Standing Room Only
In my days at United Airlines, I would post blog updates under the Aviation inSecurity heading. Well, since I no longer give a rat’s ass about the nation’s airlines or their security, I have taken on a new rage, in the newly created Standing Room Only.
News or shall I say opinions under this heading will deal with your typical asshat who rides public transportation, but treats it like their own car. I have made it known in the past I am now employed at BART in the Oakland/S.F. area, as of October. But I have rode the system for more than 2 years prior to hiring on. So I have seen and experienced quite a bit, being he first time I have used public transportation on a regular basis. With gas at $3.00+ per gallon (yeah, I know Euros pay more per liter) and a “free ride” on the train, I think the choice is a simple one.
From behind my sunglasses I would people watch. That always makes the trip interesting. So these columns will focus on those sorts of events that transpire. Now this is nowhere as critical about BART as BART Rage, some of those “people” are just downright obnoxious. I would consider Standing Room Only more along the lines of BART Musings, which is described as, “People watching, eavesdropping, and more on the Bay Area Rapid Transit.”
Today we start off with the mid-30s Mexican fella who was sitting across from the seat I normally take on a daily basis. Well, as the doors slide open, the smell of a taqueria hits you. I walk in, sit down and start surfing on my Blackberry. I notice his 10-speed bike leaning against two unoccupied seats and he is occupy two more, with his feet up he takes two more for a total of six seats!
This Mexican (I don’t have to be politically correct either.) must think he is at home, as he is shoving fork loads of food into his mouth, with little regard to the red and black sign over his head that reads, ‘No food or drink.’
As the train departs the station he continues eating. Prior to the next station he finishes his meal, wraps up the Styrofoam packaging in a white, plastic bags and toss it on the floor of the car. I watch him through this entire process. He then gets on his cell phone and starts talking away. About 5 minutes later, he concludes his call and falls asleep, still occupying six seats.
I was not able to follow this through to the end, as I transferred prior to his stop. Eating on the train, while not “legal” pe say, is a very common occurrence. I don’t think BART Police will arrest anyone for it, or even blink an eye. I’ll admit, prior to coming to work for BART, I too would munch on something, out of a bag, like chips or beef jerky. But not a god damn full blown meal.
What’s worse, the fact that one of the biggest complaints about BART is how dirty the cars/seats are. Well no shit, when riders think they can leave their empty containers and papers in the car when they leave. You aren’t at home and you are not in your car, take your damn trash and throw it away. This is not the first, nor will it be the last time I see this on a train, but it is one of those things that really is offensive.
