Monday, March 5, 2012

Transit Pet Peeves

I have been taking transit for the past 1.5 years.

And passengers continue to do the same, stupid things.

Some of the generic pet peeves I see on the 53 Steeles East, Yonge-University-Spadina Subway, and Carlton streetcar:

53 Steeles East (though I'm sure the Finch East bus is just as terrible)
  • People that collect in the area between the front doors and rear doors, blocking the path and creating an even longer pinch point.
  • People that don't move back.
  • People that keep their bags or backpacks on, especially when the ground is dry, losing space.
  • People that don't have their fare ready.
  • People exiting by the front door during rush hour, at random stops.
  • People that create bag seats during rush hour peak, when the vehicle is crush loaded. The 'this is not a seat' thing on the Orion Vs is ok for bags, but not for people.
  • People that collect around the rear doors, obstructing those trying to exit.
  • People that stand in the middle, hear the 'please move back' announcement, look back to see that there is still space, and don't move back. Especially some guy that gets on at Putnam Gate.
  • These particular people that think you're supposed to ring the bell when the bus is at the desired stop.
  • Not necessarily related to the bus, but people that jaywalk in front of the Milliken GO tracks...when there's no train.
  • Hybrid buses operate on Steeles sometimes.  People don't stand  at the back during rush.  No reason why.
  • The people on this bus don't know how to speak English. 
  • People that talk loudly on their phones. Double bad when they speak loudly in Mandarin.
  • People that hold bars that are closer to you than them/intruding your space.
  • People that stick their feet in the aisle.
  • People sitting at the seats in front of the rear doors, or the most rear seats that block the window seat. And don't move.
  • People that put their stroller in the pinch point of the Orion Vs - right after the wheelchair seats.  People don't seem to be willing to turn the wheelchair seats up to put the stroller there.
  • People that want to get off, but reach the door late because they're busy yapping, only to see that the door doesn't open and the driver's area is going buzz buzz.
  • Loud headphones. 
  • Nextbus doesn't show 53E/Fs at Finch station on their app. 
  • Oh god.  People that bud in the line at Finch station, and people that force create their own line to get on the bus.  Each Orion V bus only has three seats of doors.  One time I saw six lines.
  • People that don't know the rear doors are not treadle operated.  Push the bar.
  • The most annoying, that TTC is at least trying to deal with - people that think the express bus stops at Yonge and Steeles. It doesn't. And they still try to get off there. 
Best thing I like about the Steeles bus is the 53E 30 run (~7:15-7:20 at Kennedy Road) in the morning. Almost always with a low load of people and close enough to the 53E in front such that it will be low load all the way to Finch.
Yonge Subway
  • People on this line are smarter, and actually make space for people.
  • People that congregate at a door that the platform is on.
  • Loud headphones.  
  • Feet on seats.
  • People that rush the door and jam it. Especially on Rocket trains.
  • People with a newspaper that want to sit at a certain seat, find a newspaper on that seat, and throw it under the seat.  The subway train is not a recycling bin.
  • People that don't take off their backpacks.
  • Public affection.  Hugging/sleeping on shoulders - ok. Full on making out - get a room.
  • Not a people problem, but lack of grab bars at the ends of each Rocket car.
  • It's nice to see that people usually give up their seats for pregnant women or seniors.  Good to know some courtesy exists.
506 Carlton
  • People not moving to the back of the streetcar.  Tonnes of space there.
  • People that don't know that the rear doors are treadle, despite saying 'step down'.
  • Car drivers that don't stop when streetcar doors unlock. Ugh. 
Some good outlines: http://www.yrt.ca/en/programs/courtesy.asp

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