[PRCo] Riding___Transit___On___Vacation

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!



	While we live in an ImPerfect World and every rule will have
an exception  (but said exception should not become the
rule!),  Please  Remember that when you are away from home  
----    actually, at any time    ----    an un-written code of
conduct is applicable, and the following non-exhaustive  list
is Good To Remember when you are 
Riding___Transit___On___Vacation:::::::


	1.)--You___Are___Riding___Public___Transit    ----
		You are Not on an  *Amusement___Ride.*
	Conduct oneself accordingly with reserve and respect for
others onboard who use transit everyday to commute to and from
work, shopping, visiting, and pleasure.


	2.)--Be Responsible and take some time to search out Transit
Information.    Most Transit agencies are easily identified,
can be found in the phone book, and local information booths
can then be identified.    Many stores, including Mom & Pop
grocery stores, often have transit maps available.


	3.)--If uncertain about fares, step aside and allow others to
pass while same is determined.    This also applies when
asking questions of the Driver // Operator.


	4.)--When asking a Transit Driver // Operator for directions,
state your destination specifically    ----    identifying an
intersection is the very best way.    *Do___Not*  ask where
the bus is going -- (end of the line!) --   what the route is,
'do you go to the end of the Street // Avenue'  (when only
traveling another couple blocks!)    	Major institutions such
as Government Centers; locations of specific Arts buildings
such as symphony, opera, ballet; and other transit connections
are  *some*  good examples of secondary locations.
	And while  You  think your hotel // motel is famous, each
city has multiple hundreds of such and only the Biggest names
are easily recognized    ----    so please refrain from asking
for hotel locations!


	5.)--Most transit systems request that one board through the
front door and exit through the other available doors.    This
allows for efficient movement of people to shorten dwell time
at stops.    Exceptions are Elderly and Disabled or subway
platforms.


	6.)--Be efficient about your movements without being in a
hurry.    Transit runs on schedules and a multitude of people
violating the above can seriously impact schedules!



	What prompted the above???????    A group of
*4-5--Adults(?)*  and 3-4--times as many early to mid-teens
trying to board my trolley coach on Friday evening,
09--May--2003!    Children were riding each other 
piggy--back  while trying to board the coach the same way.   
Many in the group were straggling but when altogether they
were still extremely slow about boarding.    And while many in
the group ran for the bus and I shall assume that the
following statement from an  *Adult(?)*  was innocent,
shouting:   "Who is doing the heavy breathing"  was hardly
appropriate for the group and did not need to be said so that
people 50-miles away could hear it!

	Trolley coaches are quiet by nature but the loud talking 
*Adult(?)*  above only encouraged the others to do the same
and it was almost impossible to hear others asking me
questions or to make announcements to the bus that could be
heard.    When their destination was in sight,  *each--one* 
pulled the passenger bell cord  *Multiples--of--Times.*   
Many regular and other passengers made disparaging remarks
about the group    ----    and those remaining heaved a quite
an audible sigh of relief when the group exited.

	The group:::::::    ----    Anglo--Saxophones.

	Actually, that is being entirely too kind    ----    more
like Trumpets totally devoid of a musical score and certainly
without a conductor.    This type of action has not been the
rule but has become increasingly more prevalent in the last
couple of years.


But in spite of all the above.......
	Here's to a Pleasant experience on Public Transit----
		For One and All!

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James B. Holland

Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation....... 
___"O"--Scale St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars and...
______"O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net

______Pennsylvania Trolley Museum http://www.pa-trolley.org/
___Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org

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