Top Ten Rules of Shuttle Bus Etiquette
Most of us have had to travel on the Shuttle bus on campus for one reason or another. However, I’m sure that the majority of you haven’t stopped to consider the rules of the bus. Sure, there isn’t a list located at the front of the bus, or a link on the Bloomsburg website stating these rules, but I’m going to let you guys in on what I believe are the top ten rules of shuttle bus etiquette.
10. Take in your surroundings. While waiting for the shuttle bus, you should always take a look at who you are sharing the line with. If you notice that there is an individual who is injured or handicapped, the polite thing to do would be to let them get onto the bus first if possible. The next step to help your fellow student out is to make sure that one of the first few seats is available to them. That way, the process which is normally difficult for the student, becomes a little less problematic.
9. Be patient. It is understandable that we are all very busy. Sometimes, it’s hard to be patient and wait in the line. Fight the urge to cut in front of others. If you notice that the line is all the way back to say Centennial, please take your place in line and stay there. Most students get very discouraged when they notice people walking past them when they’ve been waiting for a good while. We will all eventually get to our destination, so be considerate to your peers, after all, there is more than one bus running.
8. Make your destination known. The majority of students get on and off the shuttle bus at the routine stops. Sometimes, some individuals need to get dropped off at areas which are not a part of the normal route, such as the Orange Lot. A considerate idea is to make your destination known immediately upon entering the bus. This provides the driver with clear knowledge that he needs to make this unexpected stop. It may startle the driver if one yells out his or her request for the different bus stop. It is important for the bus driver to stay focused, especially now that the weather is unpredictable. 
7. People are more important than book bags. The greatest system for seating arrangements on the shuttle bus is to make sure the first one entering takes the seat closest to the window. This method allows other students to have a seat if the shuttle starts to fill. Let’s face it, if there was an option between an open seat or standing, almost everyone would choose the seat, right? The proper thing to do is provide an open seat for a human as opposed to your book bag.
6. Standing room only. I know what you’re thinking. Oh great, there are no more seats open. It’s time to stand. The best way to make standing easier for everyone is to immediately head to the very back of the bus. It is always so awkward when students continually have to move back to make room for the others. Why not just solve the problem before the problem even starts? There is an exception to the rule, however: If you know that you are going to be one of the only ones in the standing dilemma, it is acceptable to remain close to the front of the bus.
5. Oh, my nose! It is a very uncomfortable situation when students are required to stand. We tend to only think of our own discomfort while standing. It is a thoughtful gesture to keep in mind where our bags are located. Sometimes, the people who are sitting can get jostled around or hit by our baggage. That’s not very fun. I suppose this could be a good wake-up call if you have an 8:00 am class, but I wouldn’t take any chances.
4. If I can hear it, it’s too loud. Even though the shuttle can be pretty loud, that doesn’t mean your conversations have to be. It is polite to keep your conversations at a low decibel so that you do not disturb the other passengers. Listening to your music too loud can certainly be an annoyance for some individuals. I wouldn’t recommend listening to your music so loud that others could hear it through your headphones. I’d imagine that could do some serious damage!
3. Time to go! Now the shuttle has stopped and you have arrived at your destination. It’s time to leave. Who goes first? The best and most efficient way of exiting the shuttle is the “right, left system.” If you’re facing the front of the shuttle, the first seat on the right should exit first, followed by the first seat to the left, then the second set of seats of the right then the left and so on. Keep this flow going until everyone has safely left the shuttle. There may be a pause for the individuals who were unfortunately stuck on a “wheel seat.” These passengers typically need a couple more seconds to get into the isle because this bump causes a mini obstacle for them. Be patient, they’ll get out of the way in a few seconds. Uh-oh! There’s a new problem. The students who were stuck standing need to exit too. There is a very simple fix. Standers, please don’t exit all at once. The standing group should exit one at a time after the right and left seats near them have exited.
2. Thank you very much! It is always advised that you thank your bus driver upon exiting. Hey, they got you safely to your destination. This is their job, but a little appreciation goes a long way. I’m sure it’s very encouraging to hear a thank you. Who doesn’t enjoy hearing positive reception every once in a while?
1. Plan ahead! Keep in mind the schedule of the shuttle bus. It is such a hassle if you need the shuttle and it isn’t running. The shuttle’s normal hours are as follows: Monday-Thursday 7:30a.m-Midnight, Friday 7:30a.m-10:00p.m, Saturday noon-5:00p.m, and Sunday noon-midnight. During the week, buses arrive approximately every 10 minutes until 3:30 p.m. and every 15 minutes after 3:30 p.m. On Fridays, buses arrive approximately every 10 minutes until 5 p.m. and every 15 minutes after 5 p.m. On Saturday, buses arrive approximately every 20 minutes, and Sunday, buses arrive approximately every 20 minutes. (No service from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
Of course, these rules are strictly based on opinion and are not enforced, but encouraged. Hopefully, you now are left with a new insight regarding your shuttle experience, and will create a simple, stress free environment for you and your fellow passengers. Happy riding!
