Second Ave. Sagas

Musings on the middle seat

Written by

Benjamin Kabak

in

Even when empty, the middle seat on the MTA’s commuter rail cars looks unappealing. (Photo via flickr user roboppy)

Metro-North this week announced new schedules that go into effect on Monday. By and large, the service changes are minor with a few peak-hour trains eliminated and a few late-night trains combined into local routes. The MTA is also threatening to run shorter cars in order to save on money, and as such, the agency put out an amusingly-worded statement yesterday.

“With this schedule change, the number of cars on select trains will be reduced wherever possible to save money on propulsion costs,” it read. “These changes will be made to meet our standard occupancy rate for our trains, which we monitor carefully. Initial reductions will occur on the Hudson and Harlem lines. This means there may be fewer seats available on your train, but there will be adequate seating. You may have to move to another a car for a seat, or you may want to consider sitting in that middle seat.”

That middle seat. The phrase itself is so full of contempt, and the MTA finds it necessary to urge riders they might want to consider that unappealing and unwanted piece of property. Please, take the reject seat; it’s your only hope for a sit during a crowded commute.

The hate for that middle seat is obvious. Particularly on Metro-North and LIRR trains, the middle seat is a cramped nothingness in between two seats with arm rests and an aisle or window, the sheer sign of luxury. Just as no one wants to sit in the middle of a three-seater on an airplane, so too do few want to sit on that slippery third seat on a commuter train. Our sense of personal space is violated, and our sense of societal proprietary suffers. People just should not be thrust into such awkward interactions with strangers.

This straphanger has solved the subway's middle-seat problem by taking up those surrounding it.

That middle seat problem though isn’t one unique to the commuter rail cars. In the subway — particularly those trains running R46s and R68s — the middle seat rears its ugly head. In those cars, the three seats flush with the train wall nearest the doors are highly problematic. Designed for people with rear ends significantly smaller than your average New Yorker’s, the bucket seats dictate that three people should fit with no problem, but in reality, three people can fit only if the one in the middle doesn’t mind getting shoved in the ribs or sat upon by those sitting in the outside seats. There ain’t no such thing as personal space for the unlucky SOB stuck with that middle seat.

So we’re stuck with middle seats, and an agency that must remind its riders that, when train cars are crowded, instead of standing, it’s acceptable to “consider sitting in that middle seat.” Just be wary of what happens when you sit down; the people next to you might not appreciate being the bread of that commuter sandwich.

Photo at right via flickr user moriza.

Comments

9 responses to “Musings on the middle seat”

  1. tacony palmyra

    You can’t sit in the middle seat on LIRR and Metro-North because so many people who sit in the window seat on the 3-seat side put their bags in the middle seat, and give you the death stare (or blatantly ignore you) when you ask them to move them. Occasionally the conductors will bark out “No bags on the seats! Use the bins above!” but for the most part it’s a difficult, lonely battle trying to sit in a middle seat, even when the train is crowded with standees in the door entryways to the point where it’s making it difficult for people to get off the train and move around.

    It’s a pretty bad situation as is. If they’re running shorter trains they should do more of an effort to prevent bags-in-seats syndrome, both with “educational campaigns” (ads) and actual enforcement by the conductors.

    Reply
  2. ferryboi

    Many riders will opt for the left-hand seat, as in the driver’s seat in their cars. New slogan: “MTA, kinda going your way, with not as many trains and fewer seats.”

    Reply
  3. Scott E

    Middle seats do get taken on really crowded trains — the ones where its inevitable that most, if not all, of them can be occupied. On the ones where only a handful would be used, they tend to be left vacant.

    There’s a convoluted thought process when walking down the aisle of a near-full train: you look at the other passengers and judge which one would make the best companion for the next 45+ minutes (since you don’t get to move around often like on the subway). Often, it’s the polite, well-groomed, good-hygiene ones who get stuck with a middle-seat neighbor. The french-fry-hogging, cell-phone-yapping, bags-on-the-seat-riders get the extra shoulder-room.

    It’s hard to justify causing discomfort to the good ones while rewarding the bad ones, which is why those “almost-full” trains have empty middle seats and standees. However, when nearly all the middle seats will inevitably be taken, you (as a respectful passenger) do the neighbors a favor by taking that seat, rather than letting a more obnoxious person take it. It’s a warped thought process, but one that the twice-a-day long-haul riders take very seriously.

    Reply
  4. Ed

    I’m speaking about subways, but the middle seat is no longer a real option due to three factors:

    1. People are getting fat.

    2. People are getting inconsiderate.

    3. Trains are getting more crowded.

    Its really not more fancy than that. Sit in a middle seat, and someone who physically takes up two seats will set next to you (I’ve had people literally sit on my lap, or try to) and try to scrunch you out. At least in the end seats you get more room to adjust. The funny thing is that I remember that when I was in high school, cops would come to our schools and tell us never, ever, sit in the end seats because people will grab your wallets. I guess times change.

    Reply
  5. Peter

    I believe it is the trains that will be shorter, while cars will remain the same size…..
    ; )

    Reply
  6. Johnny

    I’m a daily LIRR rider and for the most part my line – Babylon – is not terribly crowded… at least not when I ride, which is early morning (6:47) and late afternoon (4:52). These are express trains I ride and are generally populated by regular “monthly” commuters that understand that there’s an unwritten etiquette to riding. I would like to see the LIRR (and Metro North) for that matter publish these points of etiquette, even at the risk of insulting a few riders.

    1) Sit where you fit. I’m sorry, but if one weighs significantly more than the average American citizen, which is 10-15 pounds heavier than the average European, he or she should find a seat where they can be comfortably accommodated, even if it means walking the train looking for one. The exercise may do them good.

    2) No one wants to know your business. We recognize that you must sometimes have phone conversations, however, covering your mouth to mute the sound or moving to the vestibule is the polite way to go.

    3) To weekend travelers: It’s just a the weekend. You don’t need to take the entire contents of your wardrobe and your beloved Fifi with you. However, if this an unavoidable circumstance, please be kind and move towards the rear of the train where regular riders rarely sit. Then you situate your luggage and pet in any manner you choose.

    4) To the matinee theatre goers: Stay for dinner and stay off the rush hour trains. You slow down the conductor with your bitching about not knowing you were supposed to purchase a rush hour ticket; especially when you decide to sit next to a regular rider.

    5) To parents with children: It’s a “commuter” train ride not a amusement park attraction. Your kids are cute, but after a long, hard day at the office or the job site, the last thing we regulars need is a bratty kid screaming at the top of his/her lungs that he/she needs to go potty or wants the window seat. Please let your kids know that riding a train is an inside activity requiring the quiet, inside voice.

    6) To St. Patrick’s Day revelers: drunk and stupid is no way to live your life, much less, a way to represent the Irish culture. This rule also applies to late night club goers in a similar way. To the young men, lighten up on the body spray and check the excessive machismo at the station. Young ladies, dress in clothes that fit, and, remember that exposing less flesh is more. Summary, try to show some of the class your regular-rider parents have when they ride.

    I’ve got more, but I think you get my drift. I also have a few choice words for the LIRR about treating monthly riders with a bit more respect (e.g., monthly ticket holder trains and cars?, special express trains for AirTrain riders?)

    In the end, all I want is what anyone wants from the LIRR and Metro North, a comfortable ride. I believe that observing this etiquette will go a long way towards achieving this illusive goal.

    😉

    Reply
    1. Lee

      As a daily commuter on NJ Transit trains, I couldn’t agree more! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Ferdinand Cesarano

    I think you may be perpetuating some pop-wisdom hooey here. While Americans are indeed getting fatter, we have not yet reached the point where the subway seats are inadequate. The middle seat on the subway is in no way problematic; and the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers can indeed sit in the bucket seats with absolutely no discomfort — assuming that their neighbours let them.

    Which brings me to the one thing that is in fact highly problematic: the behviour of many of the people sitting in the seats surrounding that middle seat. For every large person who actually needs more room than the bucket seat provides, there are literally thousands of people who simply choose to take up far more space than they need, sitting with their (usually his) legs open and an “I dare you” look on their faces.

    This is a matter entirely of aggressive behaviour, not of body size. If not for inconsiderate people intentionally acting antisocially, there would be no issue at all regarding the middle seat (for anyone who is not extremely obese). I’d like to see six-inch-high dividers between the bucket seats, in order to prevent this kind of boorishness.

    Reply
  8. Patrick

    I love it when 1 person sits in the middle & takes up 3 seats!

    Reply

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