Scenario: Just having locked the dormitory door and exited the residence hall, you step outside and are greeted with a warm sunny sky and a refreshing breeze. Coffee in hand, you stroll to the closest bus stop, optimistically preparing for your day of classes.
Fast forward thirty minutes later — you arrive on College Ave, late to class, covered in coffee, smelling like the body odor of a complete stranger, and exhausted from attempting to keep your balance without knocking into the people around you.
How did your positive day suddenly become so bleak so quickly?
The bane of all Rutgers students lies in the inevitable campus-to-campus transportation system: the buses. These oddly named, crowded — and sometimes smelly — machines are necessary for traveling within the 2688-acre property. Even commuter students are confined to a single parking lot and forced to board the buses to get around.
The daunting bus system the power to make or break your entire day. Unfortunately, they are unavoidable for Rutgers New Brunswick students. Here are 16 ways to survive the Rutgers bus system.
1. Download the Rutgers app onto your phone.
This app has a bus schedule feature which can come in handy when preparing to travel from campus to campus. It is especially useful in the cold winter weather so you don’t leave your dorm too early and get stuck waiting at the bus stop for ten minutes or longer.
2. Board and depart at the first bus stop on each campus.
Most people get off at the first bus stop possible like the Rutgers Student Center on College Ave or the Livingston Plaza on Livingston, so those locations give you the highest chance of snagging a seat. Try your best to walk to these stops.
3. Always wait for the next bus.
If there is a giant crowd surrounding the doors, waiting for their moment to board, try to wait for the next bus. The choice to wait a few extra minutes is always better than the choice to have a miserable traveling experience.
4. If the bus driver is not on the bus, WAIT BEFORE BOARDING!
Sometimes, drivers step off to use the restroom, make a phone call or possibly switch with another driver. Wait outside the bus to see if another bus is coming. You don’t want to get stuck waiting for your driver’s return when another bus or two may come and go in the meantime.
5. Wait for students to exit bus before boarding.
You would think this is common sense. Let the bus empty before trying to find your spot on it.
6. Don’t push.
It won’t get you on the bus any faster, and it’s just bad karma.
7. Be as hands-free as possible.
Put away things like water bottles, notebooks and electronic devices prior to boarding. That way, if you end up having to stand, you won’t be scrambling to grab onto something sturdy before the bus pulls away and you lose your balance.
8. Pay attention to wet ceilings.
Many of the busses’ air conditioning units leak and drip onto the sets. To avoid getting wet, look for condensation on the ceiling above you before sitting.
9. Take off your backpack!
This, in my opinion, is the most important one. Anyone who has been crammed between backpacks on a crowded bus will notice that the area around their feet has plenty of room. If everyone would simply remove their backpack and place it on the floor between their feet, it would solve the personal space issue.
10. Wear deodorant.
Again, you would think this one is common sense. Please apply deodorant before boarding. We are all confined in such a small space, and no one wants to smell your B.O.
11. Bring headphones.
This will make the ride much more enjoyable. Play your favorite song and zone out into the melody. (Just don’t forget to pay attention to your location. You don’t want to miss your stop!)
12. Don’t eat on the bus.
This especially applies to hot foods with a pungent odor. Not everyone things your knight room takeout and fat sandwiches smell appetizing.
13. Bring a jacket.
In the warmer weather, the air conditioning is BLASTING. Pack a sweater or light zip up to avoid a chilly ride.
14. If the bus is crowded and people behind you need to exit, don’t be afraid to step off the bus.
Yes, exiting the bus when there is an angry mob of students standing at the door relentlessly awaiting their moment to jump on can be terrifying. But you will be able to re-board the bus first. (Or second, at the very most, if you happen to end up near a total jerk.) Just stay right near the door.
15. If your bus stop is coming up, try to move closer to the door.
There’s nothing worse than being stuck all the way in the back and realize no one else in front of you is exiting, and you’re stuck. This is especially common at uncommon stops like the Public Safety Building. With each passing stop, try to move a little closer to the door to ensure an easy exit.
16. Breathe!
It’s hard, I know. But you will get there! I promise.
