1. Impromptu rain bonnet: Sometimes, after 45 minutes with the flat iron, an umbrella simply isn’t enough insurance.
2. Pants protector: There are those occasions when something should come between you and that bus stop bench.
3. Trash receptacle: You’d be surprised how many stops don’t have cans.
4. Laundry bag: See here for a recent example. (Related use: as a “wet bag” for cloth diapers. Sorry. TMI?)
5. Umbrella cover: No wet umbrellas on the floor means no more lost umbrellas. No wet umbrellas on the seat means no more rain-related bus fouls.
6. Shopping bag: Seasoned bus chicks carry running shopping lists (on paper, on mobile devices, or in their heads) and purchase needed items when they’re nearby.
7. PT version of an airplane “sick sack”: Useful for busing while pregnant and other, related scenarios (see above).
Do note: A single plastic bag cannot be used in all of the previously described scenarios. Several are single-use use cases and require the bag to be thrown away and replaced. If you find yourself replacing your bag often, you should consider carrying more than one.
I learned a few years ago that the little rolls of bags that are used to stick on dog leashes work really well for these purposes. They are usually rather durable (they are made to hold stinky dog poo!), compact, and reasonably priced.
Ah–interesting idea! I’m guessing they’re pretty good at containing odors as well. (I tend to use bags I already have around the house, but some are more useful than others.)
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