No groping, no poking others with infected needles for fun, those with drug-resistant TB should cover your mouth when you cough, and no pick-pocketing.

Has anyone filed a complaint, inasmuch as animals being taken for slaughter are allowed more space than the "sheeple" forced onto certain overcrowded METREAUX vehicles?

It would help a lot if the layout of the  train cars were designed with all passengers in mind. With the two levels and narrow aisles persons in wheelchairs, strollers, and the elderly are pretty much confined to the  entrance/exit area. Whoever designed the current cars apparently didn't plan on passengers getting on or off frequently.

Another suggestion is to carry some hand sanitizer with you. I was riding a train a couple of weeks ago and a man put his hand down his rear end and then proceeded to go all through the car and wipe his excrement on all the handrails. Since then I started carrying a small bottle.

Since I'm not in the mood but can comment on this topic anyway, here's what I have to say=>

Roykeaux said:  "No groping, no poking others with infected needles for fun, those with drug-resistant TB should cover your mouth when you cough, and no pick-pocketing.

Has anyone filed a complaint, inasmuch as animals being taken for slaughter are allowed more space than the "sheeple" forced onto certain overcrowded METREAUX vehicles?"

Oh---you're funny.  No---you really are.  How about---being SERIOUS for a change!  I'll leave the 1st part of what you said alone but the 2nd one makes absolutely, positively NO _____ sense---whatsoever!

don said:  "With the two levels and narrow aisles persons in wheelchairs, strollers, and the elderly are pretty much confined to the  entrance/exit area."

As far as the strollers are concerned, that's where they may have no other choice but to be---in a sense for only those making a short trip---maybe less than two or three stops from where they boarded at.

On the flipside, those riding longer (bus or train) should FOLD up the dang strollers.  Same goes for when they ride the bus.  I feel sorry for those folks (especially the elderly) who have to literally go around in such a tight space because of this.  Something should be done about that---NOW!

There IS a spot for wheelchair-bound people to go; just tell those sitting in that spot to nicely move.  If this happens too many times where the person (or persons) don't move, complain and hopefully somebody'll listen.

"Don't swing a huge handbag or backpack around - it could hit someone."

Well---that "someone" needs to move out of the way because people do have heavy bags (which they CAN have) and they may all of a sudden loose their balance---especially if and when train MOVES!

don said:  "Another suggestion is to carry some hand sanitizer with you."

Check and check---no=>seriously, I have one right now---as I'm typing here.  Whoever this man was, he's just a fool who obviously doesn't care about others.

Train AND bus suggestion:  If---and only IF---there's an open seat, SIT IN IT AND DON'T BE A SAFETY HAZARD BY STANDING IN FRONT OF THE DOORWAY!

That's my rant for this morning.  I'll be back later for suggestions (serious ones) that hasn't been mentioned yet!

For commuter busses, I wish people would be more mindful of putting their seats all the way back.  I hate feeling as if I'm now supposed to shampoo the hair of the person in front of me who has reclined his seat all the way into my lap.  

People who sit on the outside seat and pretend to be asleep in attempt to not have to share the row also irk me.

Standard loud talking and phone conversations also apply.  Who can you possibly be talking with at length and full volume at 7am?  Why do I need to know your full medical history?  Am I supposed to care that your uncle is in jail?  How about you save that for when you're not in a huge, echoing tube filled with people who really don't want to hear it?

And for the love of all things holy, is it so hard to say "hello" and "thank you" to the drivers?!  I get so irritated with people who act like they're doing the DRIVER a favour by riding the bus.  Have some common decency, people!

Ms. Pants said:  "Standard loud talking and phone conversations also apply.  Who can you possibly be talking with at length and full volume at 7am?  Why do I need to know your full medical history?  Am I supposed to care that your uncle is in jail?  How about you save that for when you're not in a huge, echoing tube filled with people who really don't want to hear it?"

THANK YOU!!!  I 2nd this comment!  Like I said before, anybody can ride and if the wrong person hears you personal info, you're a sitting duck!

On buses, when people recline seats all the way, the ones who annoy me the most are those who neglect to put them back in the upright position when they get off.

On the train, I have to stand close to the door, or else there is no way on earth I can exit at the Wheeler station without getting knocked down, hit, pushed shoved, you name it.  The trains are too packed and so is the rail platform, so it's every man (or woman) for himself (or herself).  Honestly, I was once hit by a guy who had his arm in a cast and was using the cast as a battering ram to get on the train!  That being said, I do move out of the way or even step off the train in order to let others on or off.

Don, I love your doo-doo story.  Maybe that guy was trying to make a statement!

Ms. Pants, for rude people who recline their seats into your lap, there is one trick that sometimes works.  Get out your cell phone and talk LOUD.  Really LOUD.  Right by their head.  Nine times out of ten those people will move.  If they don't within the first half minute or so, I give up out of consideration for others.

Except for Don's waste carbon story, I would rather put up with METRO's passengers than with some of drivers who make one react with the same waste carbon...

...even those on the 56!

One thing which is not taught at home or in schools is manors!  Maybe the HISD board should walk out of the building and ride the 40--either to Downtown EB or catch a bus at the NWTC.  That is, if they know how to read a map, timetable and knowledge of Q.

And have your Q out to tap.  My parents box turtles can get the Q out faster than some....

Good lawdy, the cash people.  What is so hard about just putting the money in and going?

Also irksome:  those who don't wait for the people in the rows in front of them to exit first.  Is it *really* that important that you rush to the front, cut people off, and get out 3 people before you would have otherwise?  Did those three people save you THAT much time?

I do have to say that I find the whole "unwritten rules" of bus culture to be pretty fascinating.  

My personal fave is people who find it necessary to bring these huge rolling backpacks with them every day and then struggle with them, especially on P&R buses.  They always like to sit in a front seat too, so everyone has to wait behind them while they struggle with their backpack.  Unless one's a student, what could they possibly be bringing to the office every day that requires what amounts to carry-on luggage?  Are they changing their entire wardrobe mid-day?  Preparing for nuclear war?  What?

How about actually PAYING for a ticket! I get so sick of seeing people ridding for free.

Buford,

I was wondering about that. I'm going to start taking the rail to school this coming semester, and I was wondering how do you actually pay? Is there anyone there to actually make sure you pay before you get on? Or is it all based on the honor system?

David:

Honor system.  Have tapped Q or rail ticket when MPD asks for it.

I do use a SMALL rolling backpack.  But if I sit down, it goes in my lap. or the overhead bin in a P&R buses!

My rules for riding the rail are the same as riding the bus.

1. Wait until I get off the train before you get on. You can wait. Even if it leaves without you, you can wait 6 minutes for the next one.

2. If an elderly/disabled person gets on the train, and you're sitting in the front row. GET UP! Same rule applies to pregnant women. If you'd like to be a gentleman and let any woman have your seat, be my guest, but it's not required.

2a. (applies to bus, mainly) If you walk past available seats and attempt to sit next to me just because the bus started moving, you're not. I know it's mean, but you intentionally passed up several seats just so you could make me scoot over or pick up my things(which DO NOT go on the floor EVER.).

3. If someone is wearing headphones, don't talk to them. They are wearing them so they don't have to talk to you, or listen to loud cellphone conversations, or a bunch of bratty children screaming.

4. If someone is wearing headphones AND reading a book, don't talk to them either. This may be the only time of day they have to unwind and they don't want to spend it answering questions you should already know the answer to.

5. The train is much quieter than the bus. Quit talking so d*** loud on your cellphone. No one cares that your cousin has a court hearing today because he didn't pay his child support.

ChloeMireille said:  

"If an elderly/disabled person gets on the train, and you're sitting in the front row. GET UP! Same rule applies to pregnant women."

-----------------

I couldn't agree more.  I would also like to add any person holding a baby or toddler should also be given a seat.  Too often I see able-bodied adults hogging seats when some poor parent is trying to balance on the train and hold a small child in their arms.  It's dangerous for the parent, but most of all, it's dangerous for the child.  This also applies to bus riders.  I think that all able-bodied men AND women, who like to ignore people standing with little kids, balancing on crutches, about to deliver, and so forth need to get off their butts and give such people a seat.

One from personal experience--if your portable DVD player (or similar gizmo) doesn't have headphones, don't use it on the bus or the train.

And would it be too much to ask for a pressure wash in the downtown rail stations?  The Metro police chief stated on a web chat a month or so ago that Metro has a contract for a wash every two weeks BUT THE SAME NASTY STAINS HAVE BEEN ON THE MAIN STREET PLATFORM SINCE MARCH!...so whose pocket is that wash money going into?

This morning, when I was riding the 27 bus to work, a guy got on wearing headphones that were not adequately containing his music, which was clearly audible. I was pleased when the driver told him to turn it down and, when he resisted, continued to insist that he do so. Ultimately, he relented. (Yay!)

One could get away from the doors on the LRT be getting rid of that (apply cuss word) pole.  There are places on the car insides to place a holding bar in the door areas.

WARNING=>LONG POST!!!!!

ChloeMireille,

             Here's what you said and my responses to them.  Here goes:

1. Wait until I get off the train before you get on. You can wait. Even if it leaves without you, you can wait 6 minutes for the next one.

RESPONSE:  In order for someone NOT to yell at ya to GET OFF THE TRAIN/BUS:  Don't walk like a turtle (unless you're disabled or have too much stuff in your hands, etc.), already have your things in tow (in case you quickly get ready to leave and then you forget something) and QUICKLY exit the train/bus.  A whole army of folks would like to get on---especially those who have to get somewhere at a specific time (NO EXCEPTIONS).  This wannabe 6 minutes ruling is only from 4:30am - 7:30pm.

2. If an elderly/disabled person gets on the train, and you're sitting in the front row. GET UP! Same rule applies to pregnant women. If you'd like to be a gentleman and let any woman have your seat, be my guest, but it's not required.

RESPONSE:  This front row business ONLY applies to when you're on the bus but everything else is fine.  PLEASE do NOT force anybody (no matter who or what they are) to sit down while you're trying to be the nicest gentleman/lady you want to be.  If they don't want to sit down, that's their business but at least you tried to be nice.

As I've read on those METRORail brochures, CONSIDER STANDING IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO THE NEXT STOP---OR TWO---FROM WHERE YOU JUST GOT ON AT!!!

Also---as far as on the train, up you go when someone asks to have that area which was specifically set up for them---meaning---the elderly and disabled.

2a. (applies to bus, mainly) If you walk past available seats and attempt to sit next to me just because the bus started moving, you're not. I know it's mean, but you intentionally passed up several seats just so you could make me scoot over or pick up my things(which DO NOT go on the floor EVER.).

RESPONSE:  I 2nd this comment.  This same thing should also (and equally) apply to METRORail.  I HATE IT when people do that and they know there was an empty seat nearby---all to themselves and the next thing you know, they want to sit next to me like they know me and want to talk to me.  PLEASE watch out for those kinds of people---even if they look like a nice person to talk to.

3. If someone is wearing headphones, don't talk to them. They are wearing them so they don't have to talk to you, or listen to loud cellphone conversations, or a bunch of bratty children screaming.

RESPONSE:  This is something you should NEVER leave home without---just like a credit card.  I have one in my bag---RIGHT NOW.  The only time I have it out at home is to recharge the batteries.  When the upcoming school year kicks off for these kids, that's when you'll REALLY need it.

4. If someone is wearing headphones AND reading a book, don't talk to them either. This may be the only time of day they have to unwind and they don't want to spend it answering questions you should already know the answer to.

RESPONSE:  Good luck with that---at least trying to read a book---minus having headphones on.  I cannot imagine how many times I've seen people read but then they're forced to put it up because of---well---things that bother them.

5. The train is much quieter than the bus. Quit talking so d*** loud on your cellphone. No one cares that your cousin has a court hearing today because he didn't pay his child support.

RESPONSE:  ROTFL!!!!  Unfortunately, this should also apply to a bus---especially when there's not too many people on the bus and---for example---the bus is stopped at a light.  Also, if you play music on your phone, FOR GOD SAKES---STOP IT!!!!

This may sound harsh but PLEASE don't play dumb when a bus driver tells YOU to cut the noise down or turn it off (in regards to the cellphone business) and then you look at somebody else like they're the ones being told by the driver.

Whew!  That's it from me.  ;-)

How about out huge/obese riders who lumber down the isle looking for a seat, banging their belly and/or saddle bags against each and every person on their way.  Of course, once they find a seat, some poor s.o.b. has be smothered by them for the rest of the commute.  

Amen to Elizabeth!!! - If you feel the need to take half of your desk home with you every day or need to bring food for the whole company, I think it is time to rethink mass-transit.  A little bit of common sense goes a long way.  That goes for anyone who has 2 or more bags (not including purse).