It’s winter, which means it’s almost always freezing outside. Walking from class to class or across campus can be absolute torture when it’s windy and snowy. But have no fear, Penn State has their shuttle service and CATA’s got the loops and links.
Riding public transportation is great for escaping that cold winter air, especially if it’s not packed with people. Looking back at my time at Penn State, I can’t remember how many times I’ve used the busses and shuttles (and how many times I wished I used them). But I realized that no one ever told me how to hail a bus or what proper bus etiquette was. So, I’ve made a list of things I’ve learned so that a campus shuttle doesn’t pass right by you when you’re at a stop (it’s awful).
- Stand underneath the sign
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This way the driver will see that you’re at the stop and want to actually get on. If you’re sitting on a bench, you could just be sitting there or waiting to meet someone.
- Don’t look at your phone when you see the bus
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Looking at your phone might make the driver think you don’t actually need to get on the bus. I’ve made this mistake multiple times, don’t be like me.
- Make eye contact with the bus driver
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This lets the driver know you need them to stop. Waving and smiling at them also helps you get their attention. Plus, who doesn’t like a smile.
- Don’t speak loudly on the bus
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There are usually other people on the bus with you and if you’re laughing or yelling people are gonna give you mad side eye. Also, it’s a small space so lots of conversations can become loud noise, don’t add to that by yelling or shouting.
- Always move to the back
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The bus drivers say this all the time. Also, the back of the bus usually has seats open but people don’t realize because they stay at the front of the bus.
- It’s okay to sit next to people
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This one is contested and I know some people don’t like to sit next to someone they don’t know. But here’s the thing, if you sit next to someone they aren’t gonna bite or hiss at you. You’ll probably just ignore each other anyway.
- Always pull the “stop request” cable
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It’s always a cringy moment when the bus doesn’t stop for someone. If you pull the request stop cable the driver will know that someone needs to stop. It’s a great habit to get into so you can avoid missing your bus stop.
And there you go collegiettes, a somewhat complete guide to bus etiquette. Hopefully this helps you with your bus-going experiences. Let me know what rules I missed!