I know people like this and it makes me roll my eyes for sure. But let’s not pretend that the subways/metros/whatever are fine. I contend with a lot of unpleasant stuff every day and I would say have to move cars a couple times a month because someone is scaring me or there’s an odor too offensive for real life.
It’s system dependent but yeah, I’m not gonna argue that metro cars are always the most sanitary.
As for someone scaring you, I’d say that’s a feature not a bug of the metro. It’s not like there are less crazy or dangerous people driving then on the metro, it’s just you don’t see them. If someone’s yelling slurs and nonsense on the metro you can hear / see that and change cars like you said. If they’re doing that in a car there’s no way for you to know about it and avoid them. Maybe you notice them driving eradically but your focused on so many other things it’s easy for it to go under your radar.
Also on the metro that crazy person may have a weapon but on the road it’s guaranteed that that person is in control of a vehicle that can kill dozens of people with a turn of a wheel or the press of a pedal.
Road rage exists but I’ve never seen people intentionally ram each other on the streets (I did spend the first 12 years of adulthood doing the typical suburban/city commute by car)
I see people start fights on the subway maybe once or twice a year. Real terrible stuff. I think most of us can avoid it by having city smarts, but not everyone, and I still have to be scared by it.
It’s not the same. A subset of people are way worse when trapped in a room with other people. Remember that car driving also filters out a lot of the most distressed and mentally ill people, in an expensive city.
A lot of people have opinions on transit without using it a lot. Not saying that’s you but I find that the realities elude a lot of online discussers. Also probably way different in Europe and East Asia than the US sadly.
It’s not all bad. It’s actually really hopeful for the human spirit on 90% of rides. Like we’re all from all walks of life just sitting here minding our own business in a locked room.
Road rage exists, it is just less visible, especially if you’re not involved. It usually won’t be a car directly ramming into another, although that happens sometimes, it’s going to manifest as one repeatedly cutting another off or one tailgating really close, which you probably won’t notice if you’re not involved but is still very dangerous. Meanwhile someone shouting or punching someone is very easy to notice on a metro car, especially since your attention is up for grabs whereas when your driving your attention is on keeping your lane, watching for your turn, maintaining your speed etc.
Yes being trapped in a confined space can trigger violence in some but in others it may discourage violence as there’s no escape from the repercussions. Meanwhile if your in a car and side swipe someone you can just speed off and as long as someone doesn’t catch your license plate your home free. Also cars can trap you in a confined space if your in traffic, which does trigger a lot of road rage.
I’ll admit I only take the metro about once a week, mostly get around the city by walking and bus and I commute by my one wheel and commuter rail, haven’t owned a car for almost all of my adult life. The main threat I face when in transit is not from crazy people on public transit, it’s from cars when I’m walking or one wheeling. I think drivers normalize the danger of cars and sympathize with them, but once you spend most of your time outside the protection of one you can begin to realize how dangerous they are.
I know people like this and it makes me roll my eyes for sure. But let’s not pretend that the subways/metros/whatever are fine. I contend with a lot of unpleasant stuff every day and I would say have to move cars a couple times a month because someone is scaring me or there’s an odor too offensive for real life.
It’s system dependent but yeah, I’m not gonna argue that metro cars are always the most sanitary.
As for someone scaring you, I’d say that’s a feature not a bug of the metro. It’s not like there are less crazy or dangerous people driving then on the metro, it’s just you don’t see them. If someone’s yelling slurs and nonsense on the metro you can hear / see that and change cars like you said. If they’re doing that in a car there’s no way for you to know about it and avoid them. Maybe you notice them driving eradically but your focused on so many other things it’s easy for it to go under your radar.
Also on the metro that crazy person may have a weapon but on the road it’s guaranteed that that person is in control of a vehicle that can kill dozens of people with a turn of a wheel or the press of a pedal.
Road rage exists but I’ve never seen people intentionally ram each other on the streets (I did spend the first 12 years of adulthood doing the typical suburban/city commute by car)
I see people start fights on the subway maybe once or twice a year. Real terrible stuff. I think most of us can avoid it by having city smarts, but not everyone, and I still have to be scared by it.
It’s not the same. A subset of people are way worse when trapped in a room with other people. Remember that car driving also filters out a lot of the most distressed and mentally ill people, in an expensive city.
A lot of people have opinions on transit without using it a lot. Not saying that’s you but I find that the realities elude a lot of online discussers. Also probably way different in Europe and East Asia than the US sadly.
It’s not all bad. It’s actually really hopeful for the human spirit on 90% of rides. Like we’re all from all walks of life just sitting here minding our own business in a locked room.
Road rage exists, it is just less visible, especially if you’re not involved. It usually won’t be a car directly ramming into another, although that happens sometimes, it’s going to manifest as one repeatedly cutting another off or one tailgating really close, which you probably won’t notice if you’re not involved but is still very dangerous. Meanwhile someone shouting or punching someone is very easy to notice on a metro car, especially since your attention is up for grabs whereas when your driving your attention is on keeping your lane, watching for your turn, maintaining your speed etc.
Yes being trapped in a confined space can trigger violence in some but in others it may discourage violence as there’s no escape from the repercussions. Meanwhile if your in a car and side swipe someone you can just speed off and as long as someone doesn’t catch your license plate your home free. Also cars can trap you in a confined space if your in traffic, which does trigger a lot of road rage.
I’ll admit I only take the metro about once a week, mostly get around the city by walking and bus and I commute by my one wheel and commuter rail, haven’t owned a car for almost all of my adult life. The main threat I face when in transit is not from crazy people on public transit, it’s from cars when I’m walking or one wheeling. I think drivers normalize the danger of cars and sympathize with them, but once you spend most of your time outside the protection of one you can begin to realize how dangerous they are.
I have. :( It’s terrifying.