Posted Nov.10 at 3:15 p.m.

Have you ever felt an irrational rage against another rider?  Maybe not irrational, but an amount of anger that was unusual to the situation.  Days ago, I wanted to phsyically eject a rider for getting on the bus yacking on the phone.  This young lady clearly didn't have her fare ready, even though it was cold  and there were 10 people waiting behind her.  The bus operator asked her to go get it and come back, in a nice tone, and she kind of harumphed at him and stalked away...phone in hand.  Was this person unaware a bus might show up to the stop?  What is so hard about pulling out your Chicago Card and holding it in the hand not grasping a Blackberry Pearl?

I don't know about you, but I think it's getting a little too chilly for riders to be playing around, especially when it comes to boarding buses in a timely and efficient matter.

I'd say my tips for reaching that goal are: exit through the back (if you can), have your fare ready and sit in the inner seat so people don't have to climb around you or ask you to move so they can sit.

What are your tips?  Share them fast.  I've got my down coat out already.

If you need to have a very private cell phone conversation, save it for when your fellow riders won't have to listen to it. Keep your packages off of the seat next to you. Don't stand right in front of the Chicago Card reader on the bus. And carry your kid and fold up your darn stroller when the bus is full!

"GP" says: Oh yes, I really have to co-sign for that packages off the seat and getting out of the way of the card reader. Common sense, people, please!

More people need to get the Chicago card! I just don't understand why every day riders/commuters still use the old paper transit cards, or even CASH! And if you MUST use cash or paper cards, let other riders pass to use the Chicago Card reader while you are still fumbling with your old fare technology.

Also, to allow easy touch and go scanning, keep your transit card in a pocket of your wallet or purse that is external when folded. And make sure it is not next to a Credit Card that has an RFID Chip like a MasterCard PayPass; they tend to confuse the buss's Chicago Card Reader.

Sorry, Ed Hayes, that all of us can't afford fancy Chicago Cards. While we're going to school full-time and working part-time so that we can barely pay our bills, we don't have time to worry about the technology we're using to ride the bus. So yes, we MUST use paper cards (or the beloved U-Pass). So sorry if it inconveniences you.

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