Etiquette Rule #15: Steer Clear of Smelly Foods

Eau de Transit

In our over-scheduled and demanding lives, we're often forced to eat on the run. Unfortunately, many foods that fill riders' grab-and-go bellies not only impact waistlines, but launch an assault on the olfactory systems of fellow passengers. While we urge you to take a few extra minutes out of your hectic day and enjoy your meal elsewhere, we accept that sometimes eating or transferring food on transit simply can't be prevented. However, it's the smelly foods that leave these Muni Ladies with a case of commuter claustrophobia. Containers of greasy fried chicken, homemade curries, and happy meals either tempt our own growling tummies or offend the strongest of our five senses. Upon exiting the train, your kimchi lingers and we remain stewing in the pungent stench left behind - a malodorous transit medley that would never grace a perfume counter. So, the next time you decide to travel with food, remember we deserve a break today.

Muni Manner: If you must eat while riding, avoid smelly foods and pack a snack bar instead. It's the safe and courteous thing to do.

Readers in Action: Free Photo Contest!

Picture Perfect
We've had a busy summer here at Muni Manners, and these Muni Ladies are itchin' for a change of scenery! So, we're looking to YOU for striking photographs of YOUR transit systems. From interior shots to exterior snaps, those photos hanging out on your desktop can finally get some exposure. We're accepting submissions from now until September 15, and winners of the Muni Manners free photo contest will appear in future postings (with photo credit). A few rules to keep in mind: we will only consider photos that do not include face shots of people, the photo must be your own, and by submitting it you are giving us permission to use it on www.munimanners.com. Send us your entries by email (sfmunilady01@gmail.com, sfmunilady02@gmail.com) with "Photo Contest" in the subject line, and let us know: your name, city, and name of the transit system in your photo. We don't host the photos, so you'll have to upload it somewhere else and submit a link. If you're using Flickr, Picasa, or another photo-sharing site to host your image, provide us with a link to the image directly and not just to the photo page where it's displayed. Lastly, bookmark Muni Manners and check back after September 15 to see the winning entries. Recap: enter the Muni Manners free photo contest today and your prized pic may be featured with a future entry. Get the picture?

Etiquette Rule #14: Teach our Children

Transit Trek: The Next Generation
As subscribers to the sentiment 'children are our future', these Muni Ladies applaud parents who impart to children the importance of public transportation. As we come across little ones on our rides, those innocent questions and curious looks of wonder sure do put a smile on our faces. But, unruly youngsters remind us it's never too late (or early) to educate children about the proper way to ride the Uncle Gus. All of Dora's little explorers need survival skills to navigate life's jungle, and mass transit should be no different. Offering your Muni-riding munchkin some independence is great, but holding their hand is even better. If your child is running the train like First Grade field day, remind them: "safety first". Have a seat squirmer on your hands? Place them on your lap to create an instant safety belt. Traveling sans child? Help a parent in need and offer your seat (ER #4), or step aside to let pram pushers through to set a good example. So the next time your young'un goes ga-ga over taking the bus, remember your Mini-Me shouldn’t just look like you, s/he should act like you.

Muni Manner: Raise good citizens by teaching children etiquette for mass transit. It’s the safe and courteous thing to do.

Etiquette Rule #13: Practice Nail Hygiene at Home

Going on a Pleasure Clip
Fellow riders, we have a bone (actually a small, keratinized piece of hardened protein) to pick with you: as we refrain from singing (ER #9), and instead focus on the sights and sounds of our transit ride, we're irritated when the clang, clang, clang of the trolley is interrupted by the snap, snap, snap of your nails. We understand the need to be adequately equipped as you claw your way to the top, but we're manicurious about the need to subject others to your nail clippings. With 14% of the population suffering from nail fungus, why should we have to deflect your high-velocity shrapnel of dead tissue? Etiquette states that the occasional filing of painful or dangerously sharp nails is acceptable, but clipping your nails on mass transit is not. So, be a hygiene hero and fight foul fingernail form as you ride. You'll not only steer clear of irritating passengers, but also avoid exposing them to fungi, bacteria, and viruses - a strategy that has these Muni Ladies waking up on the right side of the cuticle bed.

Muni Manner: Clip nails at home to curb personal grooming on mass transit. It's the safe and courteous thing to do.

Etiquette Rule #12: Exiting the Train

Gotta Bounce?
Observing the exit patterns of passengers makes us long for the days of grade school fire drills, when little Johnny and Susie knew how to get out to the playground in calm, orderly, and single file fashion. With transit numbers on the rise, it’s time to conjure up those childhood lessons and put them to good use. As with any effective evacuation exercise, you should know your escape route beforehand. So, when disembarking a train or bus plan ahead and slowly make your way to the nearest door over the course of preceding stops. If you happen to be sandwiched in the back, this technique will minimize the last minute panic and shoving that ensues when you realize how quickly the doors close. If you are already positioned near the door, keep your cool. No one likes pushy door hoverers, so don’t expect to win any popularity contests when a fellow passenger states the obvious ‘I’m getting off too’! Not planning to depart but insist on being a door squatter? Set a good example and step outside to let others through, but be sure everyone is off before re-boarding. And, as we Muni Ladies like to say, practice makes perfect and permanent!

Muni Manner: Anticipate your stop to calmly exit the train or make way for others to do so. It’s the safe and courteous thing to do.

Etiquette Rule #11: Cover Coughs, Sneezes, and Yawns

Word of Mouth
Good hygiene and health manners are appreciated anytime and anyplace, but never more so than in the cramped quarters of public transportation. With more buses and trains filled to capacity, we're often forced to share air in a space that's already too close for comfort. This is especially relevant during cold and flu season, when the triple threat of germs from coughs, sneezes, and yawns (CSY) is at its peak. A brief review of microbiology reminds us that viruses and bacteria are passed from person to person in tiny droplets of moisture that come out of the nose - not to mention that side dish of halitosis we didn't order - when you CSY. TMI? We know, but we Muni Ladies bring you these grossgusting facts to drive home the point that respiratory etiquette states you should cover your mouth to avoid spreading germs on mass transit. And, if you don't have a tissue, your sleeve will do. So, the next time you're waiting to exhale, don't leave us down in the mouth: spare the air (and us) by coughing up your own sneeze guard.

Muni Manner: To prevent the spread of germs, cover your mouth when expelling air. It's the safe and courteous thing to do.