On Etiquette and Values

Recently, I’ve seen a decent amount of comments that state that the riding etiquette I post are more about my own personal values than general riding etiquette tips to the TriMet-riding public. In fact, I even received a comment from a reader accusing me of leading a “pretty cushy lifestyle” and that I should “get my mommy and daddy to buy me a car.” Other comments - particularly about pointing out the smoking rules for bus and MAX stops and shelters – typically get some comments directed at pointing out that it’s my personal preference I’m trying to push on the blog here, not general riding etiquette.

The truth of the matter is that it does partly come from my values and beliefs that everyone riding public transportation should do their best to make not only their ride but everyone else’s rides more enjoyable. I would hope that everyone has this mentality and it just doesn’t seem like everyone does.

But the majority of what I like to focus on when posting riding etiquette tips for TriMet are not exactly rules.. but tips on more of the “unwritten rules.” Sure, it may not state that you can’t put your feet on the seat… but I would think you wouldn’t want to do that so someone else can take that seat, right? I’m continually surprised that it usually just doesn’t really seem that way, hence why I decided to start up and write for this blog.

I’m a rules guy. When the weather gets nice, I like to commute to work via bike. What peeves me is when bikers don’t stop at stop signs; this just really grabs my goat. I actually wrote a quick comment about this on Yelp, where I got both some supporting comments and some that weren’t so supportive.

So if you believe that I write these riding etiquette tips based on my own personal values and beliefs… you’re halfway right. The other half, though, comes straight from the school of “no duh”, where I think a lot of people don’t really consider when riding.

Maybe this blog comes across as more of a venting outlet than anything else. Maybe that is part of it. But I write these riding etiquette tips because I hope that I can share these ideas with other TriMet riders who feel the same as I do… and hopefully, we all can make our TriMet riding experience more enjoyable.

Summer Riding Tips

It’s officially summer in Portland, with temperatures hitting the mid-80s today and expected to climb the next couple of days. Here are some tips for you to remember when riding TriMet during the summer:

• Air conditioning varies from bus to bus and MAX train to train (our WES correspondant Wes Breaksalot reports that the WES trains are quite cool and nice, especially when you’re the only one riding).
• Truth be told, when the temps rise, so does the stinkiness of riders’ body odors. Not really any tips here, except be prepared.
• Best seat on a hot bus? Hit the back and sit in one of those seats that face the aisle; you’ll most likely be the recipient of a couple of drafts from some open windows.
• Best spot on the MAX? Right in the middle of the lower-platform older trains right on top of the pivot point to the side. You’ll be out of the way and most likely won’t get sweated on.

Anyone have any summer riding tips they would like to share?

Riding Etiquette: Help Other Passengers

A couple of mornings ago, I was involved in an incident that included a gal who fell off her wheelchair while on the ramp exiting the bus. It was a rainy, windy morning and it appeared as if her wheelchair wheels got caught in a crack that was right in front of the front of the ramp. Of course, when it happened everyone on the bus kinda looked there… and to my amazement, then everyone sat back into their seats, wondering how long this was going to take.

This kind of response is absolutely ridiculous.

I popped right up, assessed the situation from inside the bus (“OK, the gal is on her side, it looks as if her leg is wedged beneath the ramp…”), saw that the driver and another person who was waiting for the bus were the only two people assisting, and immediately went outside to help. I helped her by holding an umbrella over her so she wouldn’t get wet while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

So ok, enough good for me… now it’s the other riders’ turn.

To think I was the only bus rider who popped up to help is ridiculous. Everyone else was concerned with maintaining their seat position! I even heard grumblings of, “When can we go?” and “”When is the next bus coming? Come on…” I get that this situation was making us a bit later than usual… but come on people!

So good riding etiquette? Help other passengers. Offer help if you see someone who might need it. Who knows – it may even make you feel a little good

Riding TriMet on St. Patrick’s Day 2010

If you plan on riding TriMet on St. Patrick’s Day, which I would strongly recommend if you plan on boozing it up out there, please note that TriMet services will be on usual schedules for a Wednesday. Remember to carry $2 – $2.30 of cash / change (depending on where you’re going) if you’re planning on using the bus for a two-hour period.

Some riding etiquette for those who are planning on making the most of their St. Patty’s Day:

• If you’re going to blow chunks, please choose an appropriate seat. Your best bet would be to go for a seat towards the front to make use of the driver’s small trash bucket or, if you’re on a bus route that has frequent stops, one near the exit door so you can poke your head out, toss your cookies, and get back to riding in a good manner
• Wearing green will not give you a discount on TriMet
• If you pinch a driver because he / she is not wearing green, you may find yourself chatting with some Transit Police folks
• Irish TriMet Bomb: due to budget cuts, you’ll need to cut the usual 3 / 4 pint of Guinness into 1 / 2 of a pint and only add 1 / 4 of a shot of Baileys and 1 / 4 of a shot of whiskey instead of the usual 1 / 2 shots

Safe travels out there! And if you’re still looking for something to, why don’t you check out PDX Pipeline’s Portland St. Patrick’s Day Party Picks.

Should there be hand sanitizer on MAX?

I haven’t personally bought into the hype that the swine flu* is going to be anything particularly nasty this flu season.  That being said, a lot of folks have… and I think that’s actually a good thing because it means individuals are most likely keeping up with covering coughs, washing hands, etc.

KGW recently ran a story about whether or not hand sanitizer helps stop the spread of the H1N1 virus.  I was originally thinking, “Well, it’s technically a virus and not a form of bacteria… so hand sanitizer probably wouldn’t be super effective.“  But KGW says it does help!

That got me thinking: the best way to help reduce your chance or perhaps getting the H1N1 virus is staying away from crowded, close-proximity places. Unfortunately, for us public transportation riders, it’s kind of hard to stay away from crowded MAX trains, buses, etc.

So here’s an idea: how about placing some hand sanitizer on MAX trains for folks to use?  I know that I personally dread touching, well, anything on the MAX when I ride. And I’m not saying the cleaning folks aren’t doing their job; I’m sure they do an awesome job. But the sheer amount of people that ride, that wipe noses and hold on to the rail, that sneez… ok, you get my point.

What do you all think?  If there was perhaps some hand sanitizer on the MAX, maybe by the door, would you perhaps take a couple of pumps and use it?  Do you think it would be a good idea to provide folks this?  Would you feel perhaps a little bit cleaner if this was provided?

*I’m personally not a fan of media outlets using the term “swine flu” instead of H1N1 virus; the USDA even asked folks to not refer to it as such
Image is from The Heartland Perspective blog