Monday, March 23, 2009

Those who rush to the doors before the destination

I never can understand this, especially when the train is crowded. There are just some people who must squeeze through the crowds, bump and walk all over people because they need to be standing right in front of the door before the train stops. It especially doesn't make sense at Embarcadero station because more than half the train needs to get off there anyways, so why not just go with the flow. A woman today, during mid-Transbay tube, started gathering her things, and step by step pushed her way through from the end of the train to the door. She squeezed herself to the front, forced everyone else to re-position to make room for her premature exit, and finally stood right in front of the door, about an inch from the glass. Sure, she was the first one out the door but she probably saved herself 5 seconds while inconveniencing at least 15 others.

Why do that?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Depends on the station. For some reason, at Fruitvale Station in the evening, people standing in front of the doors don't know to step off the train to make way for those actually exiting. More than once I almost didn't make it off the train. Now I work my way to the doors early. Seeing as I'm going to have to push past these folks in any case, may as well get it over with, and better to ease gingerly past than to have to push past in a rush before the doors close.

Please step off the train and get out of the way, people! The train operator won't leave without you.

SongMonk said...

It might be someone who is not a frequent traveler and thus doesn't know the exit patterns.

Let's take your example. If the passenger wasn't aware that half the people exit at Embarcadero, she might be concerned that if she waits till the last minute, she might not be able to push past people and get to get to the door in time.

Nowadays, I'm much more chill about things. But when I was a novice traveler, I was *paranoid* about missing my exit. I could easily imagine myself repositioning myself near the exit. Not to be rude, not to be the first one off, but to assure myself that I did not miss getting off at my stop.

Haven't we talked about this in your blog before? :-)

bartmusings said...

Yep, we definitely have talked about this several times before! It's just one of those things that gets to me every so often, when an extreme example happens. You guys definitely have a lot more patience than I do! I never thought to look at it from the passenger's perspective..maybe afraid to miss a station because they're not familiar with the exit patterns! I'm just one grumpy commuter in the mornings! Haha!

SongMonk said...

I wouldn't say that I'm more patient! I haven't endured it over and over like you have, and also, I have *never* traveled on BART during commute hours. The worst I have dealt with is going to and from sports events, and in that case it's pretty clear where people are getting off the train. (And that the train operator will give plenty of time for people to get on and off.)

Anonymous said...

I do it at Walnut Creek to avoid the situation you mentioned the other day: taking 15 minutes to get out of the parking lot.... If I'm one of the first people off the train, and I align the train car I'm in with the stairs I can get to my car and get out within 2-3 minutes. Otherwise, you get stuck in the traffic and I've had it take a full 15 minutes just to get off the station grounds!

west coast story said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

while I don;t push through a crowd to be first off, I usually am standing up and moving toward the door at the previous station. I rarely ride at the height of rush. Contraiwise, the other day as I was boarding @ Rockridge there was a slug who didn't even stand up from the bench seat until after the doors had opened. I was onboard before he was off. And OF COURSE I plan which door to be near based on where I want to be at my destination.

bartmusings said...

I guess I better clarify here. I don't mean just getting to the door before the train stops, I'm talking about a rush hour train that is at maximum capacity, and those of use who are commuters know that at Embarcadero, 40% of the people exits and at Montgomery, another 40%. It is already uncomfortably tight, so when one person needs to move a great distance, everyone needs to make room in a tight space that already has no room. But totally different when it comes to the way home. I am one of those people who line up by the door before Orinda station so I can make a mad dash for my car and get out of the parking lot ASAP!

Anonymous said...

Although I'm a little later than other comments, I don't push either. I find that it can be a real pain going with the flow since you have to deal with people trying to get on if you aren't one of the first ones out.

What I can't stand are the people who insist on standing in the doorway when it's not their stop. Yes, I realize you want to be the first out, but if it's not your stop, you're basically restricting the flow of traffic by not moving aside.

I can see why it annoys you though.

David said...

I'll start heading to the door a minute or so before the station. Most of the trains I ride are not full.

What I cannot stand are these jackasses who get on the train first and then stop. Move the hell out of the way or get on last! This is extremely prevalent at the Lake Merrit station. They are getting off at the 12th Street station.

Anonymous said...

This is very important at certain station to avoid waiting for people who are S-L-O-W climbing the stairs. I prefer to sprint up the stairs and if I'm stuck in a long line, I have to plod up behind everyone else. That said, I don't shove through anyone to do this, I just position myself early to be right by the door. If not, I just wait my turn like everyone else.