[Image-1]
Do you smoke? Keep reading. Are you a considerate smoker? And by considerate, I mean you don’t smoke near building entrances or at bus stops or in crowds, and you smoke downwind so your smoke doesn’t bother anyone else, and you put your cig butts in the garbage. OK, you’re off the hook, with my thanks – smoke in peace.
The rest of you, pay attention: you don’t own the world! Streets are not your personal garbage can. The second-hand smoke you produce is disgusting. And buses are not your personal smoking cars.
I am really sick and tired of feeling really sick and tired when I get home from work simply because some idiot smoker HAD to have that one last puff just before stepping on to the bus at the last possible second. Most of the time you take that puff just outside the bus door, and I swear you hold your breath so that you blow out most of the smoke when you come in the door – gee, thanks. But the worst part is when you always manage to sit right next to me, or behind me, or in front of me. You f–king STINK! It’s nauseating! Opening the dinky little window three feet above our heads does nothing to improve things. And before you tell me to move, no, I can’t move to another seat on a full bus, and you stink out the entire bus eventually, so f–k off in advance.
I don’t have asthma, or allergies, or any life-threatening condition triggered by cigarette smoke. I’m lucky, I guess – the reek of it just makes me want to puke, that’s all. But there are lots of people out there who do suffer from chronic conditions which smokers just make worse.
I’ll never tell you to stop smoking. You started that stupid f–king habit, and the government loves all the taxes you pay, so go ahead – it’s up to you. Get this through your thick skull, though: you can choose whether to smoke or not. I can’t choose whether to breathe or not!
Take your smoke and your stench and save it for your house, your car, your kid, your cat, whatever. But keep your stinky sh-t away from public transit, major public thoroughfares, public buildings, etc. Don’t want it, don’t need it. And if you insist on bringing your stench on to my bus and I do happen to barf in your lap some day, don’t say I didn’t warn you. —Queasy Bus Rider
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2016.
I don’t smoke cigarettes in public. Only meth.
OB is the meth smoker.
Apparently their lives are WAY more stressful than yours, hence the need to puff right before entering a bus. Give’m a break maybe? Or a hug?
With all the pollution & vehicle exhaust belching out ad nauseum and you’re offended by cigarette smoke?? Go buy yourself some nose plugs.
What’s worse are the people who “butt” their smokes for later. That half smoked smoke in your pocket reeeks. That acrid, urine combined with soggy dog smell. Those clowns ALWAYS sit next to me. ALWAYS!
I recently watched a couple come out of a building that focuses on health care and light up and stand 3 feet away from the door to smoke their ciggies. When they were done they walked 40 feet to where their car was parked, got in and left. The parking spot was beside the sidewalk. Why they couldn’t make the walk to stand beside the car or on the sidewalk and smoke BEFORE lighting their smokes instead of after boggles the mind. Standing right beside the doors of the medical clinic to smoke? Does the need for tar and nicotene overwhelm people with stupidity or is it just naturally occurring?
There are reasonable expectations of smokers. Yet, I don’t see bus terminals and stops as smoke free zones. People smoke. Some smokers use transit. Even the drivers. Smelly smokers on buses will always be there. If you can’t stand the smell of your seatmate the option to move on a large vehicle is real, even if you find yourself standing.
I don’t like cigarette smoke either but I find it hard to believe that a such a very short term exposure (a few seconds) would leave someone feeling sick and tired the rest of the day. Sounds like the OB is a bit of a hypochondriac. I have similar tendencies so I know of which I speak.
As for the smell, there are lots of people with unpleasant odours – not just smokers – people who don’t shower regularly, people who think they don’t need deodorant, people who wear cheap cologne or perfume ….but there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t manage the whole world.
Just keep calm and carry on!
OP, if you can’t accept a wide variety of gross smells, I suggest that you throw away your bus pass, and get yourself a car.
Too fucking bad and enjoy breathing in diesel and exhaust fumes.
Ohhhhh breath threw your mouth and shut up. Cig smoke is probably one of the most bearable smells on Halifax Transit. I’m usually more concerned with the smell of unchanged adult diapers and the OB of the nastys.
Breathe, Thru, BO* – haha, must be drunk 😉
*through…