By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media

Summer’s here, school’s out and the vacation season is in full swing, which brings out the dreaded day tripper.

The rest of us who still have to travel to work dread encountering the day tripper, who seems to have shifted into a languid, lazy vacation mode.

I’m not sure I’m going to survive day trippers, rollerbags, and baby interns on #NJTransit this summer — Michelle Lynn (@michlynng) June 29, 2018

It doesn’t sound like an issue until it becomes one. You sudden roll up on a car loafing in the left lane that won’t move over to let traffic by. A group of four on the train acts like they just boarded a cruise ship and are in full, loud party mode.

Sooner or later, we’ll all be day trippers.

But we don’t have to be the train jerk, the bad Bennie, the stupid Shobee, or the left lane bandit. Try these suggestions to avoid getting on the nerves of our fellow travelers.

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Public transit isn't your living room.

You’ve decided to ditch the car and traffic, but public transit has rules, too.

The first is that it’s not your private party bus. I cannot stress this enough, do not behave like the train or bus is your living room, especially during peak commuting hours, or you'll incur the wrath of the public.

7 yappy #daytrippers just got on the 7:12 out of Trenton. This is gonna be a looooong trip#njtransit — NJTrainDelays (@NJTrainDelays) November 30, 2017

Your ticket is for a ride, it’s not an all access pass to a rolling theme park. Do the following things to stay on the good side your fellow passengers.

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@NJTRANSIT this is what I see every morning on the NJCoast 3204 train. He sits in front of the sign that says no feet on seats w/ both feet on the seat & the Conductors say nothing! #NoRegardForDecency pic.twitter.com/So8KshNpoO — CoastieMama (@coastie_mama) February 2, 2018

Shoes on, feet down.

No feet on seats. Those Manolo Blahniks may be stunning, but those stylish shoes don't deserve their own seat.

No one wants to sit on a seat that has the same street gunk that was on the bottom of your shoe. And bare feet are worse. For the love of humanity, no bare feet on the seats. Because of courtesy, bacteria and it's disgusting.

Put your feet on the seat at the risk of being shamed on social media, especially if you take those shoes off to let those dogs breathe.

Think we're kidding? Go on Twitter and type in #garbagepeopleofnjtransit or #trainjerk and take a look. Shoes on, dignity intact.

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(Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The one seat rule.

Train and bus seats are at a premium during rush hour and nothing infuriates a commuter than to have to stand while someone’s precious Coach bag takes up a seat.

If you didn’t buy an extra ticket for your bag, it doesn’t get a seat. Stow bags and backpacks in the overhead rack.

If you don’t heed this advice, you’re on your own. Some commuters angrily said they'll sit on a bag if it’s not moved.

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Put the brakes on the bar car.

A nice feature about riding the train is being able to enjoy an adult beverage. The key words are “enjoy” and “adult.” The bar car your dad rode in is gone and you’re riding with the general public who may not enjoy your Ashton Kutcher like antics.

Two drunk guys are loudly singing “Superfreak” on NJ Transit.



It’s 4 pm on a Tuesday. — Steph Petit (@stephpetit_) June 26, 2018

Keep a lid on the Miller Lite and your behavior. Remember that NJ Transit bans all beverages on the bus and extends that ban to train on certain dates. Know before you pop that beer open, bro.

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Daycare on wheels.

People like kids. Until they misbehave. There’s a tolerance level that is quickly reached when screaming children and transit riders meet. Everyone has a bad day and most people understand when a kid just won’t respond to mom or dad.

The problem is when mom or dad do nothing while the little darling wails like a siren or kicks the back of the seat in front of them. Don’t incur the wrath of other passengers for bad parenting.

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(Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Quiet car = shut up.

See this sign? It's a polite way of saying shut up.

There are two refuges on NJ Transit and Amtrak trains called the Quiet Cars.

They’re an oasis for riders to escape from wailing children, loud talkers, 120 decibel cell phone calls and the annoying tinny whine of a song or video being played through cellphone speakers.

Signs are posted and conductors usually announce the car number.

If you’re in the Quiet Car, be quiet or move to a noisy car. (I’ve done it and lost no dignity in doing so.)

Also, there is no rule that says you can make noise when the train stops. Best description by a conductor, “treat it like you’re in a library.” If you choose to be a train jerk in the Quiet Car, expect to be shamed.

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Vaping is still smoking.

It’s 2018 and a recent study said only 14 percent of the population still smokes. Here’s a news bulletin. Vaping is still smoking and no one is fooled by your e-cigarette, no matter how pleasant it smells.

Hi Rebecca, vaping is prohibited on NJ Transit. It is considered the same as smoking. - MB — NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) May 4, 2018

You can’t smoke a cigarette on a train or bus and that includes vaping. Just don’t.

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Don't be a baggage blocker.

Big bags are a pain on the train because there are few places for them if they don’t fit in the overhead rack.

Leaving them in the aisle is a safety hazard for passengers and crews and make difficult for people to get on or off the train.

All double decker trains and some of NJ Transit’s single level cars have space at the ends where you can sit with big suitcases and be out of the way.

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(Ben Solomon | The Star Ledger)

Know the airport security line rules.

Frequent fliers know the airport security line drill - shoes and belt off, no liquids over a certain size in your carry-on bag.

Then there is the person who doesn’t.

The TSA has an on-line guide that covers items from antlers (seriously) to X-boxes. Check it, so you're not that person at the checkpoint. Liquids still have to adhere to travel sized containers and the TSA has a guide for that as well.

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You don't own the left lane.

Want to see a Jersey driver bust a blood vessel?

Cruise in the left lane and ignore that growing line of cars in your rearview mirror. We get it. Mentally, you’re on vacation time.

The rest of us aren’t.

Besides being courteous, it's also the law in New Jersey to move out of the left lane to let faster traffic go by. Don't give lame excuses. Just move over.

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Missed your exit? Keep going.

If you miss your exit, don’t stop on the shoulder or in any lane of the highway and back-up.

This really happens, most recently involving cars that stopped in the right lane of I-78 and started backing up.

My verbal reaction to that move would have made a sailor blush. Make like GPS and recalculate.

Go to the next exit, turn around and double back to the exit you wanted to take.

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(Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Lose the need for excessive speed.

Anyone who has driven the Garden State Parkway in summer has a story about encountering lane weaving, lightning-fast speeders.

We’re talking excessive, license losing speed.

In their mind, those drivers may imagine they're in the next film sequel to the Fast and Furious.

In reality, they’re more liable to guest star on Grey’s Anatomy. Slow down, roll with traffic and don’t do anything stupid. Oh and if you do tail gate, expect a brake check and a one digit wave in response in this state.

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Get off that phone.

Do we even have to mention it? Drivers who use handheld phones may think they’re the master of stealth. But they’re not fooling anyone because they’re all over the road.

Distracted drivers display the same driving habits as drunk drivers, drifting in and out of lane and arbitrarily speeding up and slowing down, police and safety officials say.

Obey the law and go hands free or shut-up. Safety experts such as AAA also warn that vehicle infotainment systems can be just as distracting as using a handheld phone. Pull over if it's too much to program that system while driving.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.



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(Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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