The holidays are here, which means the winter season is just beginning in the Las Vegas Valley! Shorter days and colder nights can make traveling a real hassle, especially if you must ride public transit. If you don’t properly prepare for your daily transit commute, you could put your safety and health at risk and make your days harder than it needs to be!
Here are a few winter safety tips for riding public transportation during this chilly holiday season in the Las Vegas Valley.
Give Yourself Extra Time
When weather conditions are not ideal, ensure you give yourself enough time to make it to your bus stop. Delays on public transit are also common during the winter, so you might have to leave extra early. This gives yourself some wiggle room to ensure you make it to work on time or get to all your holiday shopping done in case of an accident, construction impacts, or slow traffic due to heavy rain, wind, or the occasional Las Vegas snowfalls.
Dress Appropriately
Just as you dress for success for your typical workday or a day out shopping, you must put thought into your commuting attire. When the temperature drops in the twenties or even the teens, ill-equipped attire could lead to traveling discomfort or worse illness. Dress warmly in layers for those long waits at bus stops or long walks to work or your favorite shops. Consider investing in hand warmers or foot warmers for those oh so sensitive parts of your body. Don’t be concerned about how you look when dressing for the cold winter conditions. It is better to be warm and safe than fashionable and shivering from the cold.
Board with Caution
Wait on the sidewalk or one of our bus shelters to protect yourself from the winter weather. Do not stand in the street, sit on the curb, or lean against a slippery surface. Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before trying to board. Rain can make bus floors slippery, so keep your shoes as dry as possible before boarding and hold handrails when walking or standing inside the bus.
Practicing these winter safety tips is a great way to ensure you do all you can to stay safe in unfavorable conditions, but the rest is left to the transportation drivers! Whether you are a daily rider, a Game Day Express aficionado, or a Las Vegas visitor, it’s important to stay educated on the best safety measures for using public transit in winter weather conditions.
