Cosmo Catalano captures one in action, blocking the aisle and just not caring.
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Comments
You have got to be kidding
By cscott
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 8:25am
You have got to be kidding me, this is one of the biggest whiner posts of all time. Ok some kids backpack made it hard to get off the bus, you could say something to him or if you're this guy you sneak a picture with your phone and run off the web to vent. I can only imagine what would happen to this fragile soul if he should be forced to share the bus with oh say high school kids someday.
I don't get it.
By BStu
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 8:48am
From the picture, the PERSON is "blocking" the aisle far more than the back pack. I've been on a bus. You don't need backpacks to block the aisles. You just need to be riding the bus. There isn't much space to move around. Maybe this guy was being in the way, but it wouldn't be because he had a backpack.
Seems Non-Snarky And Public-Minded
By Suldog
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 8:54am
I think Catalano wrote an objectively informative piece. Most of us here probably already get it, and don't need his pointers at the end, but I didn't find it whiny. I guess my mileage varies.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Me too
By Michael Kerpan
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 9:44am
I thought the article was polite and sensible. I too get quite annoyed over the tendency of people (not just young ones -- and not just with back packs) to clog the exit door (especialy the middle one on buses) and not move back to make room (and also unblock the exit).
Ditto, although I found the
By Bea W
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 1:06pm
Ditto, although I found the back pack in the photo disappointingly small. That's not near the size of the stuff I've gotten knocked over with while standing or clocked in the head with while sitting on the Red Line. I don't mind the blocking so much (an "excuse me" generally gets one passage to the doors) as the being knocked near unconscious. :D
This was a satirical commentary, right?
By Melissa
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 8:57am
Is this guy even from Boston? I grew up riding the buses and trains and have to chuckle at the idea of people riding the T boarding and unboarding in such a polite and orderly manner. Perhaps he needs to spend some time at Park St.during the evening commute and give his suggestions a try - good luck getting anywhere - and if you do manage to actually get on a trolley, good luck getting off!
Unlike the fare evader post,
By anon
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 9:23am
Unlike the fare evader post, this one is pretty Snarkys and stupid.
Heaven forbid you have to speak up and ask excuse me when it's your turn to get off a crowded trolley or bus. The horror of having to speak to someone you don't know!
I usually stand with a backpack because It's easier for me and offers seats to those who would want them, or need them. When people get off, I'm mindful of moving out of the area, doorway, ect. because I do know it takes some extra room.
If you want to post of someone blocking something, go for the people who stand two across on the escalator, blocking a path for thoes who want to get up the thing as fast as possible.
then again that can be resolved with a simple and polite "excuse me" also.
I agree with the article
By abu lafia
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 9:25am
This happens on the T as well where there is more room and would normally be enough space to get on or off the car when people are standing on both sides. The enormous bags and backpacks that people wear are frequently used a battering rams, consciously or not, against all others in their vicinity. People are far too wrapped up in their own little worlds and have no common courtesty - I guess we can no longer call it "common". Several time a week I get on to see riders taking up extra seats in order to lounge and support these enourmous packs. Most seem unaware that there is anyone else on the train others seem to be staking a claim and "getting theirs" by their rudeness. I'm not tall so I have been hit in the head and face by backpacks and had my nose bloodied on my way to work this past fall...
I'm less polite in this situation
By Randolph
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 11:04am
It doesn't work as well on a bus, but in more than one situation I've found a fun way to handle people with gigantic backpacks blocking the aisle on the train.
One word: leverage.
Huh? Confused?
By Rozzy Guy
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 11:20am
I don't understand. Who is he talking about? I don't see anybody doing anything wrong in that picture. Is he saying the bus is too crowded for standers? The text mentions standing in the rear door access space, but the picture doesn't show that. Very strange whine of a post.
oh please
By Eric
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 11:59am
This person is clearly about as far back in the bus as he can go. The backpack isn't actually *blocking* anything or even *nearly* touching anyone. The idiotic snark about "not finding a seat to his liking" clearly doesn't apply either: no seats available.
I guess this individual is just supposed to wait until an empty bus rolls up so he can safely board with a backpack.
But seriously: no extra space has been eaten up or caused to become inconvenient by the presence of this backpack on the bus. Buses are frequently crowded. Get over yourself, and then get over it.
The person's backpack
By Route 66
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 12:40pm
The person's backpack doesn't appear to be all that big unless the perspective of the pic is a little skewed. I think the bigger and more annoying thing for commuters are those who insist on clinging to the poles near the doors as if their lives depended on it. Their unwillingness to slide down or position themselves in such a way as to make boarding for others easier is inexcusable. I know some of that is based upon the fear of not being able to get off at their stop. Is that fear unfounded?
No, that fear's NOT unfounded.
By independentminded
Wed, 02/04/2009 - 12:56pm
Often enough, particularly during the morning and late afternoon/evening rush-hours, people are packed into the MBTA trains like sardines. When someone has a large knapsack, s/he should make some sort of effort to make boarding for others easier. Unfortunately, things aren't helped by the fact that oh so many people refuse to cooperate and heed the warnings of the MBTA staff to go as far back into the car as possible to let other people board. Frankly, the MBTA trains get much too crowded, often making it more difficult for people to get off at their necessary stop, particularly because lots of people refuse to make even the smallest effort to let someone through who needs to get off.
Maybe the solution to this is to get more MBTA cars, and limit the number of people who can board an MBTA car at one time, because, frankly, if a fire ever broke out in one of these overcrowded cars, heaven knows what kind of chaos and mayhem would occur.
I realize a bit too late that the thread is about the situation on buses, which is also true, but I also think that it applies to MBTA trains as well.