Have you ever been carrying a really heavy backpack on the bus with no place to sit? Normally it's a very unpleasant position to be in, especially if there are several seats being wasted due to poor bus etiquette.

Many people, (yes, even including some Fanshawe students) in this city need a friendly reminder of how to be courteous on the bus.

The first and most important courtesy you can extend is to allow elderly and disabled patrons to use the seats that are designated for them. There is no problem with using these seats occasionally, especially when there appears to be no demand for them. However, there have been several instances when I've noticed older people getting on a bus that is almost packed-full, and the young students who were sitting in these specially designated seats made no attempt to move. I would like to think it was due to a lack of awareness more than outright rudeness. Offering your seat to an elderly or disabled person not only makes you feel good, but it's the decent thing to do.

Another habit students tend to fall into is placing their backpacks on the seat beside them. This is particularly rude, as the buses become very full at certain times during weekdays. We all have heavy backpacks and if there are seats, most people would prefer to sit in them, rather than stand staring at a backpack in a seat to its own. I have been annoyed so many times with students who take up extra seats with their backpacks, while I have been forced to stand for the entire bus ride. It is also particularly annoying when people can barely cram onto the bus, and people who are hogging the seats still take no notice or choose not to move their stuff. My suggestion is simple: place your backpack on your lap as a courtesy to fellow patrons. It may cause you a tiny bit of discomfort, however it will relieve another passenger of a huge amount of discomfort.

One of the most basic courtesies is often the most overlooked: moving to the back of the bus if you happen to be standing. I am always amazed at how much energy the bus operators must put into yelling at students to move back. We all know that more people are going to be getting on the bus, so the logical thing to do is move back to accommodate more people. After all, most students know how frustrating it is to see a bus drive right by you because the operator thinks that it is full.

Lastly, standing in the little door area is a really bad idea. It impedes others who are trying to get off of the bus before the operator drives away, and we all know that they usually don't wait long enough for people to exit the bus when the bus is really full. Although it may be convenient for you to stand by the door, the inconvenience it produces for others can be far more significant.

If everyone put a small effort into extending these small courtesies on the bus, the daily bus ride would definitely be a much more pleasant experience for all of us.

Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.