The BART seat pecking order

With the BART strike appearing likely tonight, I feel like I need to lighten things up by addressing an awkward situation we encounter daily.  For some of us, we flat out prefer to stand on BART to avoid contact with the old cloth seats.  I usually stand, but on occasions especially at the end of the day, when one of the refurbished trains approach, I don't mind taking a rest on one of the plastic seats.

There is an unsaid rule that women should sit over men.  I don't really think that should be the case but I feel that a lot of men do feel pressured to allow female passengers to take an open seat even if it's right next to them.  Poor tired men who actually want to sit.  Just do it...it's fine, chivalry is not necessary (or expected) on BART IMHO.

Based on what I've seen in more than 11 years of taking BART, this is the pecking order when it comes to seats:

1) Handicapped-- yep, no argument there, they should always have a seat, anywhere.  Or if they have a cast and crutches, they should sit.
2) Obese passengers - I don't mean overweight, I mean so large that they need two seats.  I think to ease their pain and embarrassment, please just get up for them quietly and let them sit down!
3) Elderly-- this is a tricky one. Some who look very old are insulted when you offer them one, and others who have barely 20 gray hairs boot you out of your seat on the "elderly" badge.  If they have a cane, they should sit, no matter where the seat.
4) People with babies or kids -- The kids should sit.  It's pretty intimidating to be standing in such a turbulent and crowded environment.  If parents are carrying babies, they should sit too.  It's dangerous to stand and balance with your baby!
5) Pregnant women -- If someone appears to be in their 3rd trimester, I always give them my seat.  But then, it's tricky too...sometimes, someone APPEARS pregnant but are not!  Or sometimes, someone barely in their 2nd trimester says, I'm pregnant, and forces out another passenger.  Pregnant women can stand, I've been there.  Unless you are about to pop, but if that's the case, you shouldn't even be on BART!
6) Overweight passengers-- These are just larger passengers, not obese.  I would let them sit because it's not comfortable for them to stand, and they are taking up probably too much standing room.
7) Any other females by proximity to open seat

Thoughts?  I've written about this in the past but I think my order has changed.  Obese passengers have moved up on my list.

When bad gets worse

BART has been delayed pretty much everyday the past week.  This morning, there was a 12 minute delay from 925 area code stations to SF.  We all know delays means crowded trains.  We usually all make that work by being uncomfortably close with other passengers but heck, keep your head down, mind your own business, and we all get to work within the hour.  It's fine.  We deal with it.

Today, it was also crowded but what made the ride unbearable were two people taking advantage of the extreme proximity to make out.  Yes, they are a couple, but with the lack of fresh air and space already in the train, they really did not need to show their affections so fervently and so publicly.  I was luckily 5 feet away from them but there was one man whose face was about two inches from their lip lock (actually tongue lock, I should say.)  The man had no room but to stand facing them.  It must have been incredibly uncomfortable for him to be part of that exchange.  So unsightly, I don't care who you are, don't make out on BART, especially when we are forced to see it.

But my commute gets worse.  And the second part I can't blame BART for at all.  I finally got to my building and got on to the elevator.  The elevator didn't move, it also wouldn't open again.  It pretty much just stayed still.  A buzz alarm went off in the elevator and the door still would not open.  The elevator just stayed still with the doors shut.  I thought someone from the outside would sure need an elevator and the door would open soon enough but as I heard other elevators open up and close, I started to panic a bit.  By then I had been in there for more than two minutes.  It was another minute before it finally opened up but I was dialing my office manager to seek help from security.

Monday morning commutes are always eventful.  Let's hope I don't get stuck in an elevator again this week.

This is so OK with me...not!!

Seriously, if I weren't two stops away from my exit, I might have risked my life to say something.  We all need to stretch but this? Seriously?  Can you see me (dark denim on bottom left) try to move my leg as far as possible to his shoe??

Strike on Monday Highly Likely! Who is watching out for us, the passengers??

I am sure you have all heard by now, BART union issued a 72 hour strike notice last night.   The unions and BART management seem to be no where close to coming to an agreement.  

According to SF Chronicle, BART medical insurance costs have increased by 251 percent in the past 12 years, from $24.6 million to over $86.4 million next year, while the employees' pay has increased from $25 to $92.  Sounds pretty reasonable to me, especially with the lax and generous overtime and sick policy.  

I don't think the rest of us had salaries and benefits that increased by that much in the last 12 years.  It's a much higher pace than inflation.

Do I side with management? Not exactly, their salaries make anything else look inequitable.  Do I side with unions?  Not really.  I don't feel that the level of service we, the passengers, receive warrant a significant pay and benefits bump.

I just want this to be resolved without the need to raise fares.  $10+ per day isn't easy for many to afford.  It's food for the family, school supplies for kids, money to pay medical bills and drugs, etc.  Can anyone please think about the passengers a bit here?  We work damn hard to do what we can to support our families and unfortunately, we have to depend on BART to get us to work and back home.

Who is there to watch out for passengers???  Why don't we have a say?