43 Public Transport Moments That Made People Lose Faith In Humanity

It’s not just other passengers that these people infuriate. A bus driver from the United Kingdom recently took it all out on rude passengers who annoyed him and his colleagues, exposing the worst habits he sees on his route.

While the majority of those taking public transport are courteous and follow the unspoken rules of sharing a bus, there’s always a small group of people ready to ruin the day.

One common issue is passengers not having their pass or ticket ready before boarding. The driver, who works in London, pointed out that passengers waiting at a bus stop have ample time to prepare their pass. Having it ready when entering the bus speeds up the process and allows the driver to move to the next stop more quickly.

Another frustrating behavior is when passengers sprint for the bus but fail to thank the driver for waiting. Many people find themselves running, especially when pressed for time, but drivers don’t always stop.

Those who do wait appreciate gratitude, yet it can be especially annoying when passengers don’t acknowledge the effort. The driver explained that when he stops for someone who’s running, waits for them to board, and gets no thanks, it feels disrespectful. “I’ll open the door and say ‘you’re welcome,’” he said. “Have some manners. That’s annoying.”

Pressing the stop bell multiple times without anyone actually leaving is another common frustration. Drivers assume someone wants to alight when the bell rings, but stopping unnecessarily slows the journey for everyone. The driver complained that repeated ghost stops prevent him from keeping on schedule and disrupt the ride for all passengers.

Some passengers also tap on the window impatiently when the bus arrives. While the usual way to signal you want to board is to extend your arm, some can’t wait and knock on the window unnecessarily. The driver explained that this behavior is confusing and irritating, especially when he is already preparing to stop.

Finally, it can be frustrating when one passenger points out that someone else is running to catch up. The driver prefers that the latecomer board at their own pace without commentary from other passengers. Pointing it out only adds stress.

Etiquette expert Jo Hayes, founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, says everyone shares responsibility for maintaining proper behavior on public transport. If well-mannered passengers fail to address bad manners, poor etiquette continues to flourish.

Often, people aren’t aware of their misbehavior due to lack of self-awareness, never being told, or neurodivergence. Addressing the situation, even awkwardly, benefits everyone.

Hayes advises following the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated, showing respect, consideration, and courtesy while being as unobtrusive as possible.

In practical terms, this could mean avoiding loud phone conversations, maintaining good hygiene when coughing or sneezing, keeping your belongings and body contained to your seat, avoiding eating strong-smelling food, and never putting your feet on the seats. All of these small actions help ensure public transport is a more comfortable experience for everyone.

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