This Opinion article is part of a Narcity content series. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
I am a huge advocate of public transportation and believe more people should take advantage of its efficiency and affordability. While things could always use improvement, Vancouver’s TransLink system is a great example of how you can get around a major metropolis with ease, especially if you need to get around to some of its surrounding areas.
I haven’t had a car for years, although I sometimes miss it on those days when you really don’t want to be around other people — and you just want to get from A to B by yourself while cranking up Quiet Riot and devouring a McMuffin — I really don’t believe the expense is worth it. For thousands of dollars per year, your vehicle mostly sits there idle, so why not climb aboard a SkyTrain to zip you around?
Or have a beautiful 13-minute SeaBus ride to the North Shore and back? Whether you live in Vancouver or you’re visiting the city, there’s no reason not to utilize TransLink.
One of the biggest issues with public transportation, however, is the conduct of other passengers. You do have to share space with people and this can cause some anxiety, especially if those other people are engaging in unforgivable public-transportation antics.
Therefore, I would like to present some things to keep in mind when you’re getting around Vancouver. I encourage you to use TransLink as much possible, but please don’t ever do the following things if you want to ingratiate yourself with locals who aren’t necessarily the warmest people on earth.
Please remove your backpack if you have to stand.
The Skytrain and our buses can get very busy, especially during rush hour, our summer fireworks, and random sports events downtown. There’s a good chance you won’t get a seat if you’re a commuter, and that’s not a problem — just hang onto a bar or strap, and rest assured that you’ll be able to sanitize your hands once your ride is over. Wearing your backpack while standing, however, will prompt hostile looks, passive muttering, and the occasional passenger attempting to make a point by deliberately (and aggressively) bumping into your pack.
Wearing that backpack while on transit here is simply obnoxious behaviour, makes you seem oblivious, and clogs up what is already very limited room. Take that thing off and put it by your feet.
Do not eat your strong-smelling food while onboard.
I know you’re hungry. I know you’re probably in a hurry, you haven’t eaten for a while, and you needed to grab a bite from a fast food chain. I respect that. I’ve been known to chomp down some almonds or shovel some black beans down while on my way to work, in the presence of other weary commuters.
However, you must keep in mind that the smell of your food permeates the entirety of the bus, the train, or the boat, and it does not smell appetizing — it smells like old fryer grease, and it’s potent. Burger King, McDonald’s, KFC… none of these places are meant for the bus. The number of times I’ve had to endure someone chomping down on their strong-smelling food while heading to my destination is somewhere in the thousands, and they have all made themselves mortal enemies just by this act alone.
Don’t chat up fellow passengers.
Look, we’re all just trying to get somewhere. It’s perfectly okay to be friendly, but please don’t use Vancouver Transit as a means of making friends (or — Lord almighty — trying to pick someone up).
The whole idea of getting around the city is to take yourself somewhere, and not interfere with a stranger’s presence. I have both witnessed and experienced this several times, and the disinterest is unanimous.
Basically nobody wants to meet someone on a bus. It can indeed be a challenge to make friends in Vancouver, but public transit is not the place. Just patiently get through your trip, and then head onto a dating app if needed.
Move to the back of the bus.
This is a phenomenon I will never understand, and given my transit-taking experiences around the world, seems to be limited to Vancouver (please correct me if I’m wrong!).
Here’s the scenario: a packed bus, people boarding at each stop, and the driver announcing over the loudspeaker to keep moving back, in order to make more room for each passenger. Yet nobody moves. Everyone stays towards the front or the middle of the vehicle, clutching a strap and pretending they don’t hear. You will make a solid, healthy impression on everyone if you do, indeed, move to the back of the bus.
You may have to weave around some people in order to do so, but it’s better to adhere to polite bus protocol.
Never put anything on speakerphone.
This needs to be a universal rule. If you’re on public transit and having a phone conversation or watching a video while on speakerphone, you need to be immediately escorted off the vehicle.
I’ve noticed this occurring more and more, and it’s difficult to understand people’s lack of comprehension regarding the cramped public space. The weirdest part is that people seem to do this at top volume.
I have been subjected to countless phone conversations while on the train, and even more people watching something on YouTube that nobody wants to hear. I can now recite more Luke Combs lyrics than I was prepared for, and I don’t even know who he is. Please get some earbuds, maybe save the conversation for after your ride, and preserve the sanity of everyone onboard. As a fairly passive city, we won’t really say anything, but you will get the silent approval of everyone onboard.
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