In the US Sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”, Ted Mosby comes up with the idea that there’s always one weird or crazy person on the bus. The person can earn this special name tag by engaging in conduct that annoys fellow travellers, such as talking too much or eating particularly smelly food. We have five (and a half) easy-to-follow tips for you to avoid being the weird person on the bus.
The Dos and Don’ts of riding a coach
It doesn’t matter whether you travel long distance or whether you’re just taking the bus to the library – always try to put yourself in the shoes of the other people on the bus and ask yourself the question: Would it annoy me?
1. Don’t “manspread”!
If even the Oxford English Dictionary decided to dedicate an entry to the word “manspreading”, it must be a thing, right? The term describes passengers – in many cases men – which sit with their legs wide apart and thus occupy more than one seat. If the bus is empty, that’s fine obviously. If the trip is fully booked, however, the person sitting next to you will thank you for only taking up the space that you really need.
2. Silence is golden
Your cat might have given birth to kittens or your upstairs neighbour is having a juicy affair – no matter what goes on in your life, the other people on the bus are most likely not too curious about it. This also accounts for talking on the phone: if it’s absolutely necessary for you to discuss the latest episode of “Love Island” with your BFF, at least try to keep it down… or simply refer to texting!
3. Sit straight!
We’ve all been there: you don’t have a lot of space on the bus and the person in front of you decides to go for a nap and fully reclines his or her seat. This behaviour can result in bruised knees and anger management issues. So, don’t be that person yourself! If you figure that the person behind you can still sit comfortable when you recline your seat, simply ask for permission first.
4. All we need is a little patience…
Overseas and on the continent, the British are famous for loving to queue. In real life, however, this is not always the case: when it comes to securing the best seat on the bus, passengers might fight over it like snakes over the iguana in a David Attenborough documentary. Again: don’t be that person! Don’t use your elbows to get on the bus first but show a little politeness and patience. If there’s elderly people around you, also ask whether they need help getting on. Here’s your good deed for the day!
5. We all love a good kebab – but not on the bus!
We all love street food and the more garlic sauce on a kebab, the better. This rule does not apply for food you take on a bus, however. Think about the people around you and that the smell of your food will easily fill out the whole vehicle. We recommend taking some fruit: it usually doesn’t smell and it’s good for you! Win-win-situation!
Last but not least: the easiest rule to follow, brought to you by How I Met Your Mother’s Ted Mosby: If you can’t spot the weird person on the bus, then it’s most likely you. ?
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