TransLink Etiquette

The current wave of +30 temperatures reminded us of one of David Letterman's lines:  "I was riding in a cab this afternoon, and the driver said to me 'Man, is so hot!  If I used a deodorant I would have used it today.'"

What really brought this to mind was a tip on personal hygiene and daintiness from TransLink, broadcast, for some reason, on the People's Radio Network.  The message from TransLink was something like this:  "It's very hot and sticky, sweaty, out there.  So think of the person sitting next to you, and ride as you'd like your fellow passengers to ride." 

Listeners may have found lessons in etiquette from TransLink to be needlessly intrusive, but at least the company backed away from the original slogan proposed by its ad agency, Banal & Tryte: "TransLink says Don't Stink!"

Other handy tips for bus and SkyTrain riders:

* Keep box of tissues handy in case passenger next to you breaks up with boyfriend/girlfriend via cell phone, and begins to weep.

* If gentleman sitting next to you eating 12-inch submarine sandwich drops dill pickle into your lap, resist temptation to eat it.

* Should passenger beside you begin talking to himself/herself, do not enter the conversation.