Public transportation in the Washington, DC area is necessary, I'll be the first to admit it. Could you imagine everyone driving into work? Utter chaos. Do I think as many people should take public transportation as possible? Absolutely.
Everyone except for me, that is.
Nothing makes me question whether or not I really want to go into the city as whether or not I have to take public transportation in order to get there. I don't consider myself a snob, holier than thou, or too good to take public transportation. I just can't stand 99% of the people who ride it. And I severely question the safety and security of, well, metro.
I would give you stories of where I have been wronged or seen others wronged, but they mimic the stories of every decent person who rides metro: people not letting a pregnant woman sit, someone playing their iPod 75,000 decibels higher than it should be, someone encroaching entirely too much on your personal bubble (and let's be serious, on public transportation your bubble is pretty deflated), and someone telling some woman to lose weight so more people can fit on the train.
What would make me feel differently? More security. Air fresheners. The ripping out of the carpet. Enforcement of the rules (no food, no drink, no loud music, etc.). Perhaps having "quiet" cars where reading and listening to headphones are about all that occurs. Working air conditioners. Giving everyone who rides public transportation a lesson in manners. You see what I mean. I really could go on and on.
Do I need to loosen up? Probably. Okay, definitely. But does everyone else need a lesson in courteous-ness? I think so.
So, until all the above changes are made, I'll be the woman in the back of the train with an impatient look on her face, and scowling at every rude person who is breaking a rule or just plain annoying me. Along with the rest of the decent people who ride the train.
.... And every time I realize I have to ride metro, I get hives just thinking about it. And I pack the hand sanitizer.
Signed with Hatred Sauce. Spicy Hatred Sauce.
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