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Friday fun poll: where do you like sitting on SkyTrain?

Friday fun poll: where do you like sitting on SkyTrain?

In last Friday’s poll, I asked what you would do when the passenger beside you vacates the window seat, on a full bus.

Out of 116 votes, three-fourths were in favour of moving over and sitting in the window seat (75.86%), while a tiny 6.9 percent thought it was okay to stay sitting in the aisle seat. A further 17 percent thought either option were just fine.

This result might have been obvious though — on a full bus, people generally move over so it’s not difficult for another passenger to get to a seat, which speeds up loading and departure since it doesn’t create any weird passenger traffic issues in the aisle.

And of course these aren’t the only choices. In the comments, Stephan Alexander Scharnberg highlighted the strategy he takes based on proximity to his stop:

If I am relatively close to my stop, I say that I’m getting off soon and offer the window seat (they might be riding further than myself). If they decline, then I take it. If the bus is coming to a terminus (such as Metrotown) and we both are travelling the same distance, I still offer the window seat. If they decline, then I take the window seat. In fact, if I am nearing my stop, once I get up to let the previous window sitter by, I often remain standing, offering both seats to others.

And Eugene Wong has again provided some interesting thoughts:

I chose “always move over”, with the idea that all situations are equal. That being said, each situation is unique, and talking about it with other passengers is always the best way to go. Talking with others with a genuine concern for them will help us to be as polite as possible.

It’s true: talking with your fellow passengers about the options can really help and avoids needless misunderstandings. Which echoes Steve’s comment that there “probably isn’t a right or wrong answer here anyway, as long as people are considerate of others.”

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Anyway, I thought we’d switch modes from buses to SkyTrain for this week’s poll. And it’s a preference rather than behaviour one, so who knows what the winner might be?

Feel free to discuss your choice in the comments. (Anybody a big fan of the captain’s chair, btw?) And vote away until next Friday!

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