To think that people should be hosed down before getting on the bus

[FlowersAndShit]

because most of them fucking stink. The stench of musty clothes, stale fags and food makes me want to heave. And why do people insist on eating on the bus? Why can't people have a good wash and wear clean clothes before getting on public transport?

The worst is when some rude bastard farts on there. I've been reduced to gagging on the tube before now. Sulphurous eggy farts on a crowded tube, which already smells like satan's coffin, are just not cool.

YANBU. In theory, sitting in my comfortable bed with my sweet smelling baby, I sympathise with people who've had a hard day at work, don't have air con, just want to get home etc etc.

In practice, when I get the bus or tube home from work, and it's so crowded and it reeks of meaty armpits and garlic fish breath, and there is nothing you can do to get away from it - if you want to get home before 9pm - I hate it. I hate it so much.

I normally drive myself everywhere. On the occasions where I am forced to mix with the masses on public transport I am acutely aware of the smells, waxy ears, grimy collars and dandruffy shoulders...
I just think it's because normally I'm not in that close a proximity to other people. I'm sure at the end if the day I'm not as fragrant or freshbreathed as I am in the mornings.

We need to recognise that this is one of the obstacles to getting more people to use public transport and out of cars. Not sure what the answer is, as a campaign by transport operators to encourage cleanliness would probably attract negative publicity and accusations of interference/nanny state. Or that some people cannot afford posh soap or have the time in the morning (rubbish as a shower only takes a couple of minutes if you are pressed for time).

In reverse, the provision of showers and the time to have them is important to increasing cycling.

Fucking hell.Someone upthread said this thread was meant to be lighthearted.
I certainly don't read it that way...sorry for being a miserable bastard!

I never get the bus so can't comment (not for snobbery reasons, just I'm buggered if I'm going to pay a small fortune to get into town when I'm already paying to tax and insure a car, and parking costs much less than the bus fare for how long I usually want to be there - that's the problem with public transport) but I just want to say "smelling like Satan's coffin" is a fabulous expression, and I'm going to use it to describe DH's next emission.

My personal annoyance is when someone sits next to you or behind you on a bus when there are lots of free seats avaliable.
Or some mother with a couple of wild children decides to sit behind you and you have to suffer a child screaming in your ear for the whole journey......

Its not snobby to say buses sometimes reek when quite clearly they do. Being smelly is not unfortunately a class or age issue, you can see well dressed people who smell as they are clearly not washing their clean looking but stale sweaty clothes often enough.

You can also see people who look like they were not parented so do not have a clue about much and then you see the clearly lazy. Either way sometimes the buses reek as does the tube and its disgusting.

People need to have more pride and stop leaving the house unwashed but as is evidenced by some mumsnetters on other threads who shower every few days and insost they dont smell, its obviously a mindset.

Dog smell is gross and those who smell of it may be washing and showering but then cuddle their dogs and have gone noseblind.

I take buses only when absolutely necc because of this and seriously restrict going out if i cant walk, ride or drive.

Bus companies need to think of ways to combat this whilst cleaning their disgusting buses properly weekly and reducing fares. In my area its cheaper to get a taxi then a bus for most journeys with 2 people or 1 adult 2 kids.

How about everybody who currently gets the bus drives for the day and then you can really evaluate the steess levels and bo of those currently oh so fragrant drivers.

In my city no one would actually get into work st all if everyone who currently busses drove for the day. Quite apart from the fact that 5 hours city centre parking costs £25.

I'll have to confess that the coat I'm wearing today doesn't smell as fresh as it could. Nowt to do with poverty. The washer broke before Easter and it took me most of the holidays to catch up. Wahing a coat to put away wasn't my prioeity, then. Was hoping to get it done this week but the weather has been dire and I've actually needed it. It's been snowing this morning, ffs!

Oh god another one of these threads ..

In a minute there will be umpteen people who insist they don't smell despite washing only when the moon is in the eigth house of Aquarius... You do, you smell!!

But what do you do when you're British and someone opines that they don't use shampoo and look how clean and non smelly their hair is? You smile and nod. And shuffle a little further away.

This isn't the 'I've been working on a building site and working up a sweat smell' by the way - that is different.

When people don't wash or change clothes enough you can smell it. If you think people can't you are deeply in denial.

In my view you shouldn't complain about others smelling unless you're absolutely certain you smell nice yourself Heavy cloying perfume or fabric conditioner can stink the bus out, so can someone who has a medical problem with sweat glands
Then there are those who think their own shit doesn't stink.

I don't think anyone is saying that there are no smelly people around Zaurak.

I catch the bus regularly and yes, every so often there is someone who really does smell unpleasant.

I just find these sort of threads depressing. It's just the them and us mentalility.
Peasant wagons, that sort of thing. I think the poster who used this term did so with her tongue in cheek, but I have heard it a few times as a put down.

We have an ever growing number of cars on our roads, people stuck in traffic for hours on end. Motorists will read this thread and will be even more determined to never set foot on a bus with those great unwashed.

The tube at rush hour is worse!

I often smell really strong booze smells of people at an unearthly hour in the morning .

BO, bad breath and unwashed clothes are common, and men are definitely the worst offenders!

My morning bus is ok. Its mainly commuters who are clean and well turned out, a couple of builders/workmen types (no noticable smell), and a few students (maybe a bit foisty). Ive heard the bus referred to as the peasant wagon and loser cruiser, and I've called it this myself on occasion, even though im a bus user.
I find the train worse. Not so much grubby people but so busy and packed in. Last time on the train I stood,hemmed in, with this guy's long curly hair draped over my face, it was very clean though.

I am confident I don't smell thanks portia. Showering everyday and frequently wash clothes it's not hard. There's no excuse for smelling not like we have to walk down to the river to wash is it? Bus smellies literally make me feel sick. Don't have much sympathy sorry.

I used to take a bus with a woman who picked the waxy bits out of her ears and ate them.

I believe that covers both the 'unclean' and 'eating' bases in just one passenger.

I win.

I love having a snack on the bus.

Couldn't agree more with you. In such an enclosed space such as bus there is all kinds of horrid smells lol.