lil brown bat

Oh, hell, I stopped being baffled about that long ago. Since all ILTB does is whinge at people about really stupid stuff (like whether they take their balaclavas off within 0.003 seconds of entering a bus), I just put it on ignore.

Last time I rode a bus in Boston, I think it was 2 degrees out -- and it was roasting on that bus.

How's about letting other people decide what's uncomfortable for them? Perhaps you're fine with being dressed for 0 degree weather in a 70 degree environment -- I'd prefer to shed a few layers, myself. Even if it's "only" 15 minutes.

mackerel

Okay, now you're whining.

I-Like-To-Bike

You be real clever, eh? Commenting on the value of posts that you claim to ignore.

You also have the right to your own opinion, (which in this bus scenario is in line with mine.) But then again how would you know, since you ignore what I post and just make it up instead. You apparently also have the right to make up your own facts.

apricissimus 

You may start a thread, but once it's out there, it belongs to the world.

lil brown bat

Yeah, can you just imagine bf if every OP got to say, "Ok, I got my info, time to stfu now"?

BA Commuter

but... Mr. Bus Driver Sir, I am required to wear this mask!

CB HI

Seriously, "pegs the dork meter". This from the guy that uses hardware store pipe insulation, as bicycle grips; and does not care about what anyone else thinks of such a practice?

Big time 'two face' attitude from ILTB.

RunnerDFW

I'm in the transit business and there's no federal law prohibiting a covered face. The operator was just being a jerk.

tjspiel

Where did I say that anyone should leave their hat or helmet on? You may not realize it, but you're agreeing with me. I'm only saying there are legitimate reasons for doing so, not that anyone has to.

If I just came inside from 20 below I'm perfectly fine remaining just as I am for 15 minutes rather than shedding layers and then getting everything back on a short time later, especially if the bus is crowded. You are not, -fine with me.

lil brown bat

You didn't, but you did make a statement about what other people would want to do -- that's all.

FWIW, around here it seems like while a fair number of people need to walk some distance from home to get to the bus stop/subway/trolley, at the other end they're much more likely to be quite close to the office -- probably because a lot of people are going into downtown, where bus/trolley/subway stops are quite close together, while they're more spread out in the residential neighborhoods. Also, our buses/trolleys/subways really really suck, and your nominal "15 minute trip" (which is still waaaay too long in those overheated cars for my tastes) is often much longer.

I-Like-To-Bike

Lemme guess, how many people in the general public would pay attention to the bicycle grips of a bicycle? Or would be concerned what anybody else thinks of the components on their bike? Or judges people by the provenance of their bike components? Anybody? Sure but only Real Cyclists™ of the Roadie/Poser/LBS junkie variety.

I suspect the same number and probably the same people who leave their helmet on when strolling (or tap dancing) through a business establishment. Or pose for pictures off of their bike and leave a helmet on as a fashion statement.

Roody

I take off my helmet before I get on the bus, since I look as dorky as this guy.

2manybikes

Your bike is so heavy it's a tank!

CB HI

And the HATE on other cyclist continues from ILTB.

I-Like-To-Bike

You win. Consider yourself the undefeated champion of BF Spitting Contests. Your posts indicate that you preach what you practice when in public.

InfiniteRegress

I was with some people in Israel recently, one of whom looked very Arab (although he wasn't). Anyway, we were going through a checkpoint somewhere in the West Bank at about 1 AM. We proceeded through and most of us said "Lila Tov" (good evening, in Hebrew) as is customary. However, the Arab-looking guy we were with yelled "Allah Akbar" instead (I think he'd been drinking). Thankfully, the soldiers were too young and/or tired to care. But I was seriously thinking we were done for.

Ugly

I have no idea where that is but I'm glad it's not here.
As an ugly person I'm ashamed of having to show my hideous face in public.
After I started wearing a balaclava I find that people are actually nicer to me than they were when I
went bare faced. As for the bus - the first time the driver asked me what's up. I told her that
I was too ugly to go without covering myself. She thought I was kidding but I told her I
was serious. She didn't make any comments after that. None of the bus drivers have an issue
with it now. Almost all places I go don't seem to mind. Except the liquor store. Sometimes I was
able to go and make a purchase without incident. Sometimes a self serving security guard would
kick me out. At the bank an employee came to talk to me but was calm and pleasant. When it
was obvious that I was only going to make a deposit at the bank machine he left me alone. In Canada
there is no law against it except during a riot or of course if I'm actually going to commit a crime.
As for now, people are nicer to me when they don't have to look at my ugly face.

FrenchFit 

FTA laws pertain to protecting statutory civil rights, not dress code. There may be a local or state policy about "gang colors" and such on buses, and that's a matter of local governance rule making.

Afterall, wearing a facecovering bandana or balaclava might be considered hostile and threatening to other riders, and I'd guess it is not any exercise of constitutionally protected free speech. If the balaclave was printed with 'blue lives matter' or 'black lives matter', then it would be a difference analysis, ...it would be protest speech.

Ugly

I have no gang colours or logos on mine. It's just plain black with a small tag that has the brand name on it. I wear it because I'm self conscious about my looks.

Moe Zhoost

So a few years ago I bought a balaclava for cold weather and was advised that it may be risky to wear in public. Being curious, I decided to see if there were any ordinances, laws, or other restrictions and found that may be indeed illegal in North Carolina. Here is the text of the statute:

§ 14‑12.7. Wearing of masks, hoods, etc., on public ways.
No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, be or appear upon any lane, walkway, alley, street, road, highway or other public way in this State. (1953, c. 1193, s. 6; 1983, c. 175, ss. 1, 10; c. 720, s. 4.)

§14-12.8. Wearing of masks, hoods, etc., on public property.
No person or persons shall in this State, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, or appear upon or within the public property of any municipality or county of the State, or of the State of North Carolina. (1953, c. 1193, s. 7.)


I really doubt that anyone would perceive that I am trying to hide my identity while wearing it in very cold weather, but there is enough ambiguity in the statute to allow law enforcement to stop me.


I have also been told that such laws were originally enacted to effectively prohibit the KKK from wearing their hoods in public.

Hypno Toad

We bring our bikes on the trains in MN, I've done it a ton of times... and they have racks to hang your bike.

IMG_20150717_142426_449.jpg

Trains are larger than buses... never-the-less, bringing a bike on mass-transit shouldn't be an issue (if it doesn't have a rack). Wheelchairs and other mobility devices are on and off buses all day long.

To the OP, I'd uncover my face for my comfort because I'd overheat on the bus for full-face coverage (actually I overheat outside with full-face coverage, but I'm a freak, so that's not really helpful or relevant).

tjspiel

Wow, - flashback. I've been posting here too long, - that was like 8 years ago.

But I stand by what I said. I've also had my bike on those very trains many times. In fact I probably had my bike on one the very first Monday that the Hiawatha line was open. But buses and trains in Minneapolis are apples and oranges. The trains have accommodations for bikes, the buses do not, at least not on the inside. Wheelchairs are fine on buses. There's a spot right next to the front door designed for them. Strollers are not. You're supposed to take your child out of the stroller, fold the stroller up and stow it. Traditional bikes are also not allowed inside the bus though I haven't seen a bus without a rack on the front in quite awhile.

I also tend to avoid bringing my bike on the train during the afternoon rush hour out of politeness, especially during the winter when my bike gets pretty grimy. It's just too crowded. Some metro areas ban bikes on trains during rush hours and allow them at other times. Wouldn't be that surprised if that happened here though it tends not be be as much of a problem in the morning.

As far as the balaclava thing goes, well it probably depends on the particular region and perhaps the time of year. Like I said 8 years ago, people are probably more surprised that I'd be riding a bike in -20 °F than they would be that I'm wearing a balaclava on a train in -20 °F.

CB HI

Did all you guys from post 118 on read the entire 8 year old thread post before posting?

Hypno Toad

Classic Hypno Toad, skipping details.

PatrickGSR94

That's really dumb. So they would not allow a person on a motorcycle to cover their face when it's cold outside, to keep their face warm? I would fight this tooth and nail if I were ever cited for it.

And yeah, 8 year old thread is old.