5 minutes late, Boo-hoo, how ever will I get to NYC?" Did you die? No. So stop complaining.

 

I'm done. For now.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Saw a thread like this in an OMSI forum, so the credit goes to them for the idea.

 

Anyway let's get this started. Tell your stories about what other bus passengers do/how they act that annoys you. It can be any form of transportation, B/O's are more than welcome to partake in this discussion.

 

My biggest pet peeve with other passengers who ride the bus are the ones who blame the T/A for the problems with their commutes. This is big problem here in NJ. Whenever there's traffic, which causes delays, people are quick to point their finger to NJ Transit. It's not their fault the Governor poorly funds Mass Transit. They're just doing their jobs.

 

Another pet peeve I have are those people who refuse to move their bags off the seat. It's rush hour and the bus is damn near full, tough s**t, put the bag over you in the luggage compartment! That's what it was made for!  

 

And my last pet peeve, for now, are the people who complain about the littlest crap (and yes I'm talking about all you 139 riders out there complaining about the Multilevel seats on the buses). "Oh my bus came 5 minutes late, Boo-hoo, how ever will I get to NYC?" Did you die? No. So stop complaining.

 

I'm done. For now.

You don't work for a living, so what do you know (or care for that matter) about a late bus?  Yes, it's rush hour and people need to be to work, so yes they're annoyed when their bus comes late, as am I.  When you arrive to work late, it throws everything off.  Some people have meetings first thing in the morning, so it's important that we're there for them and not stuck waiting for our bus.  Not only that, but you can be fired for being late, so for that reason, my pet peeves are getting B/O's that don't know how to drive.  If they're rookies or slow, put them at a time during off-peak where it doesn't matter as much what time they arrive, but during peak periods, I want a B/O who knows how to move.  The 139 is an express bus, which means people are paying a premium for the guy to drive, not schlepp along.  You come on time, and drive with some energy and most people are satisfied even if you're a little late.  What's key is some effort shown.  

 

Transit workers of all people should know about the importance of being on time to work, as the takes lateness of workers very seriously.

[DaTransitMan4608]

@VG8 Take it easy man. I'm not talking about the people who complain about being late. I'm mainly referring to the people who blame NJT for things like the Lincoln Tunnel being backed up. I understand they have to be at work and I can see where their complaints come from, but traffic at the Lincoln isn't something NJT has control over. 

 

And just so you know I do have a job. So I know how important punctuality is.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

@VG8 Take it easy man. I'm not talking about the people who complain about being late. I'm mainly referring to the people who blame NJT for things like the Lincoln Tunnel being backed up. I understand they have to be at work and I can see where their complaints come from, but traffic at the Lincoln isn't something NJT has control over. 

 

And just so you know I do have a job. So I know how important punctuality is.

Ultimately NJT is the one that makes the routes to go through the Lincoln Tunnel, so they are partially responsible for it.  I used to travel via New Jersey on the Staten Island express bus and the back ups at times were easily 45 minutes just to get through the tunnel.  Luckily I gave myself about an hour and 30 minutes to commute from Staten Island, but still.  There were times when that was not enough. I have two colleagues who commute from New Jersey and one does it daily so they have stopped using the express buses completely and just take the train is since they live in Upper Montclair.  The other still uses the express bus but only comes here a few times a week, so it isn't an issue for the most part.

[DaTransitMan4608]

I try not to blame NJT for everything because I know it's not 100% their fault. Other commuters don't see it that way and will blame NJT, when they really should blame the Governor. I mean he did axe ARC which made getting into NYC a PITA for most train riders, and some call him an enemy of mass transit because he always cuts the budget for Transportation (Luckily NJT got some federal funds so they don't have to worry about state funding being too low).

 

Anyway lets get this back on topic. My pet peeve with bus passengers is their need to blame the driver for every little thing that's wrong with the bus. He's only a driver, it's not like he can fix the bus on the spot.

[Cait Sith]

One of my pet peeves as a passenger....when an entire bus is empty and that person wants to stick themselves NEXT TO ME...LIKE DAMN, THE ENTIRE BUS IS EMPTY.....then they catch an attitude when I move, like f**k you!

[peacemak3r]

I hate people who don't take off their bookbags/backpacks when entering a bus (subway too) then get mad when you shove it aside like it's their personal space. Hate that crap to no level.

 

I also hate people that crowds around the front part of the bus like the back of the bus is some plague or something. Like jesus christ, no wonder some buses don't stop at stops because the driver thinks the bus is full when it's not.

[BreeddekalbL]

my peeve is the people like "put the f##king dumplings down" lady who think the driver should (unknowingly to the passenger) break the law or risk their jobs.

[Cait Sith]

my peeve is the people like "put the f##king dumplings down" lady who think the driver should (unknowingly to the passenger) break the law or risk their jobs.

That was one hell of a funny video lol.

[Joel Up Front]

[Via Garibaldi 8]

LMAO... That's a good one...

[ttcsubwayfan]

Ah crap... it's been so long since I stopped commuting by city bus (not by choice, mind you). Let's see...

 

Passengers who blast their music.

 

DRIVERS who blast their music (hello, Slovakia).

 

Drivers using their phones while driving.

 

When the A/C doesn't work.

 

People sitting next to you who smell like pee.

 

Orion VI.

 

I hate people who don't take off their bookbags/backpacks when entering a bus (subway too) then get mad when you shove it aside like it's their personal space. Hate that crap to no level.

 

I had this happen to me on a school bus back in the winter. Some chick came on and sat next to me, then sat sideways and kept hitting me with her bag. I was too timid to say anything to her, but it was inconsiderate as f**k.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I had this happen to me on a school bus back in the winter. Some chick came on and sat next to me, then sat sideways and kept hitting me with her bag. I was too timid to say anything to her, but it was inconsiderate as f**k.

lol... After a while I usually snap and say something smart.  I was on a BxM1 one morning... These little young brats are on the bus and I sit in front of them.  One of them starts putting her feet on the back of my chair.  First time I ignore it... Second time I turn around and give her a look... Third time I hit the roof... I snatched my ear buds out of my ears and before I knew it, a snarky remark came out and I asked her "Is something wrong with your feet that you keep kicking my chair?" ...Basically called her an idiot (indirectly) and put her on notice not to kick my chair again.  Then she goes "Oh I'm sorry" as if she didn't know what she was doing. 

[B35 via Church]

Heh... I care more about the "greasy creep" being anywhere near me....

The broad (if good looking or not) can sit next to whoever the hell else she wants to - as long as it aint me, IDGAF.....

 

 

I hate people who don't take off their bookbags/backpacks when entering a bus (subway too) then get mad when you shove it aside like it's their personal space. Hate that crap to no level.

I'm notorious for that.... Especially the hikers or the ones w/ the military style backpacks, I make sure I shove the bag hard enough to the point where they at least stumble (bus or train).... Most'll say sorry, you get some that give you a scowl/smirk, you get less that'll actually say something, but I'm quick w/ the quips because I hate people anyway, so I wait for somebody to say some shit to me in a situation like that....

[Joel Up Front]

But, in all seriousness:

-People who talk on a bus/outdoor subway line for 30-40 minutes loud enough to drown the sound of the wheels going through a curve/the engine on the bus, and then have another person to talk to for the next hour

-People with cheap earbuds blasting their Top 40 [music category] crap at max volume

-The damn baby mamas with nine kids who can't control herself, let alone even one of her kids

-People who think the front of a SRO bus is connected to some sort of intravenous life support and refuse to move back (this is worse on the buses here, the seating is transverse rather than longitudinal so there is barely room in the back)

-Not knowing the fare when it's all over the walls of almost every subway station and on the front of every bus, and then fumbling for change while bargaining with the driver when your card is empty

 

This is all amplified when at best you have two buses an hour for ANY service and the routes that are supposed to run frequent end up late whenever you actually need them.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

But, in all seriousness:

 

-People who talk on a bus/outdoor subway line for 30-40 minutes loud enough to drown the sound of the wheels going through a curve/the engine on the bus, and then have another person to talk to for the next hour

-People with cheap earbuds blasting their Top 40 [music category] crap at max volume

-The damn baby mamas with nine kids who can't control herself, let alone even one of her kids

-People who think the front of a SRO bus is connected to some sort of intravenous life support and refuse to move back (this is worse on the buses here, the seating is transverse rather than longitudinal so there is barely room in the back)

-Not knowing the fare when it's all over the walls of almost every subway station and on the front of every bus, and then fumbling for change while bargaining with the driver when your card is empty

 

This is all amplified when at best you have two buses an hour for ANY service and the routes that are supposed to run frequent end up late whenever you actually need them.

Your need a car ASAP...   

[Lance]

1) People who feel the need to yell at their friends/relatives/whatever on the bus when they're sitting literally right next to said other person. Unless they're deaf, what's with the yelling.

2) People who have to share their music with the entire bus. I don't know which one is worst, when I can hear the music almost clearly through someone else's headphones or if they're blasting it through the phone's speaker.

3) People who refuse to hold a phone conversation at a respectable level. I shouldn't be able to hear your half of the conversation when I'm in the front and you're way in the back of the bus.

4) People who refuse to move back on a crowded bus. Don't crowd the front when there's plenty of space (and sometimes even empty seats). And don't catch an attitude when I try to pass by you either.

 

That's all I can think of at the moment. I'll probably come back with more as warranted.

[Blitz]

I hate when elderly people get on the bus with their walkers and walk right past their designated seats.

I also hate when people get on a bus with a folded shopping cart, than unfold it when they sit down. And then when you have to squeeze past them to get off of the bus, they catch an attitude when you have to push the cart over a bit...

[B35 via Church]

I hate when elderly people get on the bus with their walkers and walk right past their designated seats.

This is their way of convincing themselves that they're not that old.... Another way of doing this is not accepting a seat when someone gets up to offer them one.... That is something I'm starting to notice quite a bit these days while riding the buses & trains.....

 

What bothers me more is that, if you're standing by the back door, you're expected to open the back door for them - on the basis that they're old & you're not a gentleman if you don't..... When they shouldn't be standing amongst the masses anyway.....

 

"Oh come on, you couldn't push the door open for that old lady"

 

 

 

I also hate when people get on a bus with a folded shopping cart, than unfold it when they sit down. And then when you have to squeeze past them to get off of the bus, they catch an attitude when you have to push the cart over a bit...

Not to say that it doesn't happen anywhere else, but I notice that when I'm riding/fanning in the bronx & in Harlem, moreso than anywhere else....

 

Matter fact, when I last rode the Bx55 (which was the last day of the Bx55), these 2 fat women (one black, one hispanic) did that very thing.... Separate instances within the ride (in other words, they didn't come on together)... The black woman sat in the seat right behind the driver, which made things worse (she got into a few exchanges with boarding passengers)... The hispanic woman sat right in front of me towards the middle of the bus (artic).......

[FamousNYLover]

1. On crowded buses, especially on NICE Bus, people refused to give up their seat for disabled/elderly or pregnant people or mother with folded stroller.

2. Passengers and tourists trying to board the buses with open stroller with baby. (Every bus company requires all strollers must be folded).

3. Cutting off the lines- Happens lots at Flushing-Main St, Great Neck Station, Jamaica Center, Jamaica Bus Terminal, Freeport Station, Hempstead Station and Hicksville Station.

4. When people try to exit city/tour bus, passenger/tourists boards in.

5. People paying their bus fare while talking on cell phone.

6. People entering buses with their headphone on and paid for bus and sometimes they can't hear MetroCard beep to see if they went through or not.

7. People hugging seats (except for overweight folks) like putting their bags or shopping bags on crowded buses.

8. People who takes MTA, NICE, Bee-Line Buses who don't have exact change except for dollar bills.

9. People complains when overcrowded buses don't stop at bus stop as when bus goes NEXT BUS PLEASE with drop-off only.

10. People who complaints when buses bunches and they missed their specific bus because of other bus blocking the view.

11. Taxi drivers refusing to wait until passengers get off/on the bus when bus cannot get to curbside. (Happens especially at LGA Airport-Central Terminal and tour bus stop at 5th Av/83rd St.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I hate when elderly people get on the bus with their walkers and walk right past their designated seats.

I also hate when people get on a bus with a folded shopping cart, than unfold it when they sit down. And then when you have to squeeze past them to get off of the bus, they catch an attitude when you have to push the cart over a bit...

 

 

This is their way of convincing themselves that they're not that old.... Another way of doing this is not accepting a seat when someone gets up to offer them one.... That is something I'm starting to notice quite a bit these days while riding the buses & trains.....

 

What bothers me more is that, if you're standing by the back door, you're expected to open the back door for them - on the basis that they're old & you're not a gentleman if you don't..... When they shouldn't be standing amongst the masses anyway.....

 

"Oh come on, you couldn't push the door open for that old lady"

 

 

 

Not to say that it doesn't happen anywhere else, but I notice that when I'm riding/fanning in the bronx & in Harlem, moreso than anywhere else....

 

Matter fact, when I last rode the Bx55 (which was the last day of the Bx55), these 2 fat women (one black, one hispanic) did that very thing.... Separate instances within the ride (in other words, they didn't come on together)... The black woman sat in the seat right behind the driver, which made things worse (she got into a few exchanges with boarding passengers)... The hispanic woman sat right in front of me towards the middle of the bus (artic).......

lol... I also hate when people sit on the express bus in an aisle seat and then make all sorts of faces when people get on as if they don't want to be touched.  I give them the look and sometimes even make expressions to show them how stupid and ridiculous they look.  Sometimes I purposely bump into them just to piss them off even more because they could easily sit in the other seat.  There's a middle aged lady on the BxM18 at night that is just ridiculous with it.  She literally snarles at people as they board as if to say how dare them invade her space and walk in the aisle... I gave her a look and rolled my eyes at her and made an expression as if to say you look an idiot. Old hag... I prefer the aisle seat, but that's also why I sit in the back this way people can get through, as people tend to prefer to sit in the front.

 

With regards to the walkers, etc. what's the deal with the disabled folks with them? Do they have to dip their half-fare passes? I was on the B4 yesterday and a few folks with walkers got on and made such a big deal about paying that it was ridiculous.

[FamousNYLover]

Little might be off-topic, some of walkers don't want to use wheelchair ramps/lift and often they raised their walker on the bus.

I remember one time when I was on n6 Hempstead local with Orion V CNG, walker didn't asked bus driver for wheelchair lift. I was sitting by the front seat, so I helped carry walker up flight of steps and help get down at their bus stop.

Some of Chinese bus riders with wheelchair are smart. When I was on M15 SBS, one of chinese passenger (not wheelchair's personal attendant), she secured Chinese stranger's wheelchair passenger, which made B/O happy.

[B35 via Church]

lol... I also hate when people sit on the express bus in an aisle seat and then make all sorts of faces when people get on as if they don't want to be touched.  I give them the look and sometimes even make expressions to show them how stupid and ridiculous they look.  Sometimes I purposely bump into them just to piss them off even more because they could easily sit in the other seat.  There's a middle aged lady on the BxM18 at night that is just ridiculous with it.  She literally snarles at people as they board as if to say how dare them invade her space and walk in the aisle... I gave her a look and rolled my eyes at her and made an expression as if to say you look an idiot. Old hag... I prefer the aisle seat, but that's also why I sit in the back this way people can get through, as people tend to prefer to sit in the front.

 

With regards to the walkers, etc. what's the deal with the disabled folks with them? Do they have to dip their half-fare passes? I was on the B4 yesterday and a few folks with walkers got on and made such a big deal about paying that it was ridiculous.

Worse than that, How about the ones that subtly stick their knees or elbows out as you're walking along the aisle.... It's never enough to come in contact w/ you, but it's just enough to send the message that *I don't want anyone sitting near me*; like they're pissing on territory & shit...... This is usually done anywhere from the middle section of an empt(ier) bus to the last row of paired seating (on an empty bus, or one where it's about to become SRO) before you get to the very back of the bus (the 5 seats).....

 

Those that board buses w/ walkers or wheelchairs (especially), it seems that fare enforcement is VERY loose with them.... So much so that I used to believe that they actually got to ride freely, legitimately.... Yeah, some riders of the sort do make a stink about paying, because apparently it's that commonplace that they haven't been paying to ride for quite some time.....

 

 

Little might be off-topic, some of walkers don't want to use wheelchair ramps/lift and often they raised their walker on the bus.

 

I remember one time when I was on n6 Hempstead local with Orion V CNG, walker didn't asked bus driver for wheelchair lift. I was sitting by the front seat, so I helped carry walker up flight of steps and help get down at their bus stop.

Some of Chinese bus riders with wheelchair are smart. When I was on M15 SBS, one of chinese passenger (not wheelchair's personal attendant), she secured Chinese stranger's wheelchair passenger, which made B/O happy.

Same deal.... They don't wan't to come to grips to the fact they're OLD..... The elderly folks walking around with canes also fit this category....

[B35 via Church]

1. On crowded buses, especially on NICE Bus, people refused to give up their seat for disabled/elderly or pregnant people or mother with folded stroller.

2. Passengers and tourists trying to board the buses with open stroller with baby. (Every bus company requires all strollers must be folded).

3. Cutting off the lines- Happens lots at Flushing-Main St, Great Neck Station, Jamaica Center, Jamaica Bus Terminal, Freeport Station, Hempstead Station and Hicksville Station.

4. When people try to exit city/tour bus, passenger/tourists boards in.

5. People paying their bus fare while talking on cell phone.

6. People entering buses with their headphone on and paid for bus and sometimes they can't hear MetroCard beep to see if they went through or not.

7. People hugging seats (except for overweight folks) like putting their bags or shopping bags on crowded buses.

8. People who takes MTA, NICE, Bee-Line Buses who don't have exact change except for dollar bills.

9. People complains when overcrowded buses don't stop at bus stop as when bus goes NEXT BUS PLEASE with drop-off only.

10. People who complaints when buses bunches and they missed their specific bus because of other bus blocking the view.

11. Taxi drivers refusing to wait until passengers get off/on the bus when bus cannot get to curbside. (Happens especially at LGA Airport-Central Terminal and tour bus stop at 5th Av/83rd St.

f*** it, I'm bored.....

 

1- To me, this is two-fold, and IMO, NYC commuters are starting to get the message... If they offer a seat, and folks aren't taking said seats, then why bother to offer them to begin with.....

2- To be honest, I don't see near as much of this as I used to....

3- Lol @ this.... Board a bus in Brooklyn & this won't be a problem - Because line placement isn't respected....

Shit, I'll go one further & say many major stops on Brooklyn routes don't even have people lining up to begin with!

4- You mean simultaneously? I really only see that in Manhattan... Hasn't really happened to me for me to be peeved by it....

5- At least they aren't on their phone & walking obliviously past the farebox...

6 - Why should that even matter to you? If someone dips their metrocard in twice for that reason, that's their loss..... I would smh while making a quick chuckling sound...

7- Hogging...

Anyway, I find that far more often than not, local bus pax. will move their shit when asked.... It is express bus pax. that act like cunts when you ask them to move their shit....

8- If by this, you mean someone purposely coming on a bus with a dollar bill(s) asking for change, that tends to annoy me also (dependent on what mood I'm in)....

9- I wouldn't consider that a peeve, that is simply something I don't get why riders even do.... I'd rather have an overcrowded bus not attempt to pick up pax (saying this another way, I'm not attempting to board an overcrowded bus)...

10- In other words, you want people to miss the obstructed bus - That's essentially what you're saying here.

11- Haven't noticed this, so I can't speak on it.....

[FamousNYLover]

No. For 10, I don't want them to miss buses but some folks don't pay attention when buses comes in bunches.

Recently at Central Terminal, M60 SBS and Q48 came at same time. There was Chinese elderly man with suitcase who wanted Q48 bus when bus was picking up. Elderly man couldn't move fast enough and Q48 driver left, even thought I signal B/O to wait.