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Olympic travel tips: transit etiquette and behaviour

Olympic travel tips: transit etiquette and behaviour

For those who might be on transit for the first time during the Olympics, here’s a short series of tips to help you get on your way. (If you do know this stuff already, please pass it along to those who might find this useful!)

So far in the Olympic tips series: info on tickets, bike info, Park and Rides, a guide to transit staff, where to find real-time transit info online, and transit etiquette. Let me know if I should add anymore!

If you’re new to transit, you might notice that experienced riders are following an unspoken sort of transit etiquette.

That’s because regular riders know there are many things you can do to make the ride easier on yourself and your fellow passengers.

So if you’d like to help out, here’s a short transit etiquette list to help you get started. (There’s also a list on the main TransLink site.)

Although really, the golden rule of transit travel is “Be considerate” :)

Make boarding easier (and faster) for everyone

Have your fare ready when you board a bus
If you count your change on the bus, passengers behind you are stuck waiting to board. So have exact change ready before the bus arrives, and you can quickly pay when you get on. Better still – buy a prepaid fare, and you can just validate the ticket or wave your pass when boarding!

Let everyone off the transit vehicle before you get on
This is especially true for SkyTrain. Stand clear of the doors and let everybody exit easily—the quicker they get off, the quicker you can board.

Move as far into the vehicle as you can
Going far inside leaves more room for people to get on.

Put your backpack (or your bag) on the floor
A big backpack can take up a lot of room if it’s on your back, leaving less room for other people to board. Put it on the floor and more people can hop on.

Walk left. Stand right.
When using an escalator, please stand to the right to allow people to pass you on the left.

Make the ride easier for your fellow passengers

Give seats to those who need them
Seats closest to the doors are for those with disabilities and/or seniors. People appreciate you offering these seats to them. It’s worth remembering that some people have disabilities that aren’t always obvious. If someone asks you to give up a seat because they have a disability, please take their word for it.

Food
It’s a good idea not to eat or drink on board transit vehicles! You could spill it, or it might bother fellow passengers if your food is particularly aromatic. Or you might be left with messy garbage while on a busy vehicle..

Personal hygiene
Busy rides on transit can mean close quarters. Deodorant can make all the difference! It’s also wise to be mindful of those who suffer from allergies to certain scents, and apply your scented products moderately.

Don’t pump up the volume
Continuous loud noises can really bother your fellow passengers – so be aware of the volume of your music player, the sound of your conversations (both in person and on cell phones), or other noise you might be making.

If you have any other transit etiquette notes to add, feel free!

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