Metro > Community Transit
The following is my rant about the Community Transit riders (Sorry, David.)
I walk to campus everyday except for the two days I open the lab at 7:30am. Those days (like today) I’ll stroll up the block and take whatever bus happens to run by at 7:20am. Since I started this routine, it became apparent that my usual Metro routes did not come by that often in the morning and I was initially delighted at the chance to ride a Community Transit bus. The Community Transit buses are typically filled with commuters from the suburbs and are just a lot nicer inside (think charter bus). But there is just one thing that bothers me about it: the difference in socially accepted bus etiquette.
Walking on the bus this morning, I walked by row after row to see each one occupied by one person who had a purse or bag holding the seat next to them. Now this is all fine and good if you have a lot of stuff, a large duffle bag, say some kids or something. But each row I passed had no more than one person and a little purse or backpack put onto the seat to prevent someone from sitting down next to them. The bus was only half full and as I walked by each row, each person met my gaze, looked down at their seat beside them, and put their hand over it indicating I was not to sit there. Luckily there was one remaining vacant row in the very back of the bus. But WTH mate? I could barely wrap my head around the situation. Do they need to be reminded that while they may be on the more illustrious Community Transit buses, that are still on a bus?
