The ultimate guide to public transport etiquette — 17 rules commuters should follow
MANY of us dread the daily grind, but if passengers followed these simple rules, everyone’s commute could become a lot more bearable.
Melbourne
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THERE are tens of thousands of people who partake in the daily grind on Melbourne public transport every day.
While there are some obvious rules set in place by the transport providers, we thought it was in the best interest of all commuters to create a comprehensive guide to public transport etiquette.
It’s very easy to put in place and will help improve everyone’s trip, here’s how:
1. Let passengers exit first
We know it’s winter and you’ve been shivering in the cold waiting for your train to arrive, but piling in while others are trying to get off is just rude. Wait your turn. Being that eager for a seat is plain uncool.
2. Have your myki card ready when you’re touching on and touching off
At a lot of stations there are only a precious number of myki scanners, and valuable seconds wasted scrounging through your bag to find your myki card may mean the difference between the people behind you making or missing the train.
3. Seating etiquette
We could write a whole thesis on the rules for seating on public transport. Instead, we’ve decided to illustrate it in diagram form.
The key point to take from seating etiquette is to maximise personal space and legroom — combined with convenience of being able to get to an available seat. The first people to board the train usually face the direction that the train is going, as illustrated above.
As more people board the train, the key is to keep personal space high, while sacrificing legroom.
As the seats fill up, a common courtesy from commuters already on the train is to move down a seat, so new passengers can get to a seat quickly and safely before the train starts moving again. Simple, right? Wrong: there’s always someone who will take that seat right next to you when there are another five around you (insert eyeroll).
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4. Use headphones
No blaring the latest song by Pit Bull out of your phone’s speaker — you may like Pit Bull, but chances are — no-one else does, so don’t force your music taste (or lack thereof) on the rest of the carriage. Also, as a rule of thumb, only have your headphone volume on 75 per cent max volume. Save your ears and the person sitting next to you.
5. Having conversations
Whether it be talking with other passengers or on your phone, talk as if you’re in the entrance of the library — polite quiet talking is fine — but keep in mind that others are trying to read or snooze — so keep it to a considerate level and do not SHOUT.
6. Do NOT eat hot food on a packed train
We cannot stress this enough — just because it’s convenient, doesn’t mean it’s acceptable. You may think it doesn’t smell, but it does. And it annoys A LOT of your fellow commuters who are hungry and want to steal it from your hands. Or perhaps the smell of those dim sims are making the vegetarian next to you dry retch.
Do you have more train rules you think should be on the list? Tell us in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
7. General politeness
If another stranger asks you a question or tries to engage you in conversation, don’t pretend they don’t exist. Be courteous and at least say hello before you bury yourself in your digital world and switch off from other living people around you.
8. Respect other commuters’ privacy
On the flip side to point number 7, if you are the (often crazy) stranger who wants to engage others in conversation — remember not everyone feels the same way. And just because you forgot your phone, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to read the book over the shoulder of another commuter.
You get a max of two questions to try and engage them on conversation, and if they only respond with one-word answers, just leave them alone. You can make a new friend on the next train.
9. Cover your mouth if you have the sniffles
We have all been there, the person next to you sneezes and doesn’t cover their mouth. You give them eye daggers, but they don’t look at you. Then they sneeze again. Same deal. We don’t need your germs flying out into the small carriage’s atmosphere to infect everyone else - as much as sharing is caring, so please embrace a hanky if you’re got the sniffles. And apologise if you forget.
10. Don’t leave backpacks or oversized bags on your back/arms.
Put them between your legs to help maximise space. Heroes in a half shell are really cool in the sewer or on TV, but not on the train.
11. Give your seat up to those who really need it
There might be a pregnant lady, small child, a disabled or elderly person who may need a seat a little more than you do. Be considerate, be kind. Chivalry is not dead — especially if you’re an office worker and are going to sit down behind a desk for the next 8 hours — standing up might actually do your legs some good. If you are on your way home, think about the couch you’ll soon be on.
12. Respect your driver
The driver is doing their best to get to your destination on time. If your train/tram/bus is delayed — it’s probably not their fault. Think about some of the horrific stuff they have to deal with during their time behind the wheel, so thank them for doing what they do. You could make their day.
13. Don’t litter or vandalise
There are a lot of people who are going to use the train after you — so don’t leave it looking worse than when you used it. Would you want to sit on a smashed up pie with tomato sauce? Does leaving a can of soda on the floor to spill everywhere sound appealing to your soon-to-be-sticky shoes and bags? While we are at it, is there any real point to pointless vandalism? Was cutting up that seat, scratching that window or spraying your awesome tag on the seat REALLY worth it? If the train becomes too damaged, it can be put out of commission — so it could mean you’ll be late next time you travel. Then they have to fix that train, which means they might have to put fares up, so think before you ink.
14. Keep your bodily smells to yourself
If you happen to know you suffer from bad BO, don’t use one of the overhanging support handles, just hold onto a nearby seat handle or lean against a wall to try and avoid the stench releasing. Unfortunately, often the perpetrators of this societal scourge are blissfully unaware of their odour and it’s probably not the best place to kindly alert a stranger to this. The opposite is also true for perfume ‘skunkers’. If you are one of those people who enjoys spraying yourself with 14 squirts of Chanel No. 5, bring the bottle in your bag and musk yourself when you get off the train. As for flatulence, that one should be common sense.
15. Don’t take a free ride
You are stealing from everyone if you don’t cough up the cash for a journey. If we all pay our way on our trains, then there may be enough money in government coffers to actually improve our transport system. Who wins there? Commuters.
16. Don’t use the train as a soapbox
It can happen at any time - day or night. But racists who feel the need to share their views are not only deeply offensive, but risk ending up on YouTube, as well as being charged by the police.
17. Cyclists should try to avoid peak trains
Nothing against cyclists — we know most of you aren’t training for the Tour de France and we don’t expect you to ride from Frankston to the CBD every day, but bikes take up a lot of space. If you do have to take a peak-hour train, make sure you keep doorways clear, and don’t board at the first door of the first carriage, as this area is a priority for mobility impaired passengers.
Do you have more train rules you think should be on the list? Tell us in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
Follow @BrendoHeraldSun on Twitter.
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