Are you unknowingly a bad transit rider? We ask riders their biggest pet peeves



SEATTLE -- With the Alaskan Way Viaduct closed, King County Metro says they're seeing the effects on our mass transit. Commutes are staring earlier in the morning and they're much busier in the evenings.

With lots of folks jamming themselves onto mass transit, in many cases for the first time, it turns out there's lots of little, easy ways we can make everyone's experience better when it comes to sharing this public space.

"I absolutely hate it," says Christina, who lives downtown and who's got a 1-year-old in a stroller. She's busy enough juggling work, school, all baby gear and now on top of it all-- the SR 99 closure. "It's just really hard to get around and people cut in front of you because they think you're going to take long."

King County Metro and Sound Transit says with many people taking to the buses and rails to avoid traffic jams, they want everyone on the same page when it comes to being on their best behavior.

Making more room on buses can be as simple as everyone moving as far to the back as possible and to keep moving back as other passengers exit. One of the biggest complaints the transit agency gets is when buses have to pass stops because the driver thinks the bus is full, but there's room in the rear.

Another easy way to make room is to take off your backpacks, regardless of size. And while you're at it, watch where you swing it.

"People need to be more respectful when they have a bag," says Vivian, who lives in West Seattle. Her commute time has doubled since the viaduct closed. She also hates it when people will occupy empty seats with bags or luggage.

"I have a thing with people who come on the bus and cuss profanities. We have a mixture of people and children that are school-aged," says Alison, who lives in the Rainier Valley neighborhood in South Seattle.

It's not only foul-mouths that draw complaints, but just plain old big ones, too. People talking loudly on their phones and just having loud conversations are big on people's "don't do" for folks on mass transit. Eating, drinking and throwing trash also rank pretty highly. Alcohol and marijuana use is not only rude, it's also illegal.

Also people on Twitter complained about odors -- both not enough hygiene or too much perfume. Since King County Metro eliminated the ride-free area in 2012, they've been encouraging riders to enter at the front and exit at the rear door. They say it provides maximum efficiency for getting buses at stops moving quickly again.

Sound Transit is also pushing an entertaining campaign to encourage rail and bus riders to use more courtesy towards fellow passengers. The posters show different cartoon creatures from the animal kingdom behaving badly and then the right way to ride.



Source: Sound Transit