Cell phone sin
My question is less a tale to tell and more a question to pose for busriders. What, if any, are the “bus cell phone rules?”
I’m guessing most of us have encountered a loud bus cellphone talker at some point. The person who blabs on and on in what seems to be an unnecessarily loud voice. Do they have any courtesy? Any shame?
I will admit that I have used my cell phone on the bus before although I make a point to avoid it whenever possible. One particular time, I was committing the cellphone sin on the 6 after work. I really believe I was talking at a more than reasonable volume. However, an older woman seated in front of me, turned around, scowled, and pointed at something towards the ceiling of the bus, which I later realized was the “don’t ruin someone’s ride” poster that pictures an obnoxious man on his cellphone. Oops.
So that brings me back to my question. How do other riders feel about cell phone talkers on the bus? Is it ever ok to talk on your phone while riding the bus? Also, how is talking on your phone any different from having a conversation on the bus? I have been on many bus rides with people who feel they have to yell back and forth at each other. Is it really just a question of volume?
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Yes, it’s volume. Lots of people yell into their phones for whatever reason. If you weren’t being loud, that lady was just being awful. If you were being loud, she was still somewhat rude. Two rude people is a bit worse than one rude person
Also, those toy phone walkie talkie things that all the youths use are awful.
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Well, I don’t know if it’s a “sin” per se, but I am surprised at the amount of personal [and sometimes quite embarrassing] details that these “bus talkers” let fly. Just because you’re on a bus doesn’t mean that there aren’t 20 people honing in on your conversation.
Even I will listen in on a juicy conversation with my earbuds in [and my music stopped].
I guess the rule of thumb is: If you don’t mind everyone on the bus eavesdropping in on your conversation - then go ahead and talk. If you don’t - then don’t “cell” on the bus.
If you’re loud and obnoxious, then STFU is the only option - but I don’t think it’s the passenger’s duty to do so. Some people will just never get it, unfortunately.
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Yea, some cellphone models could effect my power wheelchair’s electronics ‘EMI’ concerned. Cellphone should be banned while on buses, they’re newest techologies on our buses as GPS location detecting, GoTo reader box, computer onboard system (Alerts/GoTo fare inspection/driver’s schedule clocked in and out and etc), radiophone (handset next to the farebox) and etc.
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Similiar situation…last December I was coming back from Chicago on Amtrak. Around the Winona area, the guy sitting ahead of me (who seemed kind of strange anyway) made a call. He talked very loud in the fairly quiet coach and had filthly language. And it went on and on. Finally an older lady asked him to be quiet…or at lease clean up his language. The guy was a jerk.
Jul 5th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Ryan- agreed, the walkie talkie feature is really quite annoying. Those and the ringtone DJs who like to shuffle loudly through 12 different but mostly indistinguishable rap songs are the worst.
I’ll occasionally use mine on the bus, but I speak in low tones and generally don’t use it unless I have the seat to myself and try to keep it quick. I also don’t say anything personal either.
Jul 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Yes, talking on a Cell Phone is annoying and shouldn’t take place. I get tired of hearing about peoples sex lives and drug deals and scams. When I get a call, I tell the caller I am on the bus and as soon as I get off, I will them back. If need to make a call, I keep short and impersonal so I am not bothering people.
Jul 7th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Anything above a muted tone is absolutely unacceptable. There’s a girl that’s occassionally on my 663 into St. Louis Park who screams into her cellphone whenever she’s on. On a few occassions, the bus driver had to make an announcement over the loudspeaker to tell her to shut up or she’d be kicked off (he worded it much more professionally, hats off to him).
Why do people feel the need to have their mindless chatter conversations with dozens of people within a 10 foot radius of them? I mean, how long is a bus ride really? Most are probably 15-20 minutes or less. Can’t you wait until you’re off the bus?
I think many people think that because they’re talking on a cellphone, they’re more “cool” than everyone else on the bus and they make it a point to call attention to themselves. But then again, some are just oblivious to the impact of their actions on others.
Keep it on vibrate and only answer if it may be an urgent matter.
Jul 9th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I would say talk all you want, as loud as you want, until bus drives start enforcing other general policies! I thought there was no smoking, no food, and no drinks on busses- the signs are posted in every bus i’ve been in, yet MANY folks continue to do those things, and i’ve NEVER seen a bus driver say word one about it. What about all the OBNOXIOUS drunks allowed on busses? what about the crack dealers that ride the routes to do their business? Until they address these issues, i say talk all you want, as loud as you want! If they don’t care about the average users safety, than i sure as hell don’t care about being on a cell phone!
Jul 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I almost forgot! Here’s “exhibit A” from “overheard in MPLS”
Man with American flag sticking out of his backpack: It’s against the law to eat on the bus, isn’t that right, driver?
Bus Driver: Are you serious?
Man: Yeah, I’m serious!
Woman with drink: I’ll spill this drink all over that chair and make you sit your ass on it!
16 Bus into downtown
So I ask you, if there’s no drinks allowed on the bus, WTF is the deal with this “woman”? better yet, what kind of bus driver is that?!?!
Jul 9th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
WWEPD?
Jul 22nd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
saying something to anyone about any of these things is not worth getting beat or shot over, not one person seems to want to back up a bus driver, therefore we are on our own, we are just trying to do are jobs and go home to are families just like you do, sorry these days you are on your own.
Jul 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 am
I’d say it’s acceptable as long as the call is utilitarian in nature. For example, “Meet me at so-and-so intersection, I’ll be there in five minutes, bye”. On one of my last shifts, I had a woman sitting right behind me on a silent bus who who made three separate 10-minute calls to her friends to tell them about her yeast infection. Or the guy who kept yelling into his phone “I keep telling you, it ain’t my baby! You gotta believe me!” That’s what not to do.
Jul 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I don’t think its a big deal to speak on your cellphone. I bus from work everyday and sometimes this is the only time I will have to make important phone calls that I didn’t get to make during my lunch break before certain offices close for the day, etc. As long as your speak in a normal tone voice. No sex talk, swearing or talking about drug scams though.
Aug 19th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I’d say talking on a cell phone at a reasonable volume is OK. Excessive loudness, especially if you’re using foul language or talking about an offensive subject, is not OK.
As to the comment about enforcing other rules: Since the last strike, drinks in covered containers have been legal on buses. Personally I think non-messy food should be legal at the driver’s discretion. That would encourage more bus commuting as people could use their commute time productively. I’ve rarely seen anyone smoke on buses, thank Laura!
Aug 19th, 2008 at 10:44 am
One other thing about cell phones: There’s been some research into why hearing other people’s cell phone conversations is more annoying that hearing an ordinary in-person conversation: the fact that you hear only one side of the cell phone conversation apparently doesn’t fit with input the brain is used to… it’s like someone singing off key (which I do a lot)!
Oh, by the way, if any of you ride in South Minneapolis, do you ever hear me and my Communist friends discussing politics on the bus or train? Do you find it educational, entertaining, or annoying?
Aug 27th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I don’t think there is anything wrong with cell phone use on the bus so long as it is reasonable and not loud.
I’ll get a call occasionaly and I try to keep it short and speak softly so I am not disrupting everyone on the bus.
Just being polite seems to be an easy rule to follow…
Aug 30th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I’m a different kind of bus driver. I have been known to kick people off for offensive language and even for eating on the bus.
The “rule” is, you may bring on a drink as long as it has a cover on it. Food is not allowed, but what do you say to someone who gets on with a bag of fast food? How do I know they aren’t bringing it home?
I did have a teenage girl that got on every day. By the third day, I figured out she was the one leaving sunflower seed shells on the floor every day. I watched her on that third day and saw her letting the shells drop from her mouth to the floor. I pulled the bus over, walked to the back where she was seated and looked at the mess on the floor and then at her. I told her she could either clean that mess up or get off the bus.
She looked at the mess. She didn’t say a word…she walked out the back door. It was actually pretty funny, and educational for the rest of the passengers!
Click on my name for more bus stories…from this drivers perspective!