Commuter Pet Peeves

JediElizabeth

So I'm sitting on the bus next to a lady wearing very strong, cheap-smelling perfume. It's triggering my allergies, so I've been dealing with burning eyes and an awful headache for the last half hour. It is literally the worst commute I've had all year.

What about you ladies, anyone's pet peeves been triggered by other commuters lately?

WinstonsGirl

Not other commuters, but the train routinely sits 2 blocks away from the station, waiting for another train to leave so it has a parking spot.  I am 2 blocks from my car and going home, but I have to wait another 5-10 cos the city can't figure out a better schedule.  

Though there is 1 guy who gets on the same train everyday (I see him on occasion), sits and cracks a beer to drink on the way home.  It's cheap smelly beer too, cos I can smell it across the aisle

drunkenwitch

Cyclists on the train who get super pissy that they have to move their bikes away from the door so that people can used said door to enter and exit the train. Also the cyclists who block the aisles, ram me with their bikes when trying to force it on an already packed liked sardines train (there is nowhere for me to move princess) and people who refuse to move their bag so someone can sit down (unless you also bought a ticket for that bag, you only get one seat).

Biggest pet peeve, people who have their damn earbuds so loud I can make out the lyrics.

Jen4948

In NYC, when guys need to dance on the subway and use the bars and poles like jungle gyms. Also, when men sit with spread legs and take up more than their fair share of space.

arrippa

Yesterday, I was on the train and a lady with a cane comes in. No one gives up their seat ( I was standing). I as so pissed that I wanted to call someone out but didn't want to embarrass the lady with the cane. I hate this is the world we live in.

santiago2615

I walked onto the bus Monday morning only to be slapped in the face with the worst smell ever. This man was sitting towards the front and smelled like he had been sitting in his soiled underwear for months! The handful of people that were on the bus were sitting towards the back, but the smell was too strong. We all got off on the next stop and waited for the next bus.

sparklepants41

So many pet peeves from my days on the T. 

People who eat smelly food

People with backpacks

People with suitcases who insist on taking the T during rush hour 

People who block the doors

People who won't give up their seat for elderly/injured/disabled/pregnant individuals

People who take up more than one seat

nerdwife

UGH SO MANY. I always seem to attract the people who are falling asleep and they always end up falling asleep towards me. So awkward and uncomfortable and gross. I also hate man-spreading, though MTA has started a campaign to end that (and other commuter nightmares).

There's also a preacher guy who is sometimes on my train into the city and he is the worst. He just yells and yells about the bible. If I see him get onto my car, I will leave. I just wanna ask him if he genuinely thinks he's going to convert someone by yelling at them during what is likely their only quiet time of the day.

Oh also I usually have a backpack but I always always always take it off and put it on the floor between my legs. It drives me CRAZY when people wear their backpacks and then spend the trip banging into other people.

*le sigh*

sarahufl

drunkenwitch said:

Cyclists on the train who get super pissy that they have to move their bikes away from the door so that people can used said door to enter and exit the train. Also the cyclists who block the aisles, ram me with their bikes when trying to force it on an already packed liked sardines train (there is nowhere for me to move princess) and people who refuse to move their bag so someone can sit down (unless you also bought a ticket for that bag, you only get one seat). Biggest pet peeve, people who have their damn earbuds so loud I can make out the lyrics.

Thankfully you aren't allowed to bring bikes on our trains during rush hour. They kick you off.

Mine is that I am pregnant and people seem to think their giant backpack deserves a seat on the train more than me. And if I get glared at by one more person for asking them to move their bag on a crowded train, I might scream at them.

Then, once I get off the train, I have to take a bus across town. It is a pretty heavily used bus that doesn't run nearly as often as it is supposed to, so people CRAM onto it. Literally, to the point that doors won't shut. And then they shout at the bus driver because the door keeps hitting them. YOU DON'T FIT. Take the next bus. Also, giant suitcases during rush hour.

thisismynickname2

The CTA also has campaign signs to talk about things like manspreading and backpack usage. Not sure how good any of the signs are when they're all up high and these days, everyone's looking down at their mobile device. 

My biggest pet peeve is people who don't move to the back of the bus or middle of the train car. They cause a bottleneck that prevents other commuters from even getting on! Come on, everyone has places to be, and you won't miss your stop by being far from a door, dumbasses.

Oh, and people who talk too loudly, either on their phone or to each other. Nobody cares that, like, your friend AJ is like, having a, like, open bar at Mad River tonight, so like, yeah...  

ShesSoCold

I'm probably the guy commuters hate. I don't commute, but I take the train downtown once or twice a month for fun - Blackhawks games, radio shows, stuff like that. And we drink and talk and laugh and have a good time. We're always careful not to take the "quiet car" but people still give us dirty looks for talking. We're quiet enough and don't take up too much space and are polite. 

Luckily for everyone, the Bears have no home night games this season. 

KatWAG

I take the train to work everyday.

If you talk in the quiet car, I will cut you. I have to talk and listen to people take all day. My 30 minute train ride, is my quiet time.

Also, during rush hour, I think you are a huge asshole if you purposely sit in the aisle seat and put your bag on the window seat. People need a seat, move over. Don't make me climb over you and then grumble that your bag has to go on your lap/ the floor.

pinkcow13

I walk to work every day. So my pet peeve are the city cyclists that barrel down the streets, as if they own the city. I also get annoyed at the tourists that suddenly stop in front of me by my job to take pictures, or the ones that block the streets. I work by the Flatiron building, so it's a popular spot for pictures.

emmaaa

I drive to work so I don;t have to deal with people bothering, but other drivers. I hate people who feel the need to go 5 mph under the speed limit on a two lane road. I'm in a hurry people!

anjemon

I get onto the highway where it's 3 lanes and the on-ramp. The next lane after merging is an exit only lane that ends fairly soon after my on-ramp. I hate when people aren't aware of that exit only lane (or me) and don't make room in the real lanes. If you continue to pace me I'm going to get pissed because I'm not trying to exit.

I also hate how slow people get when other people are merging/exiting. For some reason it's always super slow around where I enter the freeway, even though we have our own lanes. Apparently adding lanes makes people slow down? Don't understand it, always annoyed about the backup when I'm only one exit from work!

arrrghmatey

I take the train to and from work every day, so I have quite a few:

-people who bring bikes on the train and block the doors

-people with backpacks who swing them around and knock me in the head or the side

-when people put their bag on the seat next to them, hoping no one will want to sit there (yeah, during rush hour, that ain't gonna happen. Move that shit)

-the panhandlers who walk through the train spouting their spiel and asking for money

-people who don't give up the seats next to the door for the elderly/disables/pregnant passengers

-when the train is already overflowing and people still try to shove their way in, even though another train is coming in 10 minutes

-people who walk right up to the front of the waiting line on the train platform, cutting in front of everyone, so they could hopefully get a seat

-when the transit workers go ons trike every 4 years because they want an 8% raise in their salary even though they already get paid triple digits for sitting in an information booth or pressing a couple of buttons. So everyone has to drive or take the bus and traffic is a NIGHTMARE.

julieanne912

emmaaa said:

I drive to work so I don;t have to deal with people bothering, but other drivers. I hate people who feel the need to go 5 mph under the speed limit on a two lane road. I'm in a hurry people!

This is mine too, both to and from work, I take 2 lane back road highways for part of my drive.  Also on the flip side, when I'm already going 10mph over and some dude in a giant truck comes and tailgates me (even when they could go around).  I have a giant truck at home, so big trucks don't scare me.  I tend to slow down to the speed limit when they do that though.  

ryanandjoe4

julieanne912 said:

emmaaa said:

I drive to work so I don;t have to deal with people bothering, but other drivers. I hate people who feel the need to go 5 mph under the speed limit on a two lane road. I'm in a hurry people!

This is mine too, both to and from work, I take 2 lane back road highways for part of my drive.  Also on the flip side, when I'm already going 10mph over and some dude in a giant truck comes and tailgates me (even when they could go around).  I have a giant truck at home, so big trucks don't scare me.  I tend to slow down to the speed limit when they do that though.  

All of this, I do not tailgate, but hate when people go under the speed limit in the fast lane. or the slow lane is passing them.. but the bigger a$$ is the one tailgating me because I have more than an inch of room from the car in-front of me, notice how you riding my a$$ isn't making me speed up, OOHH wait I am taking my food off the accelerator and slowing down to a speed that will piss you off more, then I will down shift to speed up OHH look your off my ass stay there..

banana468

ryanandjoe4 said:

julieanne912 said:

emmaaa said:

I drive to work so I don;t have to deal with people bothering, but other drivers. I hate people who feel the need to go 5 mph under the speed limit on a two lane road. I'm in a hurry people!

This is mine too, both to and from work, I take 2 lane back road highways for part of my drive.  Also on the flip side, when I'm already going 10mph over and some dude in a giant truck comes and tailgates me (even when they could go around).  I have a giant truck at home, so big trucks don't scare me.  I tend to slow down to the speed limit when they do that though.  

All of this, I do not tailgate, but hate when people go under the speed limit in the fast lane. or the slow lane is passing them.. but the bigger a$$ is the one tailgating me because I have more than an inch of room from the car in-front of me, notice how you riding my a$$ isn't making me speed up, OOHH wait I am taking my food off the accelerator and slowing down to a speed that will piss you off more, then I will down shift to speed up OHH look your off my ass stay there..

OK, I have to address those words.   On a highway, the left lane is the PASSING LANE.   It isn't the fast lane.   You don't drive in the left lane because you want to go super speedy.   You drive in there to pass.   And if you're not passing anyone, GTFO of the left lane.   The only exception to that should be if you're about to take a left exit.

People need to know that driving in the left lane and deciding to regulate the speed for those behind them is illegal.    There's no need for a left lane vigilante.

End rant. 

thefanciestbeckler

I drive to work every day, and I have to say by far my biggest pet peeve is people not using their turn signals when switching lanes. The interstate in my area is pretty hilly and very curvy in some places, and there are severe accidents nearly every day. I can't count the amount of times I have nearly gotten into an accident because I am switching lanes (with my turn signal ON) and someone in the next lane over is doing the same without their turn signal. Nobody can read your mind, people!!!! It's so dangerous!!!

Next up on my list is semi trucks. Just in general. Downtown Chattanooga is in a valley surrounded by mountains, and aaaaalllllllllllllll the semi's just love to take up all 3 lanes at rush hour going up the ridge at about 20 mph. 

fyrchk

I drive to work and my pet peeve are the people who leave gaps between them and the car in front of them that are like 10 car lengths. And it's because they are going under the speed limit, talking on their phone, digging in their glove box, or whatever the hell else.

JediElizabeth

thefanciestbeckler said:

I drive to work every day, and I have to say by far my biggest pet peeve is people not using their turn signals when switching lanes. The interstate in my area is pretty hilly and very curvy in some places, and there are severe accidents nearly every day. I can't count the amount of times I have nearly gotten into an accident because I am switching lanes (with my turn signal ON) and someone in the next lane over is doing the same without their turn signal. Nobody can read your mind, people!!!! It's so dangerous!!!

Next up on my list is semi trucks. Just in general. Downtown Chattanooga is in a valley surrounded by mountains, and aaaaalllllllllllllll the semi's just love to take up all 3 lanes at rush hour going up the ridge at about 20 mph. 

Isn't it against the law for them to be in the left lane??? In NJ it is...and usually the interstate highways are expanded to 4 lanes for those kinds of ridges, then go back to 3 lanes after we pass the crest.

I don't think there are many US commutes worse than NYC from outside the city, but I'm pretty sure this wins. 

WinstonsGirl

Oh, another one from this week.  I take the train into class, about 3:30.  It's dead empty.  I put my back pack beside me cos it's dead empty (I don't when it's busy).  Wed, one guy got on and promptly sat down beside me, pushing my bag out of the way.  There were about 20 EMPTY seats on the rest of the train.  I think there were about 3 people in this car.  He then moved quickly to across from me.  WHY???  The train is empty!!!  He was stinky too, of way too many cigarettes.  

ryanandjoe4

banana468 said:

ryanandjoe4 said:

julieanne912 said:

emmaaa said:

I drive to work so I don;t have to deal with people bothering, but other drivers. I hate people who feel the need to go 5 mph under the speed limit on a two lane road. I'm in a hurry people!

This is mine too, both to and from work, I take 2 lane back road highways for part of my drive.  Also on the flip side, when I'm already going 10mph over and some dude in a giant truck comes and tailgates me (even when they could go around).  I have a giant truck at home, so big trucks don't scare me.  I tend to slow down to the speed limit when they do that though.  

All of this, I do not tailgate, but hate when people go under the speed limit in the fast lane. or the slow lane is passing them.. but the bigger a$$ is the one tailgating me because I have more than an inch of room from the car in-front of me, notice how you riding my a$$ isn't making me speed up, OOHH wait I am taking my food off the accelerator and slowing down to a speed that will piss you off more, then I will down shift to speed up OHH look your off my ass stay there..

OK, I have to address those words.   On a highway, the left lane is the PASSING LANE.   It isn't the fast lane.   You don't drive in the left lane because you want to go super speedy.   You drive in there to pass.   And if you're not passing anyone, GTFO of the left lane.   The only exception to that should be if you're about to take a left exit.

People need to know that driving in the left lane and deciding to regulate the speed for those behind them is illegal.    There's no need for a left lane vigilante.

End rant. 

Agreed that is why people piss me off when the right lane is passing them, and they are just driving in the passing lane slowly.

There is a bridge that is under construction has been for months, it is on a looped highway, and all the way round the loop leading up to this bridge are signs and warnings that wide loads must take another route (there are plenty) there has been now 3 trucks stuck because they were a wide load that attempted to go over the bridge anyways.. This backs up traffic all over the city not just that one place, because the traffic gets backed up for miles since they take hours to get the truck off the bridge..