Annoyed on the bus

There are certainly unwritten rules of the bus--I often refer to this code of conduct as "bus etiquette". It's come to my attention that not everyone seems to have picked up on this code, and here I will have to call them out.

Headphones: On the top of my list of bus annoyances are those people who have headphones on but have either music so loud or headphones so poorly made that their music blares for all around them to hear. See everyone around you casting hateful glances? Yeah, we're all thinking we don't want to listen to your "Club Hits Vol. 8" and that you need to invest in better headphones or turn the volume down.

Food: It amazes me the variety of food that people bring on the bus with them. I can see snacking on a granola bar or something of that nature but bring a personal pizza onto the bus? A subway sandwich? First, while they smell good--I don't want to ride for an hour smelling food I can't eat. Second, these choices just seem messy. If the bus hits a pothole, the person in front of them is going to end up with a hat of mozzarella and sauce or the floor will be carpeted in shredded lettuce. These just aren't travel foods, people!

Phones: It's understandable if you need to make a quick call on your phone to handle some kind of important business while you're on the bus. It's also understandable to answer your ringing phone (and preferable if you have an ultra obnoxious ringtone) while you're on the bus--but carrying on hour long conversations just isn't appropriate. The people that don't understand this rule, also insist on speaking loudly and about inappropriate topics. We don't want to hear your conversation but in such close quarters, it's unavoidable. Tell your caller you're on the bus and will call them back when you get off, please.

Baggage: This is a commuter bus, it goes from Greensburg to Pittsburgh--not from Ohio to Pittsburgh. There is no need for the amount of baggage some people bring on the bus with them. A briefcase is acceptable. A backpack or messenger bag is acceptable. A purse is acceptable. One passenger will all three of these accessories and more is not acceptable. Everyone on the bus will roll their eyes as if synchronized and a passenger gets on lugging a tote bag, a duffle bag, a suitcase, a purse, etc with them up the aisle. Each person in an aisle seat is bound to be cracked in the head with one or more pieces of this excessive baggage. I see no need for it! Sometimes I see women (the business type who wear skirts, pantyhose, and sneakers) with a purse inside of a slightly bigger purse/tote bag. This isn't quite as unacceptable as it is weird.

If you fit into any of these categories, stay off the bus.