Top ten irritants

I don't know what sparked it off, but on the way home on Friday (with nothing to read) I ran through a list of things which most irritate me about some of my fellow passengers.

None of us are perfect (and I'm the last to claim that accolade), but in no particular order this is what winds me up:

1. People who insist on having a conversation with the London Midland ticket inspector at the 'manual' gate at London Euston (blocking the way for those of us who are trying to get on or off the platform)
2. People who do everything they possibly can to deter anyone from sitting next to or opposite them.  We all take up a bit more room when there is plenty of space, but when the train is busy the knees and legs should be tucked in, papers should be folded, and bags should come off the seat next door to go on the lap or up in the luggage rack
3. Users of iPods and other MP3 players who insist on maximum volume and either don't realise how much noise can leak out from their earphones or don't care.  The thought that their hearing is probably being damaged provides no satisfaction when we have to put up with the tinny, hissing noise that can be heard metres away (this wasn't such a problem on the old 321 trains but the background noise level on the Desiros is much lower) 
4. People who put their feet on the train seats.   Shoes on or off, on newspaper or not, I think this is disrespectful to others
5. Passengers leaving the train who stand in the middle of the doorway just to save a fraction of a second when they get off (if they tuck into one side then two people can get into the same space, freeing up room further back for people to get out of their seats)
6. Passengers who bring full-sized bikes onto the trains (or who have foldaway bikes which they keep assembled) when there are restrictions during the morning and afternoon peak
7. Passengers walking through Euston dragging small trolley bags behind them.  They seem to forget that they have an extra metre in tow when they cut across in front of the rest of us who also have workplaces to get to or trains to board
8. People who leave food and drink waste on seats and tables when they leave the train.  Why should the rest of us have to tidy up behind them?
9. Motorists and cyclists who disembark at Bletchley and think that normal rights of way don't apply.  We've got the people in their cars who ignore the one-way signs and come out of the car park entrance and the Cyclists who treat the ramp from the bike shed like the launch pad for a downhill race.  If there hasn't been an accident yet then it can't be long before there will be one
10. ?

I've deliberately stopped at number 9, leaving you an opportunity to nominate something else which you find irritating about your fellow commuters and occasional passengers on the London Midland line into Euston (maybe me!) 

Alternatively, if you think I'm wrong about any of the items listed above then feel free to throw a contrary viewpoint into the ring  :-)


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