Catching a bus isn’t as simple as showing up and hopping on. To improve the efficiency of bus travel for students and the broader community, transportation officials and students alike are highlighting key etiquette practices that can make commutes smoother and less crowded.
Anna Miller, a third-year Western student, said she takes the bus about 2-3 times a week to attend classes. Her main frustration is with full bus capacities and how that can delay her commute.
“The part of my commute that I think is the most inefficient is the amount of times that you’re waiting for a bus,” Miller said. “It drives by because it’s full, and then you’re just stuck.”
The issue of full bus capacities is linked to where people are standing on the bus, said Genevieve Carrillo, community relations and marketing manager for the Whatcom Transportation Authority.
“We’ve noticed more and more now, in post-pandemic years, people want their personal space,” Carrillo said. “We see a lot more [instances] of somebody boarding the bus and just staying right at the very front, which becomes a problem because that slows down the boarding for everybody else.”
Carrillo emphasized the importance of finding an open seat and moving as close to the back of the bus as possible.
“I would say that buses, from my opinion, could probably hold 10 to 20% more people if we [practiced] proper etiquette,” said Andrea Reiter, commute options program manager for WWU Transportation Services.
The hesitation to move further back creates blockages during busy times, which is especially impactful on bus routes that go through campus. Carillo said there are seven bus routes and three shuttles that go through campus, servicing the Viking Union 111 times every day.
Given the high volume of buses and riders, being prepared before you even step on the bus can make a huge difference. Carrillo noted that riders who have their bus pass ready, know their destination and are mindful of their fellow riders can help speed up the boarding process and reduce crowding at the front of the bus.
“I always have my Western Card and Google Maps ready before I get on the bus so I can get on quickly and know where my stop is ahead of time,” said Kurt Montero, a third-year student-athlete at Western who rides the bus at least twice a day.
A new program, implemented at the beginning of the school year with WTA and WWU Transportation Services collaboration, offers ‘show-and-go’ stations for various bus stops on routes through campus to streamline the boarding process.
“In order to decrease those dwell times, which are times that it takes for people to get on the bus when the bus is at a stop, we’ve created show-and-go stops so Western students can just show their pass [to the bus driver] on their phone without having to use the scanner or card reader,” Reiter said.
By making small but meaningful adjustments, like moving further back and having your bus pass ready, you can make a big difference in improving your and your community’s overall bus experience.
“I think there’s a lack of knowledge and understanding of what you’re supposed to do,” Miller said. “It’ll be raining outside, you see that there are people in line out front, no one is moving anywhere, but there's space in the back of the bus and we’re all huddled in the front. There’s a solution here. Who’s going to do something about it?”
Jaelin McQueen (he/him) is a city/state reporter for The Front. He is a third-year student majoring in public relations and minoring in political science. Jaelin enjoys content creation, spending time with friends and exploring new places. You can reach him at jaelinmcqueen.thefront@gmail.com.
