TriMetiquette reader Kevin used the contact form to get ahold of me to let me know of something that bothers him:
“I wish people wouldn’t put their feet up on the seats on the Max and buses. It’s posted not to put your feet on the seats but people ignore the signs. Sort of like how people don’t pay any attention to the “no smoking” signs. The seats frequently get very dirty because people keep putting their feet up. It’s so rude.”
Here here! Like we discussed earlier, putting your feet up on the seat not only is just plain rude… but it dirties up the seat. Does it look like I want to sit in the dirt & mud from your shoes?
14 comments ↓
As a senior citizen who depends totally on the MAX and bus system to get around I appreciate that someone else is speaking up. I travel in Europe twice a year, and nowhere have iseen such poor manners as we have here in Portland on public transport. Often I get on the MAX to fin people not only with feet up on one seat but their backpack or luuggage on another seat. Not infrequently their will be people standing. HOW RUDE!
This behavior should be monitored along with safety and noise issues. And while I’m on my soap box,
what makes people think the should drop there newspapers, trash, and half full “big gulp” cups on the floor. All of the above behavior should be subject to fines. If fines were enforced, the behavior woul stop!
Yeah, agreed - I hate seeing trash just all over the place on the MAX. I mean, come on now!
Hey Michael.
Are you willing to pay much more in fees to get those services?
How much does it occur that it bothers you?
I ride the bus 2x a day and I see the same trash and rudeness, but I just shrug it off. You live in a rude society in general, don’t let it get to your head that anything significant can be done from the enforcement angle.
Indy,
There is no need for riders to pay more for those services. Tri-Met simply chooses not to enforce the rules concerning the problems Michael mentioned. Customer concerns are not a top priority with Tri-Met.
I would argue they simply don’t have the resources to address those concerns, and that those concerns aren’t that big of a deal. Go ahead and raise the rates $.25 to hire 50 sanitation/feet specialists that roam the max trains 18 hours a day glaring at people, let’s see how the public likes it…
Indy,
Perhaps you don’t mind sitting in dirt or mud but I sure do. The fines for disruptive behavior can go up to $250. Increased enforcement can more than make up for any additional personnel costs.
It very much gets back to the fact that each of us has to be resonsible for picking up after ourselves and being considerate of other people. For rhe most part, these responsible behaviors have gone to hell in a handbasket! At some point each day all buses and MAX trains are cleaned by staff. Their job would be less time consuming if everyone picked up after them selves and did not put their dirty feet on seats. It’s a small part of caring for our environment that everyone can be a part of.
Kevin: I just wipe it off. It just isn’t a large issue for me, or one that needs enforcement. Smokers: yes. There’s nothing I can do when a smoker smokes at my stop, the directly impact my health, and don’t care.
Indy,
Just wiping doesn’t do it. The issue does need enforcement because riders need to be respectful of other riders. It wouldn’t be an issue if people were respectful and didn’t put their dirty feet on the seat. As far as smoking goes you can remind that person that smoking is not allowed at Tri-Met bus stops.
Change society, then, don’t impose it from authority. We’re adults. This hopefully isn’t 1984, where our every action needs enforcement.
People litter, I don’t like it, but I sure am glad we don’t have cameras watching our every inch of life to make sure we don’t litter.
…but contrary to your statement Indy, there are hundreds of cameras downtown. We do, in a way, live in 1984.
This doesn’t seem to be a problem for the most part on Seattle Buses. Sure we have some trash every so often on the bus, but for the most part people are respectful, keep themselves and their stuff to one seat if there are people standing, and offer the front seats to the older riders. Maybe this is just a Portland thing?
Indy,
You’re forgetting that these are Tri-Met rules that we are talking about. There are signs everywhere on Max and bus lines that state not to smoke or put your feet on the seats. Not to mention the signs beside the steps that say not to sit there. Riding on Tri-Met would be a better experience for everyone if they simply followed the rules.
This is a problem in Seattle. Besides the trash and inconsiderate people taking up multiple seats the graffiti and destruction of the busses is astounding.
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