Etiquette on 4 Wheels: Five ways to ruin the start of your work day

The author has been a public transit driver for nearly four years and offers Etiquette on 4 Wheels as his perspective on how to make a commute via public transportation, safer, more efficient and more comfortable.

Except for getting up in the morning, getting to work can be the hardest part of the day. You despise driving in traffic, and finding a parking place once you get to the office, forget about it. So you make a decision to make that first hour or so of your day a little easier by letting someone else do the driving: your public bus system. It's a win-win situation, right? You spare yourself the headache of those obnoxious red tail-lights screaming back at you; dodging the other guy is now someone else's problem. Didn't get quite enough sleep last night? no problem, you have an extra hour on your hands. Speaking of extra time, there is that new bestseller you've been wanting to read.

Take public transportation and you can practically function on auto-pilot for a short time each morning, right? Well, not really. Public transportation is a fantastic option, but there are several ways for your commute to head south -- and for our purposes, you should be heading north -- in a hurry. So, in the spirit of helping you avoid the detours and potholes of life on public transportation, here are five things to keep in mind as you set out on your morning's journey:

1. Make sure you have the proper fare or bus pass. There's no quicker way to spoil the morning than a bus leaving without you because you didn't come prepared. Some drivers will show compassion and let you ride during a forgetful moment, but don't count on it. And in some cases, riding without the proper fare can bring further consequences. For example, under Washington state law, a passenger can be given a ticket for $124 for not paying the proper fare. Tickets are not issued by the drivers, but some transit agencies hire police officers to ride the buses and make sure the fare is paid. One thing to remember, many transit agencies to come with the correct fare and don't make change. That means if you try to pay a $1.50 fare with a $20 bill, you'll either be leaving a very generous tip (to the company, not the driver), or waiting for the next bus. If forced to do the latter, you may want to use this new-found spare time getting the correct change.
2. Check and double check the bus schedule. Keep in mind, using public transportation requires careful planning, flexibility and patience. If your bus is scheduled to arrive at your destination five minutes before you start your work day, and your employer isn't flexible about your schedule, then you may want to consider an earlier bus. It's also important to arrive at your bus stop at least five minutes early. Bus schedules are considered estimates of when a bus will arrive, and typically can vary a few minutes either way. Remember bus drivers are dealing with the same problematic stop lights and traffic you would encounter.
3. Be seen and not heard. In other words, make darn sure the driver can see you at the stop, because he or she really doesn't want to hear you yelling as they pass by. Seeing potential passengers on the side of the road can be a bigger challenge than it may seem, especially when it's dark. The first thing a driver looks for it the signs indicating the passenger zones. Many of the signs are reflective; some also have additional reflector on the bottom of the sign post. Stand near the sign, but try not to block the reflector. The next thing a driver looks for is movement. You'd be surprise how much a shadow, garbage can or mail box can look like a person. A little movement assures the driver that the faint shape he notices is an actual person. However, movement can even be hard to see when a person is wearing darking clothing. Try to wear clothes that will contrast with your background. Holding a flashlight or similar item is also helpful. Don't have a flash light? A cell phone is a great alternative. One more note on this subject: Many bus stops have covered shelters, designed to keep waiting passengers out of the elements. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to see someone sitting in these shelters. It is a good idea to be standing in the last five minutes before the scheduled arrival of your bus.
4. So by this time, you've remembered your fare, you're on time, and the driver sees you. You've got it made, right? Well there are still a couple of things to think about. For starters, are you on the right bus? You may have the right route number, but is the bus going the direction you need? The first clue will be a sign on the outside of the bus. Surprisingly, many people read the route number, but pay no notice to the route's final destination or direction of travel. It's important to remember here that bus drivers are human, and buses and all of the equipment contain on them are machines made by humans. Humans aren't perfect; signs can be wrong. Fortunately, under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act,bus drivers are required to announce a route number and direction of travel whenever a stop or bus station is served by more than one route. Of course this works only if a passenger is listening. As a side note, it is highly suggested that you take your headphones off in order to hear the driver as you enter the bus.
5. Okay, so you know you are on the right bus. Where do you get off of the bus? When you first start riding a bus, it is a good idea to let the driver know your destination. He can tell you if the route will serve that destination, and the best place to get off. Federal law requires bus drivers (or in many cases, automated messages) to announce stops at major intersections and land marks. Drivers will often announce your stop even if it's not at a major intersection. Just ask. Of course, these announcements work only if you are paying attention. It's OK to take a nap, but remember to wake up when you get near your stop; use the alarm on a cell phone if needed. Finally, listening to music can be a nice way to pass the time, but when relying on a driver's announcement, keeping the headphones off would be a good idea.

Riding public transportation is a great way to relieve some of the stress a daily commute can bring, but use common sense. Even when someone else is doing the driving, stay in the game, or you could end up at the mall rather than the office.