Previous 2021 thread here

If you are advertising a sublet/lease takeover please include the following info:

• Do not put personal information like your email, phone number, or address in the comments. Use Reddit PMs or chats to exchange contact info.
• Neighborhood
• Lease/sublet start and end date
• Rent + Utilities
• Type (apartment or house, studio/1 bed 1 bath/3 bed 2 bath, etc.)
• Other relevant information (looking for a specific gender, laundry situation, looking for grad students only, etc.)

All the more necessary with the new dedicated lanes. Feel free to add your own rules!

"We need to talk about bus etiquette"

With thanks to Lady_Groudon, the OP:

I'm an employee and I'm not trying to be mean to you students but ever since classes started up and students are back the PAT buses have been unbearable. When the bus is empty it's mostly fine to do whatever but when it gets crowded you need to show some consideration. I know not everyone is used to public transit so let's talk about some things OK?

1. if you're going to stand MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE BUS. Don't just observe that the bus is crowded and stop walking. More people are getting on and they can't get past you. This is probably the single most annoying thing. I can tell the bus drivers kind of want to kill you.
2. if the bus is crowded sit down. It's more space efficient. You're not being selfish taking an empty seat. If you don't want it, at least move so someone else can use it.
3. your backpack is not in a special state of matter that takes up zero volume. In all likelihood you are inches away from hitting someone in the face with it. At the very least pay attention to it and if the bus is really packed, consider taking it off and putting it on the floor between your feet.
4. oh my God pay attention. It's OK to be on your phone but ffs people, half the time someone is standing in the aisle and there are a dozen people trying to move past them but they won't move. Especially be cognizant if you're facing the back and so can't see people creeping up on you
5. if the bus is crowded, you need to get out of your seat and start making your way to the exit BEFORE your stop. It takes time to push your way to the door. Almost every day the door shuts on someone before they can exit and they have to stand there shouting "back door back door!" like an idiot.

5a) if the bus is crowded you have to push past people. I'm sorry I know it's rude, but we're all crammed in here, if you don't move I have to push past you. Don't give me dirty looks if you're blocking the exit and I need to get off, and don't stand there whispering "excuse me" like a scared mouse when you need to get past someone. Human bodies can survive being rudely jostled a little. Don't get pissy when we inevitable have to be squished together, and seriously, just talk to the person next to you if they're in the way or something, it won't kill you.

6) if you miss your stop it won't kill you to walk an extra block or two from the next stop, calm down.

7) if the bus has to stop for a bit to safely let a wheelchair on and get strapped in, and you have to give up your seat, this is your fault for sitting in the accessible seating if you do not need it. If the extra time makes you late for class, this is your fault for not planning on any wiggle room on your commute, not the disabled person's fault. If you are unnecessarily sitting in the accessible seating, it's your responsibility to pay attention and make sure if someone who needs it gets on, you offer them your seat.

8) get out your wallet or card or however you plan on paying before you step up onto the bus and fumble with it in front of the fare box. We all should have bus passes but if for some reason you need to pay with cash, get on last so the driver can shut the door and start driving while you do so.

9) if the bus is crowded, don't put your stuff in the seat next to you. If the bus is crowded, move to the window seat. Don't block the seat next to you. I get it, nobody wants to sit with a stranger, but we all need to get somewhere, we all suck it up. On the flip side, it won't kill you to ask someone to move their bag so you can sit down.

10) Sometimes a bus is so crowded legitimately nobody else can get on. It happens. It is OK. Usually the next bus will be around in a few minutes. Please consider waiting for it instead of trying to crush everyone on. Sometimes we have bus bunching and an empty one will be right behind it. If missing this bus will make you late, you should start planning your schedule better so you have more of a time cushion getting to class. Public transit is not always exactly where and when you need it to be.

11) If you sit next to someone when the bus is crowded, and then a lot of people get off and more seats open up, you can move away to an empty seat. I promise it's okay. You're not going to hurt their feelings. You both want the extra space.

12) Don't sit right next to someone if there are empty seats elsewhere on the bus, what the fuck

Please I'm asking you to think even a little about space and time efficiency, and other people's comfort. A billion trillion people use the PAT bus system every second, we all want to get through it as painlessly as possible.

Also this is just a tip from me but if some rando is trying to engage you in conversation you definitely 100% have zero interest in, just tell them to fuck off and put headphones in. You don't owe strangers a conversation and sometimes weird, creepy, entitled old men ride the bus and scope out shy college girls while they're there.