Canadian Politics Today

Beyond Politics => General Discussion => Topic started by: Michael Hardner on June 13, 2017, 05:50:03 pm


Title: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 13, 2017, 05:50:03 pm
Do people here use transit ?

I mostly walked to work since 2007 but I am currently not able to walk as much so I have been noting my transit culture closely.

I mostly travel at rush hour, wherein 99% of the people know how to do it and if you get one person who doesn't it throws everything off.  Despite the bad press, it works well for me and I get a seat on the subway most days.  Streetcars aren't part of my trip now, but I rarely got a seat on one.

I think I have had maybe 1 bad rush hour experience (impolite person) in 10 years.  To compare, I have had one medical collapse (next car over) and one jumper hit the train in that time, although the jumper was Saturday afternoon.  He was not killed as far as I could tell - he bounced back to the platform.

Mostly transit is good for looking at people and nurturing your inner monologue with these strangers.  I think Toronto people are well-dressed and worth looking it.  I look at their clothes and bodies, especially women.  It's ok, I'm discrete.  Spring is the best because sundresses, shorts and pump sandals come out.  I would love it if there were a club where you could just go up and ask people about themselves, it's intriguing.

I hope I never have to commute by car.  Tell me if you use transit, or if you have questions and I will answer them best I can. 
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on June 13, 2017, 07:18:40 pm
The times I've visited downtown Toronto, yes people are exceptionally well-dressed.  You're looking at people who are young, urban & trendy, and often well-off  (compared to typical mid-sized Canadian city population), and the ones who aren't well-off play keeping-up-with-the-jones'.  Seems like 1/3 of everyone in the city drives an Audi, BMW, or Mercedez...the cars in TO are ridiculous.

Transit culture I actually hate. Public transit...the people are weird and smelly...it's weird nobody ever talks to each other, but also a good thing people are quiet & don't bother me.  Driving...people can be quite rude and selfish often...the bigger the city, the least likely people will let you in if you're changing lanes, especially at rush hour.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 13, 2017, 07:44:42 pm
The times I've visited downtown Toronto, yes people are exceptionally well-dressed.  You're looking at people who are young, urban & trendy, and often well-off  (compared to typical mid-sized Canadian city population), and the ones who aren't well-off play keeping-up-with-the-jones'.  Seems like 1/3 of everyone in the city drives an Audi, BMW, or Mercedez...the cars in TO are ridiculous.

The cars are crazy and I don't understand it.  I drive for transportation not to burn money.

I was getting ready to post this so I took notice of the people on my way home tonight.  I came from the dentist so I was against the rush hour push and I took a streetcar too.  I noted that the people, even the ones who weren't young or particularly fit, took care in their appearance so that is why I posted this.

Quote

Transit culture I actually hate. Public transit...the people are weird and smelly...it's weird nobody ever talks to each other, but also a good thing people are quiet & don't bother me.  Driving...people can be quite rude and selfish often...the bigger the city, the least likely people will let you in if you're changing lanes, especially at rush hour.
  Car culture yes.  I think transit is different though.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 13, 2017, 09:32:38 pm
I'm pretty fortunate to live in a town where I can often walk or bike to work if I wish and if I drive the traffic isn't especially upsetting. When I'm home here in Kim City, I never use public transit.

I have a vehicle that is not especially fuel efficient; on the other hand my vehicle can traverse rough terrain and unreasonable conditions that might grind a Prius to a halt.  My decision to trade in my more fuel-efficient vehicle for this more versatile vehicle was prompted by the desire for more recreational possibilities, and the possibility of driving winter mountain roads to visit my special friend in Vancouver more often.

When I do get to Vancouver, I find driving to be stressful and aggravating.  I use public transit when I go there; particularly the SkyTrain.

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: JMT on June 13, 2017, 11:35:02 pm
I was in Vancouver last weekend.  I drove.  It's definitely stressful.  Especially downtown and Granville Island.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 14, 2017, 06:10:39 am
So far I'm the only one on 'transit'....  :D
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 14, 2017, 08:23:43 am
Transit check today - everything aligns with my description:

- All people well-dressed and polite
- Crying baby on train, likely going to a medical appt with guardian.  Riders patient and no scornful looks
- On escalators - stand right, walk left executed perfectly

Transit is like a strange urban square dance.  Observations will be ongoing from your faithful reporter.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: JMT on June 14, 2017, 09:19:44 am
So far I'm the only one on 'transit'....  :D

I love transit - except in Chicago.  I hated it there.   
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 14, 2017, 09:51:40 am
I love transit - except in Chicago.  I hated it there.

I like being up in the air on the subway.  It only happens a little bit on the TTC, most gloriously over the Don Valley on line 2.  There's nothing like taking the Paris Metro line 6 from Trocadero to Bir-Hakeim and seeing the Eiffel Tower in its pose over the Seine River.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest18 on June 14, 2017, 10:47:14 am
This Youtube video is a classic example of Transit in Winnipeg. I like to ride my bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjWoKlJ4hws
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: JMT on June 14, 2017, 12:41:23 pm
I like being up in the air on the subway.  It only happens a little bit on the TTC, most gloriously over the Don Valley on line 2.  There's nothing like taking the Paris Metro line 6 from Trocadero to Bir-Hakeim and seeing the Eiffel Tower in its pose over the Seine River.

The L is disgusting. 
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 14, 2017, 01:16:33 pm
The L is disgusting.

The TTC has become less disgusting in recent years.  I think they have found ways to use non-union, volunteers, and others to provide additional services.  In any case, it's better.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: JMT on June 14, 2017, 03:26:15 pm
The TTC has become less disgusting in recent years.  I think they have found ways to use non-union, volunteers, and others to provide additional services.  In any case, it's better.

I first visited Toronto in 2009.  The TTC has never struck me as disgusting.  It might not be as clean as the MTR in Hong Kong though.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 14, 2017, 05:49:30 pm
Transit check tonight.  530 pm, *just* post rush-hour.  Most everyone got a seat.  Everyone well dressed.  Polite conversation.  Clean car. 

Next update is tomorrow.... :)
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 15, 2017, 08:07:18 am
All good today this AM.  People looked angry.  I had to tap a young black kid on the shoulder, because he had his eyes closed and was blocking an open seat.  But everybody played by the rules.  Discordant note - the escalator at Osgoode was out so you had to walk up.

Aren't these fascinating ?    :P
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: BC_cheque on June 15, 2017, 11:27:52 am
I was in Vancouver last weekend.  I drove.  It's definitely stressful.  Especially downtown and Granville Island.

I was a die hard city girl who couldn't imagine being more than 10 minutes driving distance from the downtown core, but ever since I moved to the burbs, I can't stand it anymore. 

I have to go downtown once a month to see a client and I go crazy.  I have several friends in the neighbourhood who commute every day to the city and I just couldn't imagine.

If I ever have the misfortune of having to work downtown every day I would take the skytrain and download a bunch of netflix shows to watch en route.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 15, 2017, 12:50:31 pm
  I have several friends in the neighbourhood who commute every day to the city and I just couldn't imagine.

Wait.  Is this Vancouver ?  How does it work ?

One time I was there and somebody told us to take the 'C' bus.  But ... no ... it was the 'Sea Bus'.  The damn transit there goes on the OCEAN.  :D
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 15, 2017, 12:58:52 pm
BTW.  I took the subway to the Chiropractor at lunch.  3 short stops but a wealth of experiences:

-Slow train due to signal work (at lunch hour on a WEEKDAY ?  really ? ) causing 3 mins delay
-A beggar inside the subway car.  Well behaved, but sorry - no.  That's out of bounds.  The nice young lady politely ignored him
-Some high school lesbians maybe playing hooky.  When another cute girl got on the train I put my eyes on the more aggressive looking one, and sure enough she checked out the new girl thoroughly.  :D People are so predictable.
- In the middle of downtown I happened to run into a lady who is actually on my team.  Very restrained and quiet person.  She was outdoors, and as McLuhan said Canadians are the only people who go outside to be alone.  She was dangling her purse and twirling her hair as she leaned against a building at Yonge and Queen.  Quite a character study.
- Hint: if you are heading down to a platform on stairs or escalator and you hear there's a train down there, try to determine which side the people are coming up the stairs from.  It might make it worthwhile to run for the train if it's the right one.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest18 on June 15, 2017, 02:43:16 pm
I had to tap a young black kid on the shoulder, because he had his eyes closed and was blocking an open seat.
You're a moderator in real life too?
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: BC_cheque on June 15, 2017, 03:59:49 pm
Wait.  Is this Vancouver ?  How does it work ?

One time I was there and somebody told us to take the 'C' bus.  But ... no ... it was the 'Sea Bus'.  The damn transit there goes on the OCEAN.  :D

Haha.  I grew up on the north shore so I've been familiar with the seabus all my life.  I used to catch it to go see movies downtown and it was just the coolest thing as a teenager. 

I never considered how it would sound to someone not local. 

What the heck were they thinking now that you mention it.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest4 on June 15, 2017, 09:47:51 pm
So far I'm the only one on 'transit'....  :D

I'm on transit daily.  For six years I skytrained from Surrey to Downtown Vancouver.  Now, I take a bus.   I prefer to ignore everyone else because I don't like making small talk.  I look safe and approachable, unfortunately, so people tend to ask me questions about stuff that I usually know nothing about. 

You are not the only transit reporter.  There's a twitter user who also gives transit updates; calls herself 'gropedgirl' and describes the impolite behavior of some men. 

Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 15, 2017, 10:05:56 pm
You're a moderator in real life too?

No - I took the seat.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 15, 2017, 10:06:57 pm
  There's a twitter user who also gives transit updates; calls herself 'gropedgirl' and describes the impolite behavior of some men.

I am always polite.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Queefer Sutherland on June 15, 2017, 11:35:03 pm
So far I'm the only one on 'transit'....  :D

The best thing about transit is that you don't have to drive LOL.  That is, when you wake up in the morning & you're still half asleep you can space out and just sit there like a zombie until you arrive at work/school.

I find it hilarious that the hip urban folks who are most addicted to their cell phones can't use texting or data while on the subway, and for the only time during the day when they have a lot of free time just waiting around it's also the only time they don't have access to their phones.  Since human beings don't actually talk to each other face-to-face in this day & age (again, cellphones), the subway is just people staring into the abyss of their cold dark brains waiting for the drugery of non-cellphone life to end. Or they play Candy Crush.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 16, 2017, 06:21:21 am
What the heck were they thinking now that you mention it.

'Watery bus' and 'Sea Boat' are both clearer choices.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 16, 2017, 06:24:19 am


I find it hilarious that the hip urban folks who are most addicted to their cell phones can't use texting or data while on the subway, and for the only time during the day when they have a lot of free time just waiting around it's also the only time they don't have access to their phones.  Since human beings don't actually talk to each other face-to-face in this day & age (again, cellphones), the subway is just people staring into the abyss of their cold dark brains waiting for the drugery of non-cellphone life to end. Or they play Candy Crush.

A revelation, some information, and an idea for another thread:

I am the definition of an old hipster.  I am such a hipster that I actually iconoclastically call myself one !

You clearly haven't heard about the $40/month 4GB plan that really only works in urban centres called Freedom Mobile.  You get data in the stations, but not in the tunnels.  Works great.

New thread idea: podcasts.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 16, 2017, 08:36:22 am
Not much to add for the Transit Report today other than we're now in the summer months where rush hour (815 am) is pretty light, and there are lots of seats.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 16, 2017, 09:48:30 am
Good, good. Stay safe, Mike.

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 16, 2017, 03:05:59 pm
Transit report: demographics and subway activities:

My seating area has 10 folks:
6 Asian women
2 middle aged white men
2 middle aged white women

6 people on phones
2 reading
2 sitting glumly

Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 17, 2017, 11:17:28 am
Michael!  What is your status?  How is transit moving this morning?

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest18 on June 17, 2017, 11:56:03 am
Winnipeg bus drivers will **** up your **** if you mess with them.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUyQHBGSkk
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 18, 2017, 03:18:55 pm
No transit.  Weekending.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 19, 2017, 08:30:30 am
Late post from Friday:

Met the wife at Yorkdale so we could be close to the highway for our urban exit.  As I descended the stairs, a butterfly passed me going the other way in the turnstile beside mine.

The fare monitor guy said in a voice like Joe Pesci's: "A butterfly !"
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 19, 2017, 05:38:09 pm
Transit report:

Though the 815 commute was a dream, I hit Osgoode at 515 on the way home and had to let a train go because it was too packed.  A pregnant woman squeezed in, after all who is going to criticize a pregnant woman ?

I got a seat at St. George, though, and everyone was well-dressed, good-smelling and polite. 
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 20, 2017, 04:56:25 pm
Transit Report:

I ended up at Osgoode at the exact same time today !  And the same result - 2nd train was not packed and I even got a seat. 

Walking to the subway station, I saw a pigeon eating a hot dog.  It was disgusting, but I still said to the pigeon: "hey there pigeon, I hope you are enjoying your HOT DOG !".  I had a bit of an edge in my voice, and two young girls saw me and were nonplussed.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: BC_cheque on June 20, 2017, 09:44:22 pm
  A pregnant woman squeezed in, after all who is going to criticize a pregnant woman ?


When you can't drink alcohol or bend over to tie your shoes the least you can do is take advantage of the good parking spots and people giving up their seats on the train.

Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 20, 2017, 09:57:24 pm
She didn't look like she was getting a spot.  It was like pushing a beach ball into a wall of people.  The look on her face was priceless... a kind of evil "I will get away with this" smile.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: BC_cheque on June 20, 2017, 11:26:52 pm
She didn't look like she was getting a spot.  It was like pushing a beach ball into a wall of people.  The look on her face was priceless... a kind of evil "I will get away with this" smile.


I was trying on maternity clothes and in the change room there was a padding in the shape of '7 months' for women in their early pregnancy to see how the clothes will fit down the line. 

I admit, I had an evil moment imagining the endless possibilities of owning one of those....

 
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 21, 2017, 06:14:33 am

I admit, I had an evil moment imagining the endless possibilities of owning one of those....

 
:D


Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 21, 2017, 08:01:56 am
Good experience again this morning.

A couple of hints for those who want to TTC like a pro:

-Check your blind spot.  This isn't just for driving but walking.  When you are downtown there is likely somebody there so if you move left or right without checking, you will likely step on a small quiet person.  Of course, the downside is that if there is somebody behind you, they will think you are stalking them from ahead and cross the street.  This happened to me yesterday.

-When you open a door, hold it for the next person.  If you're situationally unaware, and don't know if somebody is behind you make a perfunctory effort by giving the door an extra push as you pass just in case.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: cybercoma on June 21, 2017, 02:19:26 pm
Transit here is garbage.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 21, 2017, 04:56:24 pm
Where is that ?

Got on at Union about 517 so pretty much the same train as the last 3 days.  Got a seat, not a surprise, but I was almost mowed down by somebody exiting who took exception to me sneaking on before the train was empty.  Subway musicians were very good.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 22, 2017, 07:57:38 am
Transit report:

Boarded at St. George 830 (my walk to the subway is timed to the minute at 1/2 an hour) and what a different from 815.  No seats, but still room to breathe. 

I witnessed another part of transit culture in action: getting people to move so you can get off.

The gentle nudge and tap on the shoulder worked well, as the recipient was clearly a seasoned rider.
The same guy responded to my passive aggressive brushing by of the knapsack as I got off, and removed the backpack.  You aren't supposed to wear those on transit esp. at rush hour !
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 22, 2017, 08:10:02 pm
Transit report:
545 from Union Station today.
Crowded but got a seat.  Didn't offer my seat to a woman 5 years older than me but did offer to a woman with a child, who declined.

Spanish guitarists were playing again at my home station.  Did a goofy dance and gave them $5 and they laughed.  Ticket booth guy joked with children and a family in line.

In June, Toronto is peaceful and wonderful for the most part.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 23, 2017, 08:43:38 am
Transit Report:

Rainy, so riders were glum today.  Left late and didn't get a seat until the train was waaay downtown :(

New observation: passive-aggressive ways people indicate to their seat mate to move over because they're disembarking.  One lady today was fussing with her coat and seat-mate couldn't determine what was going on.  Bedlam !
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 26, 2017, 05:24:06 pm
Transit report: still June, still good  815 this AM got a seat.  All riders well-behaved.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest4 on June 27, 2017, 06:59:22 pm
Today on the bus I wonder how such a small guy can take up so much room and if it's true he hasn't showered for a few days.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 27, 2017, 08:44:39 pm
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/ttc-named-best-transit-system-north-america-1.4178574

'No one saying it's perfect': TTC named best transit system in North America


Perfect Toronto moment.  Seriously.  "Best in North America" "Meh.  Look, we're just O.K."
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 28, 2017, 01:14:32 am
I agree, it's amazing. Would you say it's the ultimate evolution of the transportation system? Or just the best one there currently is?

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 28, 2017, 01:19:31 am
As I read these daily reports, it sounds to me like a dance, involving thousands of strangers, choreographed only by a shared understanding of a few basic steps.  It all runs smoothly as long as everyone knows the rules, but if somebody is out of step it causes chaos and consternation for the rest.

Are there others?  I think highway driving etiquette might be a similar dance.

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 28, 2017, 06:38:14 am
I agree, it's amazing. Would you say it's the ultimate evolution of the transportation system? Or just the best one there currently is?
 

Ha.  It's a lot of people in a tin can shrugging.  Kidding aside, the system is getting better though it's informative how little people here acknowledge that.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 28, 2017, 06:40:31 am
As I read these daily reports, it sounds to me like a dance, involving thousands of strangers, choreographed only by a shared understanding of a few basic steps.  It all runs smoothly as long as everyone knows the rules, but if somebody is out of step it causes chaos and consternation for the rest.

Are there others?  I think highway driving etiquette might be a similar dance.
 

Didn't I post something about commuting being a dance above ?  If not, I voiced it to my wife around the time I started this thread. 
 
Yesterday, some guy gave a stranger his business card and she took it.  I said to the lady who got the card: " people are giving business cards on the subway now ?  or maybe you're famous ?"  She said: "He says he knows my sister.  And yes I'm famous."

I'd like to see more banter on the subway but I'm too shy to initiate and probably creep folks out.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 28, 2017, 08:56:39 am
Didn't I post something about commuting being a dance above ?  If not, I voiced it to my wife around the time I started this thread. 

Perhaps that's what put me in mind of it.  Either way your daily updates add to the impression.

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 28, 2017, 09:26:27 am
Packed today at 830 for some reason.  The biggest challenge came at my stop where a line of us had to get through 3 people to the door.  Again, everyone knew the drill and as soon as you passive aggressively step into someone's peripheral vision, they start to accommodate you.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 29, 2017, 07:45:08 am
Transit report:

Lady beside me had a purse on 1/2 of my targeted seat when I got on at 8:01 AM.  Dully moved it without prompting.  Also knew how to do the fake fussing-with-her-purse thing to signal when she was about to disembark.

Minus today:
BO smell, which is actually unusual for the subway.  Disappeared at Union so I guess it wasn't me.

Plus today:
Painted toenails. 

Backlog:

Not sure if I mentioned the clearly-Lesbian clearly-tourists who were on the subway during Pride last week.  They exuded their qualities in their appearance, and behaviour so I spotted them easily.  One sure sign is when people get out at Spadina northbound and immediately start looking around 360 degrees.   Sorry, ladies, you CAN transfer to line 2 here but it's smarter to do it at St. George.  Nonetheless: welcome tourists !
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 29, 2017, 08:26:40 am
Also noted at work today that the BO lady here also sometimes paints her toes.   Something is inextricable about those things as they place someone squarely in my frame of sensory involvement.  Kind of like colour TV vs. black and white.  My reaction is involuntary and imperceptible by them so I am not required to defend it, just keep it to myself.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 29, 2017, 10:07:57 pm
Bus philosopher.  "You're annoying me, so now I'm gonna speak on this."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAvuEyDy5JE

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 29, 2017, 10:15:25 pm
LIKE
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 29, 2017, 10:20:58 pm
Clearly the angry woman was unfamiliar with the steps of the dance that is our daily commute.

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on June 29, 2017, 10:26:17 pm
Well, it was a kind of dance.  I'd love to see more public dialogue on the subway.  I would do it, but it's embarrassing to people.  When I get a chance, though, I talk.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest4 on June 29, 2017, 10:41:44 pm
Well, it was a kind of dance.  I'd love to see more public dialogue on the subway.  I would do it, but it's embarrassing to people.  When I get a chance, though, I talk.

(shudder).  I'm sorry, but I do not want to talk on the bus/skytrain, especially in the morning when I"m still gearing myself up for the social interaction required at my job, minimal though it may be.  I can be charming, friendly, helpful and funny - but as an introvert, this takes some effort so I like to avoid it as long as possible.   My sister and my daughter, both chatty in the morning, drive me crazy.  I get up an hour before them when they visit, praying that they'll sleep long enough for two cups of coffee, alone with my thoughts and my invisible, quiet and avoidable internet acquaintances.   
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on June 30, 2017, 01:22:02 am
(shudder).  I'm sorry, but I do not want to talk on the bus/skytrain, especially in the morning when I"m still gearing myself up for the social interaction required at my job, minimal though it may be.  I can be charming, friendly, helpful and funny - but as an introvert, this takes some effort so I like to avoid it as long as possible.   My sister and my daughter, both chatty in the morning, drive me crazy.  I get up an hour before them when they visit, praying that they'll sleep long enough for two cups of coffee, alone with my thoughts and my invisible, quiet and avoidable internet acquaintances.

As an introvert trapped in an extrovert's body, I totally relate to this!  I hate having guests who need to chat constantly when I'm still in "not talking" mode. It usually ends with a "well you're awfully quiet this morning."  (...as if that was a bad thing.)

I don't transit, but I do sometimes encounter overly-chatty hobos if I walk to work.  "chatty" doesn't quite describe it. The dialog usually goes something like:

them:   "HEY  ---  you, HEEEEEYYY YOU --- how's it going eh!!! -- eh?!?!"

me:  "Good morning!"

them:  "I BEEN look down der I seen things why they do things down der they tell me do things I done I din do nothing I lookin der..."

me:  "Have a nice day!"

I find these encounters somewhat bewildering.


 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 04, 2017, 08:08:28 am
Transit report:

We're in summer mode now.  Quiet mornings, lots of seats.  No banter though.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 05, 2017, 08:14:58 am
Transit report:
despite an 835 AM boarding, there were lots of seats and the train was as cool as a meat locker.  Also, dodged a bullet when, at St. Patrick, the announcement came on that the southbound train was being held at Museum, which was 2 stations behind me.  Clearly if I had missed my train i would have been largely delayed.

Margaret Atwood talked about Canadians saying "Nice weather.  We'll pay for it later."  That's how I feel about my commutes lately.  Something bad is coming. :(
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 05, 2017, 04:52:10 pm
Transit report:

I was wondering when we would get to this: smells.

So, I got in the car, and sometime in that day a very bad smelling person had sat in the vicinity.  The thing you have to do is try to triangulate the smells to make sure you're at least not sitting in the seat where the person sat.

It was bad but not unbearable.  I'm guessing it had been at least 15 minutes since they got off my car, or they could have been seated far away.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest18 on July 05, 2017, 07:25:36 pm
Back in university I had a summer job as a building cleaning supervisor. I would drive around hotboxing in the building cleaning van making sure everyone showed up and had supplies. There was an excessively obese guy who you could find by sniffing the air. It was particularly bad after he used the elevator. Just a sickening salty stench that lingered wherever he went. The building owners were getting pissed off because he was stealing food from the cafeteria. One day my water bottle went missing so I figured I'd make sure to watch him leave. He hung out and hung out after his shift but I wouldn't let him leave without watching him. Finally I told him to go home, closed the door, and opened it 30 seconds later to find him trying to pull a bag from the trash. I to!d him to go again, grabbed the bag after he'd gone and found a camera and my water bottle inside. The next day he threatened to kill me when he showed up for work and I told him he was fired.
He would have got away with the camera but I wasn't letting him take my water bottle.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 05, 2017, 07:40:57 pm
Crazy story.  So he was stealing things and hiding them in the trash outside ?
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: guest18 on July 05, 2017, 08:15:12 pm
Yes. And that was when water bottles were cheap and full of BPAs. It really made no sense to steal it. I wasn't sad to see him go though. He always wanted to get close to me to make fun of the Filipinos because we were the two white guys, which was bad enough, but I especially didn't want to do that given how badly he smelled.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 06, 2017, 06:05:51 am
You have some interesting stories in the capacity of management.  I don't mind 'positive drift' at all, but I started a whole thread on management culture that I'd be interested in hearing your ideas on. :)
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 07, 2017, 10:12:18 am
Transit report:

For the 2nd time this week, I detected a smell in my seat, so I shifted across the aisle where it was fine.  Next stop a glum lady sat in the smelly seat, facing me.  She made a sour face, and started smelling her bra, her armpits to see if it was her.  SHE DIDN'T CHANGE SEATS EVEN AFTER THAT.  I took her picture, with an intention of pixelating it and posting but second thoughted that.

Today we had an Asian lady and her daughter step into the car and move about 3 steps in before stopping, oblivious to the dozens trying to get in behind them.  I stepped around and the daughter even had her damn backpack on, so she got the passive-aggressive backpack nudge as I walked by.  This really shocks subway newbies because their centre of gravity is thrown off.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 12, 2017, 07:35:50 am
Transit report:

Left at 730 AM but train was still busy.  I have consistently been getting a seat all summer despite travelling at rush hour.

Nothing overly unpleasant has happened in a long time.  I have a seat, air conditioning, a podcast, and painted toenails of attractive age-appropriate office ladies keeping me company.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 13, 2017, 08:12:19 am
Transit report:

Got to St. George on time but the train didn't leave.  Minutes later the operator announces passenger sick on board, anyone with medical knowledge go to car 7432 please.  Minutes later the train leaves anyway (I doubt anything could have been done in that time) and the canned system-wide announcement "the delay we were experiencing at St. George is now clear".  No idea what happened.  :(
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on July 20, 2017, 07:56:06 am
I did take one of the new streetcars to Kensington yesterday.  They are weird, as there is no contact with the driver and you have to buy a proof of purchase (not transfer) from a machine, painfully slow, on the platform or car.

Then at Spadina there's a group of ticket checkers who look at your POP.

Overall, I guess the new cars work.  They carry more people and as a veteran of the infamous Spadina Bus (please don't post a video of the Shuffle Demons song in response, thanks) I can say that we are in a much more civilized age.

But the experience is a lot more officious and cold.  Maybe that's where we are going with mass transit now.  Thoughts on the new cars ?
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on August 02, 2017, 08:08:12 am
Go figure that after 2 weeks of unemployment I would take transit for the first time and have bad experiences:

- Subway down to meet old work-mates.  Stuck in tunnel.  Train has to reverse to Museum station.  Took a cab.  15 mins late.
- Subway back at 315 PM and no seats !  What is the mid-day frequency at non-rush hour ?  Geez
- Streetcar at night to attend a BurningMan meeting in the new inner city suburb by the rail lands.  Street cars are the bane of transit.  It's like all the worst/awkward parts about having sex with a stranger with no actual sex.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on November 09, 2017, 06:18:39 am
Reboot.  New circumstances.

Firstly, it's now fall during which the transit 'system', as it is sometimes called, is busier.  I suspect that the reasons are obvious, ie. fewer bikers, walkers, but it makes for less seat time and slower transit.

Secondly, my regular home base is a brand new tower right beside the lake.  This means stunning views, however it also means going through Union Station which is a hive.  I commute against the grain, so there are huge crowds of people walking the other way.  The fun part of this is that those of us fighting the wave end up forming a single line of penetration to get through.  We're like sperms.

Thirdly, my client is in Brampton which means I have had to take the regional transit called 'GO'.  The insidious naming of it implies transit that moves, which is false, but really stands for Government of Ontario.  The suburbs are a wonderland of garbage.  Still, it's not as bad as I feared.  Things work on time, and even though nothing looks very pretty (taped up 'THIS WAY' signs, ugly design everywhere) things work on time, there's not much garbage and people are polite to each other.  This is a part of Canadian culture that we should be playing up, IMO.

I will be back on this thread to update any stories of note.

Yesterday, there was a polite-off wherein two folks kept offering an empty seat to each other.  One of them took it, and I had to stand.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on November 10, 2017, 05:34:50 am
OK.  I think about you folks constantly when I am commuting so let me capture my thoughts of yesterday.

Poppies

This is the 2nd year in a row I have tried to record, mentally, Poppy observance by race.  Now that I am streaming through Union Station I can try to make an objective measure of whatever that sample represents.  For example, I will say to myself... "after that pillar I will note the race of the first ten poppy wearers I see, then I will do a count of the race of the next ten people in general".   

Doing that, I found that Asian looking people wear poppies at pretty much the same rate as whites.  Overall, there are fewer poppies I think but that's just an observation.

Bendy Train

The new trains on line 1 allow you to walk from car to car.  That gives the weird effect that you can see to the end of the train when it's on straight track but only to the end of the car on a curve.   Since I end my ride at Union Station, it means I get on the train at the lead car and then just before I get off I have to walk to the end of the train.  The weird part is unless I count cars I won't know how far to the end, because I only see a curvy tunnel thing in front of me.

Talk to me Buttons

I have an idea that you could start a project to have people wear lapel buttons to identify them as somebody you can chat with on your ride.  If I put on my management hat, I have some ideas on how to make the system work with a few safeguards around identification and so on.  The easy way would be to make up a button design with instructions on how to print it out, then publicize it virally.

What do you think of this idea ?
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: kimmy on December 21, 2017, 07:32:26 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75F3CSZcCFs

 -k
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on December 21, 2017, 08:22:46 pm
I took the subway from union today to go to the dentist.  At rush hour.  Somebody got on at Bloor with a baby stroller, baby asleep with muffin crumbs all over its jacket.  An ordeal.  The car was packed and the passengers had to coordinate getting off ahead of time. Commuting is just pure hell.
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on January 07, 2018, 06:54:25 pm
The ultimate article about Transit Culture.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marchetti%27s_constant
Title: Re: Transit Culture
Post by: Michael Hardner on September 28, 2021, 06:44:20 am
Joan took transit for the first time since early 2020 I guess.  She didn't like it.

I'm doubting that I will ever have a daily transit commute again.  It was part of my life for 30 years, so it's hard to believe.