# Bus Etiquette **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 15, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543 "2010-03-15T15:17:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/21 "2010-03-15T23:35:11Z")
> [@GilaB](#): > > Sometimes I move, sometimes I don’t. If I’m getting off in a stop or two anyway, I usually don’t want to bother. I go by “feel” as well. If I’m next to a normal, quiet, non-stinky person and I move I risk the chance in a few stops that a loud, large, stinky person will sit next to me. Just don’t be one of those passive aggressive assholes that sit on the aisle side and put their bag on the seat next to them and glare at anyone who looks remotely interested in sitting down. Bonus points if you let a little old lady or a pregnant woman go by. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/22 "2010-03-15T23:56:43Z")
I move if it’s still a long trip to my stop and if I know the rest of the way won’t get re-loaded with new passengers. If I know the bus will re-load to being very crowded again in 2 stops, then I stay put, especially of the person next to me is unobjectionable. I’d rather stay next to them than risk a weirdo at the next seat. It depends on the route I’m traveling and on the time of day. If there are just a couple of stops to go, I’ll usually just stay put because I get up one stop before mine anyway, and I feel like it’s weirder to switch seats for 4 blocks, then get up again to get off. If anything, I’ll just stay standing if I feel the need to get away from the person I was next to. Frequent seat-switchers are thought of as weird, too. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/23 "2010-03-16T01:11:18Z")
I have taken either the bus or the train to and from work everyday for the past 4 years. Not a single time comes to mind where I’ve been left with an empty car and a person boxed in next to me. At first I thought this was weird, but then I realized I rarely box anyone in. I generally only sit down if I can get the window seat. Otherwise, I stand. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/24 "2010-03-16T07:31:08Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#): > > Just don’t be one of those passive aggressive assholes that sit on the aisle side and put their bag on the seat next to them and glare at anyone who looks remotely interested in sitting down. Bonus points if you let a little old lady or a pregnant woman go by. That drives me NUTS! I can forgive the person if they’re a woman - possibly sexist, but generally women have more problems being bothered on a bus or train. But a man? Unforgivable. I’ll deliberately hit them with my backpack. Or, especially if it’s the last available seat, say “EXCUSE ME!” and move to sit in the window seat. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/25 "2010-03-16T08:35:36Z")
I just sit on their bag. Not really, but I usually smile at them and gesture that I’m going to plant my ass there. They may glare at me but they usually move their bag. There was a girl at my college who was part of a famous girls band (huge scandal when she was accepted; the girl was dumber than a box of rocks) and she used to put her bag on the seat next to her when in class, even when there weren’t enough seats to go around. Whenever someone approached her with a “Excuse me, is this seat taken?” she’d tell them “This seat is for my bag.” The guys still drooled over her though. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/26 "2010-03-16T22:01:13Z")
I usually move seats, I think most of the people sitting next to me. Say to themselves “Thank you” when I do. If you really want to freak someone out though get on a relative empty bus and sit right next to a lone individual. Let the fun times roll. I had one person on a relative empty bus ask for my seat because he told me it was his favorite. Since he wasn’t challenged nor wearing a helmet I told him to eat dirt. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/27 "2010-03-16T22:20:39Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > I often would make a smile and comment like **tdn** - something like - “yay - now we can all get our elbow room back” and move nearby but to my own seat. I look around and say _ooo! seats!_ and then move. But I’m the dorky person no-one wants to sit next to anyway. I would suffer in scilence if I was on the inside, and the person on the isle didn’t move. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/28 "2010-03-16T23:19:54Z")
I don’t move. Some people do (hell, some people practically crowdsurf those getting off the bus to get to their seat) but I never saw much need to. I might be a grumpy antisocial urbanite but I’m not going to go shuffling around a bus just because I’m sitting next to another human for 20 minutes. If it bothers the other person that much, they can move. > [@Rack-a-bones](#): > > Just don’t be one of those passive aggressive assholes that sit on the aisle side and put their bag on the seat next to them and glare at anyone who looks remotely interested in sitting down. I say “excuse me” once. Then their bag will meet my ass. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/29 "2010-03-16T23:29:37Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > Oh. > > I guess I won’t admit, then, that I’ve been in this situation many times and always stayed where I was. > > Pretend I’m not here. I’m with you on this one. Sometimes I move, sometimes I don’t, especially if I’m really tired or almost at my stop. Why go through the trouble of making the effort, resettling myself, my bags, etc. (on the floor, if necessary, I must add). In addition to which, if I’m moving to create free space around me or you (and I don’t care if you get offended), who’s to say passengers getting on at the next stop won’t just end up sitting next to one or both of us, recreating the same seating situation? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/30 "2010-03-17T17:41:12Z")
I will move closer to the front of the bus, explaining “I don’t see so well, so I like to look out the big front window.” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/31 "2010-03-17T17:44:13Z")
I move. As soon as I can. I don’t say anything to the person I was beside. This is what I’ve seen almost everybody do on the bus. Therefore I think it’s what everybody expects. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/32 "2010-03-17T18:00:03Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > There was a girl at my college who was part of a famous girls band (huge scandal when she was accepted; the girl was dumber than a box of rocks) and she used to put her bag on the seat next to her when in class, even when there weren’t enough seats to go around. Whenever someone approached her with a “Excuse me, is this seat taken?” she’d tell them “This seat is for my bag.” I’d grab my crotch and say “No, it’s for MY bag.” OK, I probably wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/33 "2010-03-17T22:49:38Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’d grab my crotch and say “No, it’s for MY bag.” > > OK, I probably wouldn’t. Yeah, I’ve seen your type on the bus. I move far, _far_ away, even if I have to stand. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/34 "2010-03-17T23:52:35Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Yeah, I’ve seen your type on the bus. I move far, _far_ away, even if I have to stand. Public transportation is its own special brand of horror. David Schmader of _The Stranger_ has written entire columns on crazy shit people do. Latest wack nut was [“Stainbelly”](http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/01/25/metro-riding-ladies-beware) ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/35 "2010-03-17T23:56:29Z")
Uhmmm, I don’t think the stain’s on his belly. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/36 "2010-03-18T00:03:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’d grab my crotch and say “No, it’s for MY bag.” > > OK, I probably wouldn’t. Oh you say that, but then throw her bag on the floor and sit down. She’ll either A) get mad and leave in a huff (win) or 2) grumble about it (awkward win). ---
**Author:** ![nellfulltilt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@nellfulltilt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nellfulltilt)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/37 "2010-03-19T13:55:10Z")
Thanks Guys!!! This morning I felt comfortable moving to an new seat on the bus; with a clear conscience! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/38 "2010-03-19T15:13:25Z")
When all of the paired seats have one person in them, so that I have to sit by somebody, I sometimes make a point of looking for people with a bag on the seat next to them, “holding” it for them. Most of these folks will move their bag as the bus fills up – they’re not monsters who would deny everyone a seat, but they _are_ staking a claim that if the bus does NOT fill up, they want to sit alone, and they don’t mind trying to deter everyone else. The problem I have with that is that the considerate, nice people who did NOT hog a seat to try and scare off newcomers will wind up with other considerate, nice people seated next to them while the selfish people ride blissfully alone. So when I’m in the right mood, I like to not be quite so considerate. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543/39 "2010-03-19T15:39:49Z")
> [@nellfulltilt](#): > > Thanks Guys!!! > > This morning I felt comfortable moving to an new seat on the bus; with a clear conscience! 🙂 You lowered my self esteem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-etiquette/532543.md?page=1)