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Can You Use A Subway Seat For Something Besides Sitting?
By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 18, 2011
Modified Mar 18, 2011
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Mar 18, 2011
Modified Mar 18, 2011
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Subway etiquette is a tricky thing when it comes to seats. The police the past few years have been very aggressive about cracking down on seat hogs who dare put their bag or their feet on another seat, and last week our readers were very vocal about when you should give your seat up for pregnant women. But what is the rule if a person uses a seat for their bag but doesn't sit down themselves? That's the question brought up in post on Transportation Nation.
Two months ago Andrea Bernstein hurt her back in such a way that makes it hard for her to sit, so while riding the subway she now stands. And, "if it’s not too crowded," she'll put her bag down on a seat so that she doesn't have to bend down and move it at every stop. This was all well and good...until yesterday:
when I boarded the train, it was pretty empty. So I put my bag on the seat, stood beside it, and proceeded to read the coverage of Japan on the NY Times op-ed page. About three stops later, a passenger got on — a young, seemingly able-bodied man, and pointed to my bag, saying “your bag.” I thought he was pointing out that the zipper was about 3 inches open, so I closed it.
Then, he said, “Move your bag!” rather brusquely. I explained it was there because I can’t sit, and it was taking up the seat instead of me. He started to scream: “You’re really being an asshole!”
I was uncharacteristically speechless.
A few seats down, a woman in a white coat joined in and said: “Can’t you see she’s injured?” He continued to yell. She got up. “Take my seat, then. It’s too early in the morning. Take my seat.” Which he did.
A few stops later, someone got off, and then someone got on, my bag was still on the seat. “Don’t worry,” the woman said. “There’s room for me and your bag.”
We've put in an e-mail to MTA to find out if they are ok with a seat being taken by a bag if the straphanger who owns it isn't using another seat, but have yet to hear back. While we wait, what do you think? Is it ok to use a seat on the subway for something other than sitting?
Tagged
MTA
nyct
subway etiquette
subway seating
Garth Johnston
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