On Sunday, a picture of three teenage girls hanging out and eating on the floor inside a BTS car got circulated online. I guess they didn't get the memo that drinking or eating is not allowed while on the Skytrain. Or perhaps they thought it was OK, so long as they were sitting down?
Anywho, I think it's time for a brush-up on the unspoken rules of using the BTS or MRT, so we all can share a public transit system that's peaceful and drama-free.
1. No pole hugging with your butt crack. From what I've seen, this is perhaps one of the most prevalent of commuter crimes. You may think, "Oh, let me lean my back against the pole and hug it between my buttocks and back fat so I can use my smartphone with both hands". But that's a no-no, as other passengers need something to grab on to in order to stabilise themselves too. And who would want to touch a pole that is covered in sweat from your back and butt? Ew.
2. Don't sleep with your face smushed against the glass near the door. Each row of passenger seats is sandwiched with a pair of protective glass panels, you see. They are not a canvas for you to imprint your oily face, skin cells and whatnot on, OK?
3. No photographing your fellow passengers, especially when your intention is to mock their appearance later on your social media. However, if you're a creep who has already snapped photos of beautiful strangers onboard, may I suggest you to contribute these to the BTS Cute Guys and BTS Cute Girls Facebook pages.
4. Children can be unruly, despite how cute they may appear to be. Once in a while, I see boys hanging from the overhead rails like a monkey, turning a BTS car into a jungle gym. Just like in any other public spaces, the parents should be able to control the behaviour of their children.
5. The etiquette of using an escalator should be observed, especially during rush hour, when many want to reach their destinations as fast as they can. If you're not in a hurry, stand on the right side so as not to get in the way of people walking up the escalator on the left.
6. B.O. on board. You know you'll be sharing air and space in closed confinements with others. I think it's just courtesy to swipe a roll-on once or twice before you leave the office if you sweat during the day. Don't funk up our shared air with that smell please.
7. Have your BTS or MRT ticket ready before you reach the gate. Sometimes I see people fumbling to find the card (that they used, like, 20 minutes ago), while other passengers are stuck waiting behind them. If you have the card ready in your pocket, this could save yourself embarrassment and time for others. Also, make sure you don't use the BTS card at the MRT gate, or vice versa. For those using both trains, this mistake happens more often than you'd think.
8. No snooping around on what others are doing on their smartphones. Whom I swiped right for on Tinder is none of your business!