Stand Your GroundAll too often, a transit ride feels like a wild adventure. Not surprisingly, roller coasters and public transportation are oddly similar - both evoking the pleasure-pain principle that elicits fear, defies physics, and boosts adrenaline. Even the rules are the same: buy a ticket, get in, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride! But, to avoid becoming an unamused victim of commuter corkscrews and light rail loopity-loops, park your grasp on reinforcements. When you're forced to stand or walk through the train, we think it's best to hang tough and hang on - not only for your safety, but also for those innocent passengers around you. Fellow riders, no one wants to wear your edibles or potables when the train jerks and you lose what you're totin'. And, there's nothing like starting your day with a too-close-for-comfort encounter when you stumble and faceplant into the groin of a perfect stranger. Umm...awkward. So, humor these Muni Ladies and perfect that balancing act on mass transit. We'll think you're tops, bar none!
Muni Manner: Securely grip handles, bars, and straps to prevent falls and spills. It's the safe and courteous thing to do.
6 comments:
FINALLY someone said it.
The addendum to this is "Don't try and walk to the exit while the bus is still lurching about and speeding like a bat out of h*ll." I have seen many people, particularly old people, either fall down or have a near fall, simply because they were not holding on and were trying to walk while the bus or train is speeding along and about to make a sudden stop.
Wait the extra 30 seconds. The bus will not leave with you still on it, esp. if you start the Back Door Chorus. :-)
I see you haven't covered the Wide Stance.
And then there are those days when a bus driver is
cranky and decides for his/her amusement,
to brake hard every hill and every stop and crash passengers. NO ONE can hold on no matter
top rail, side rail, or dumb strap. Be prepared
to be propelled out the back window, I guess.
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET??
Muni Ladies,
I love your web site! Great work! As a light rail operator here in Portland, Oregon, and a life long transit user from Norway, it bothers me more than I can express when people are space hogs on public transit.
THANK YOU for pointing this out in such a clear and entertaining way. Keep up the good work!
Very true! Twice, there were schoolgirls who were merely holding on to their friend who were holding on to the grip poles colliding into me when the bus stopped and jerked forward. One of the times the girl even resulted in squeezing me against the seat in front. (On some buses here, there is an empty space between the back door to alight and the seats near the front of the bus to allow more people to squeeze in.) Thankfully it wasn't too painful both times.
I just saw this one, a little late. I always ride with a wide stance and generally try to avoid holding the handles unless there is a part of the handle that is hard to get to by everyone else. Why you ask? Hygiene. You don't know who was sick that day and touched those handles. I know that is a really bad thought but honestly it pops in my head every day because when you see someone cough into their hand and hold the bar, its worrisome. If I have a long sleeve shirt, I'll cover my hand and hold on. I hardly ever have a problem on the Muni Metro. Usually its on buses.
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