50 Most Annoying Public Transport Habits

Public transport may be cheap and green, but brace yourself for loud calls, rude seat-grabbers, and zero common courtesy.

Damjan

• Published in Weird
• December 10, 2024

Public transport is a great way to get around—it's cheap, eco-friendly, and helps avoid traffic. However, the ride can be ruined by fellow passengers who forget they're in a shared space. Loud phone calls, videos playing without headphones, coughing, and pushing past others are just a few behaviors that make the journey stressful.

One common issue is people talking loudly on the phone. Whether it's a casual or intense conversation, they often don't realize how annoying it is for those around them. Similarly, playing videos or music without headphones can disturb everyone else. What's entertaining for one person can be a headache for someone else.

Personal space is another problem. It is important to respect others' space in crowded buses or trains. Some passengers take up too much room or shove past people to get a seat, making the journey uncomfortable. And then there's the issue of coughing or sneezing without covering up, which can make people worried about germs, especially after the pandemic.

Using public transportation can be an exercise in patience. Our team came across photos showcasing passengers causing chaos, and some people could use a refresher on basic manners. Here’s a roundup of the most annoying commuter habits, proving that common decency isn't always as common as it should be.

Cheap, eco-friendly travel can become a stress-filled nightmare when thoughtless passengers ignore basic decency.

"Blasting Her Christian Music Through The Whole Train. Cause She Likes It"

"This Dude And His Girlfriend Blasting Tiktoks At Full Blast On A 3 Hour Train Ride"

"This Bloke Putting His Filthy Shoes On The Train Seat, Blasting Netflix At Full Volume And Vaping"

"I Know It’s Not Technically Illegal But I Strongly Feel That The Man Who Sat In Front Of Me On The Train And Ate Seven Carrots And A Load Of Green Beans Then Left The Compost Needs Locking Up"

"This Guy Was Shaving His Legs On The Train"

"These Girls Taking Up 2 Seats Each While Other People Have To Stand"

"Woman Doesn't Let Pregnant Lady Sit On The Bus"

"Smoking On The Bus"

"People Who Stick Gum In Charing Ports On Public Transport"

"Preventing Others From Holding The Pole"

"People Hoping To Skip Queues By Standing Like This And Trying To Slip In"

"Person Leaves Sunflower Seed Shells All Over Bus Floor. Some People Are So Disrespectful"

"If You Do This, Especially With People Sitting In Front Of You, You Are An Absolute Twat"

"Just Opened My Redbull And Took One Sip On The Mbta Bus Before This Lady Sat Down In Front Of Me And Whipped Her Hair Over The Headrest Causing Pieces Of Either Crispy Hair Or Dried Hair Product To Fall Right Into The Opening... Now Holding This Full Can Until I Get To A Bin"

"Someone Put Cream On The Seat At The Bus Stop"

"That No One Can Sit Next To U In A Full Bus"

"The Girl In Front Of Me Refused To Close Her Window While It Was Pouring Rain"

"Acting Like This On A Morning Commuter Train Full Of People"

"Previous Passenger Left An Imprint On My Seat"

"She Is Tying A Random Persons Hair To The Bus Rail"

"Stood Up For 2 Mins And The Lady Next To Me Put Her Bag In My Seat"

"Full Train And This Guy"

"Music Aficionado Sharing His Music On The Bus With Everyone"

"I Had To Get Up And Change Seats Because These Scum Bags Decided To Start Smoking Next To Me. Not Only That, But They Kicked Leftover Food Under Their Seats And Spill Their Drinks All Over The Floor. This Type Of Stuff Happens Every Day On The Train"

"Sleeping In The Stairwell. Couldnt Get Off At My Stop. Yay Highschool"

"Girls Play Music And Sing Along Very Loudly, Then Get Off The Bus Leaving This Behind"

"The Guy Sitting Across From Me On The Bus"

"The Way The Guy Next To Me Is Sitting"

"He Tried To Use My Foot As A Pillow"

"She Also Attended A Half Hour Work Meeting Without Earphones"

"Just Chilling On The Train"

"This Woman Taking Up 8 Seats With Her Stuff On A Full Train"

"Continuing To Play A Loud Video On The Bus With No Headphones Even After Asking Her To Stop"

"Going The Extra Mile To Not Touch The Handrail With His Hand"

"This Woman Who Thinks It's Appropriate To Use A Seat On The T For Her Shopping Bags"

"Start To Wonder Why The Train Carriage Is Starting To Smell, Glance Over And Shoes Are On The Floor And Gammy's Feet Are On The Seat. Gotta Love British Rail"

"This Guy Taking Up Three Seats On The Bus While Watching A Movie Without Headphones"

"On A Public Bus.. That Is Absolutely Disgusting"

"Some Jerk Just Spilled His Beer All Over Me On The Bus"

"Bringing Your “Service Animal” Duck In The Train So You Can Sit On The Disabled Seating"

"Full Bus But The Bag Needs A Seat"

"Smelt Cigarettes Coming From Someone On My Bus, First Thought They Were Smoking. Turns Out They Were Trashing My Bus. They're A Regular On The Service And I Will Be Calling Them Out On It When They Next Get On. Made The Bus Smell For The Duration Of The Route But I Did Clean It Up When I Got Back"

"Good Night"

"Trying To Sleep On A Long Bus Ride And This Person Has Their Phone On Full Brightness"

"Disturbing Everyone On The Train"

"Corona Ain’t Gonna Get Her 200iq"

"In A Crowded Bus Back To Campus And This Guy Decides He Needs His Space"

"Subway Pimple Popper"

"Boomer Refuses To Give Up Extra Seat On A Packed Rush-Hour Train Because His Bag Is Using It. Then Puts On Fox News With No Headphones. Gotta Get Those Feet Up On It"

"Pos (To The Right) Blocks A Handicap Section Of A Metropolitan Train With Their Bicycle"

Public transport is a shared space so that consideration can make a big difference. Simple actions like keeping phone conversations quiet, using headphones, and respecting personal space help create a more pleasant environment for everyone.

Commuting can be stressful, but a little thoughtfulness goes a long way in easing that. When we all try to be mindful of those around us, the journey becomes more comfortable and creates a more respectful atmosphere. Public transport can be much more enjoyable for all passengers with a bit of courtesy.

Damjan