Sadly, I will be transferring out of John Jay which means no more of my famous commute rants. Commuting for me is the definition of living a real life hell. Let's say I have an 8 a.m. class, I'd have to wake up around 4:30 a.m. and leave my house by 5 a.m., just to be on time. Commuting makes even the happiest person miserable especially when you have only two options of transportation: the Staten Island Ferry or the express bus. Let's say I take the Staten Island ferry, I'd have to take the SIR (Staten Island railroad) to the ferry (a total of an hour to an hour and a half) and then jump on the one train to 59th street (another thirty to forty minutes). If I take the bus, I sit in traffic eighty percent of the time (requiring I leave earlier) and then I take the one train from rector to 59th (averaging the same time as if I took the ferry route). This isn't accounting for the train or bus breaking down or delays, keep that in mind.
I can't express how much I hate commuting. It's debilitating on your health: mentally, emotionally and physically. I guess it's not for everyone. Here's a couple of my commuting pet peeves:
1. People who smell or has food that smells.
Whether it's body odor or something else...You're a foul human being and I suggest you attend the first grade and learn about hygiene again, because you certainly have none. Please, don't eat your tuna sandwich or halal next to me on a crowded ferry/bus it's rude and makes some people nauseous.
2. The delays.
The famous one train is known for it's delays, causing you to miss the ferry by literally half a minute, because it waits at Chambers and Rector Street for all eternity. Or when your express bus breaks down on the BQE forcing you to walk along the busy expressway to get on another bus. Or when the ferry has to re-dock for medical assistance or issues (this happened to me once, because someone had overdosed and fell down the stairs, in all seriousness I hope they received the help they needed).
3. The extremely odd individuals, the people who make you uncomfortable, creepy men that hit on you, cat-callers, beggars/panhandlers, the crazies, public mastubators, and the homeless people on the ferry/train.
This is ninety percent of my commute. Now, I may seem heartless, but homelessness has been progressing extensively in the city. Many homeless are making their homes on the train and ferry, and honestly I'm not paying 2.75$ to sit in a subway car that smells of human feces and piss. I'm not paying 2.75$ to listen to someone's religious/political propaganda or listen to their little spiel about how they need money. Listen buddy, I need money too, and if you need money so desperately how'd you spend 2.75$ to get on the train ? Also, sadly, public masturbation is so frequent on the railway it's horrific.
4. The fact that all of New York smells like feces and urine.
This is self explanatory. Everywhere smells like piss. Literally, everywhere.
5. The huge vermin that's literally the size of a human head.
Remember pizza rat? That's not some odd sensation. I literally witness rodents the size of a mid-sized van almost everyday.
6. People who are sick.
Stop coughing and sneezing with out covering your face, you're a skeevy bastard.
7. People that walk slow.
There's a special kinda place for people like you.
8. The ferry scouts.
Thank god they're finally gone! The ferry scouts are obnoxious annoying people trying to scam tourist in to paying for the ferry or the legitimate ones who are equally as obnoxious and have a tendency to get in your face.
9. People who think it's okay to bring their exotic pets on the commute.
I once saw this guy with an iguana crawling all over him and he was telling him (the iguana) to stop crawling on his back because, "I can't see you there, Jeff!" I wish I was joking.
10. The man-spreader.
You don't, I repeat you absolutely do not need to sit with your legs across five seats on the train so I have to stand. Believe me, we all know you don't need that much space, buddy. Also, your bag doesn't need a special seat.
11. The speaker phone user.
People who sit on their phones in crowded subway carts/buses and talk obnoxiously loud are the epitome of ignorant, those who have their phone on speaker are even worse. I honestly don't need to hear your whole private life, or your gossip, you're rude, you have no matters, and are disrespectful to those in your environment. Especially at 6 a.m.
12. The people who refuse to move to the middle of the train cart.
When you enter a train, and there is limited to no seating-move to the middle. Don't stand in front of the doors making it difficult for people to get on and off, when there is a perfect amount of space in the middle of the train.
13. The door holder.
If the train is leaving the station, please do not hold the doors, it delays the trains, and makes me miss my ferry/bus by literal seconds. It's rude.
If you think this doesn't sound bad, try commuting in a blizzard or zero below weather, I'm sure you'll especially love this stuff then. To my fellow commuters, please take your part in making everyone's commute a little bit better by not being: ignorant, arrogant, obnoxious, disgusting, unhygienic, or loud.
Thanks, your fellow commuter.
What are your commuting pet peeves? Leave a comment below!
