Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I lean alone

When all the seats are taken, people tend to gravitate towards one of two places as the next best thing: 1) any of the side mounts to the handicapped seats near the train doors, or 2) to the connector doors that go between the cars. While a lot of people like to lean on the handicapped side mounts even though when they do, they are blocking the entrance and exits, I personally prefer to lean on the connector doors: it's roomy, I'm not blocking anyone, and when the trains are already crowded, few people go from car to car.

However, I've been noticing that people are beginning to think the connector door is a space for TWO! It's roomy, true, but it really can only comfortably allow one passenger to lean on, not two! You can squeeze two, but it is inevitable that the arms will be touching and I don't quite like that. I've been getting a lot of unwelcomed neighbors joining me in my favorite spot, and leaning on the connector doors with me! I think it's a space invasion issue-- I don't want my arm to be touching someone else's arm, I don't want to have to squeeze all the way to the corner just to make room for two. And I don't want someone's computer bag to be hitting me with every sudden train movement.

Am I out of line here? Do you know what I'm talking about...the connector doors between cars? It's a one-passenger standing area in my opinion!

7 comments:

Josh said...

2 people by the doors is a tight squeeze. I think you should try and position yourself closer to the center or make yourself a little wider. I'm not a fan of having my personal space invaded either, even if it is on a crowded train.

Rafael said...

If the train is crowded you're not going to have any choice at all. IF someone see's that you have a good idea they are definately going to join you on the leaning. I myself don't lean on anything. I like to hold onto the rails with my arm wrapped around the poles. This was I can surf with my PDA and not touch that gross out - god knows what - is on that pole.

bartmusings said...

smart idea, rafael.

Anonymous said...

The connector doors is really a two-person space. I have managed to lean there on one side without touching the person leaning on the other side, and I've found that on a really crowded train, there is more space there, even with two people, than there is anywhere else.

bartmusings said...

It still is uncomfortably close though in my opinion. It also depends heavily on the size of the other person joining you too. Maybe I've been unlucky.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree that it's a space for one. A couple of weeks ago, a guy was headed for the connector door while I was occupying the space. I thought he was going into the next car but when I turned around, he was camped out in the area I just vacated for him. I raised my eyebrow and he says in a cheery, camp-counselor voice, "There's space for two here!" BART would be great if it wasn't for the passengers.

Anonymous said...

Jesus tapdancing christ!

Have any of you ever been to any other major metropolitan area and used public transportation there? Go whine about your "arm touching" on the goddamned subway in new york! See what that gets you.

I had no idea that all the people I ride BART with were such stuck up xenophobic shut ins. God forbid you share PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION with the PUBLIC.