Public transport etiquette

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kimothy38
kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
in Chit-Chat
I get the train to work and usually it's not busy so commonly passengers have a spare seat next to them. When it is busy though you end up sitting next someone.
So my question is should you move to a vacant seat as the train starts to empty out? When someone moves away from me I think hey, what's wrong with me? If I'm the one on the aisle seat I wonder if I should move or would I offend the person I'm next to?
Then I look around & see half the carriage is empty & I'm the only person sitting next to someone. Then I start getting paranoid.
Is there some sort of etiquette for this?

Replies

  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
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    I think it depends on the weather - if its very hot, or everyone has wet coats, I see no problem in moving seats. equally if someone is taking up more than their space, I don't see why I should be squashed out of politeness!
    To be honest, most times commuting I'm stuck in a book so don't really notice. If someone moves to an empty seat away from me I'm just glad of the extra elbow room!
  • SEAHORSES4EVER
    SEAHORSES4EVER Posts: 1,553 Member
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    I love getting the train just for this beautiful awkwardness.

    There's no etiquette, some people feel uncomfortable sitting next to strangers, some people just want more space, some people want to watch p0rn with privacy, just smile and wink as you move away. Nobody offended.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
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    Watching porn - maybe that's why the guy today was leaning as far away from me as possible.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,426 Member
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    I think if there are a lot of empty seats nearby and you are crowded next to someone it is okay and somewhat polite to move so they can be more comfortable and get out easier too.
    Probably how you handle the move make a difference. If you smile at them or make a comment about being able to spread out more comfortably now and move over one seat that is probably more polite than if you leap up and race to the other end of the car suddenly.
  • gamerbabe14
    gamerbabe14 Posts: 876 Member
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    I'd move to another seat.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,793 Member
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    Not a problem for me. Usually if a gal is sitting next to me and a seat opens up, SHE gets up and moves.
  • rickdkitson
    rickdkitson Posts: 86 Member
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    They are most likely thinking the same thing you are..... "Will she think me rude if I move over to an unoccupied space?"

    If it makes you more comfortable, just move, if you feel a need to justify it, stretch out and say something like, "It is nice to be able have elbow room."
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    edited August 2017
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    kimothy38 wrote: »
    Watching porn - maybe that's why the guy today was leaning as far away from me as possible.

    I would lean in, but not close enough to make things awkward...just two strangers on a train passing time by enjoying a little porn together...
  • SomebodyWakeUpHIcks
    SomebodyWakeUpHIcks Posts: 3,836 Member
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    Don't do this on the train


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  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
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    Bry_Lander wrote: »
    kimothy38 wrote: »
    Watching porn - maybe that's why the guy today was leaning as far away from me as possible.

    I would lean in, but not close enough to make things awkward...just two strangers on a train passing time by enjoying a little porn together...

    Sometimes it's me that leaning to the window to hide the smutty texts....lol.
  • Vikka_V
    Vikka_V Posts: 9,563 Member
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    Off topic but...The last few times I took the subway it was so overcrowded that I sometimes couldn't even find a place to hold on to while standing, so at every stop I would be staggering into people.

    If I managed to find a seat someones crotch/*kitten* would invariably be in my face. I wear headphones and close my eyes. No dignity left after riding in a packed subway car.

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