Posted July 7 at 1:00 p.m.

What's up public transit peeps?  "Going Public" is back in the building.  I missed you all, and appreciate your patience (and posts) in my absence.

I am still digging through my inbox.  You know how that goes after an extended out-of-office stint.  But among the first things I pulled up was an e-mail that struck my interest.  Some self-described "Left Coasters" have created a manners-based site for mass transit, and they offer some tips even we seasoned CTA-ers could use.

The most recent MuniManners post, as of today anyway, great advice about how to handle bags/baggage on trains.  After getting my toes rolled over and watching rampant seat-blocking, I can give a big amen to that. 

I also enjoyed another bit asking riders not to sleep during their commute.  They're right, nobody wants to be buried under your dead weight while you make like the bus or rail version of Rip Van Winkle.

Check out their site, and then let's make our own list of the most important mass transit manners.  I want to start by asking riders to exit out of the back.  I know it's hard, and you feel you may miss your stop, but it's ri-damn-diculous to come from the back to the front and block boarding riders.

What about all of these people who drown themselves in strong, stinky perfume or after-shave? How can these people stand to smell themselves - the smell is so strong that it makes me choke. Perfume is supposed to be subtle - it's not supposed to be so strong you can taste it.

"GOING PUBLIC" SAYS: I hear you. Let me second that. I cannot stand strong perfume. I actually race past those perfume-testing people in department stores. Great manners tip. Appreciate you weighing in.

Whatever happened to giving up your seat to seniors, pregnant women, people carrying small children? I'm nearly 60, and I find myself offering up my seat to these folks while teenagers and 20-somethings are too busy listening to their iPods even to notice that seven-month belly. Recently, a man actually had to shame these louts by announcing: "My wife is pregnant, will someone please give her a seat?"

"I want to start by asking riders to exit out of the back. I know it's hard, and you feel you may miss your stop, but it's ri-damn-diculous to come from the back to the front and block boarding riders."

Hahaha! Yeah Kyra, keep dreaming! That's like asking the CTA to ALWAYS run on time. Not gonna happen.

But it would be amusing to make people with strollers exit out the back, and make them deal with the automatic doors that always want to close faster than they open. Or seeing slow moving old people fall out the back when they exit, because the step at the back exit is too high from the curb. Or double the amusement bonus with old people and shopping carts trying to get out the back of the bus.

I don't see any humor in making people with strollers, or the elderly, exit the back of a bus just see them fall or get hurt.

Those type of comments shouldn't be allowed on this blog. It's not helping improve the Cta in any way, nor is it giving fellow riders useful suggestions.

That being said, as far as having manners on public transit, common sense goes a long way.

Take your trash with you, don't eat on trains, and if you do, don't get food debris everywhere.
If you see the train is crowded and you're sitting in a double seat, move over so that someone can sit, especially pregnant/elderly/disabled riders. If you have luggage or a stroller, sit somewhere where there's enough room to move it to the side; don't block the aisles.
Lastly, if the train is SOO packed that it appears everyone is packed like sardines, either walk to the next few cars or wait for the next train. Blocking the doors delays everyone.
Being considerate goes a very long way, especially on mass transit.

I'd like to ask seniors and pregnant women to sit in the seats that are designated for them, which are at the front, and use the front door to get off, the seats are up there so you can use the wide door instead of having to push past everyone to use the back door.
And mothers with strollers. Now I've got a 4 year old. Until last year I didn't even know how to drive a car never mind own one. And still I've managed to live and work around the world using public transport, without needing to cart my fully upright stroller and six million bags with me. And yes now that she is 4 she DOES NOT NEED to be in a stroller at all. Neither does your 6 year old.

"I don't see any humor in making people with strollers, or the elderly, exit the back of a bus just see them fall or get hurt."

Hey, if Kyra comments that everybody should exit out the back, then that should include EVERYBODY. Parents with strollers, the elderly, and pregnant women should be NO exception.

Telling everybody to exit out the back, yet to make exceptions for the pregnant, elderly, and strollers is, as Kyra put it, ri-damn-diculous. As they are still slowing things down by blocking boarding riders. Especially the slow moving old geezers. And they take even MORE time to get off if they have shopping carts or walkers with them. And the people with strollers are just as bad.

Maybe the CTA could install a ramp that can be extended from under the stairs or platform at the exit of the bus. No, wait! That's too logical! The CTA NEVER does anything logical.

My main transit pet - peeve is CTA bus passengers who block the rear exit doors and just stand there, instead of politely stepping aside to allow me to leave the bus. Instead, I have to try to muscle my way out through the doors. So annoying!

I was riding on the 147 last night, which happen to be more than 30 minutes. When I was asked to fold up my stroller and hold my 8 month old daughter. I don't have a problem with that except I don't think that it would be wise or safe for me to stand and hold her. So I refused to fold up the stroller until I was able to get a seat. I think that the CTA should not allow people to stand and hold children under the age of 2 years old. I mean, if it's against the law to drive a car without the child being in a carseat shouldn't there be measures to ensure the safety of children on buses.

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