this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2023
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Fuck Cars

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When standing, do you generally hold onto the bars or the loop handles attached to the bars? What did you do this morning if you were on one?

E: Sounds like bars are the popular option here too, for many reasons. Hygiene was a big one I hadn't initially considered. Thanks for answering everyone!

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Bars if I have to, but I feel like I look cooler if I don't hold onto anything, so I often try doing that and just balancing.

(I know I don't, you don't have to remind me that)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In a train? I can do that. It's fine. But a bus? Nah, I have hard time not to fall even when holding onto something.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

I once had a bus hoon around a motorway on-ramp so fast a guy slid out of his seat and into the opposite wall...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah when I do it it's usually on trams or buses, although I find it even harder (and therefore more challenging) on metro trains. Those things accelerate FAST lol.

Way too easy on regular trains so not really that fun.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

You could also be the cool kid leaning on the wall by the back door, arms crossed, looking hip.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel you, I must be the coolest dude in the tram standing in balance in front of the door when nearing my stop 😎

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm glad that neither of you are taking my Vancouver trolleybus. 😅 The power feeder abruptly disconnects from the catenary every so often causing the bus to suddenly jolt.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Nice ! Euro dude here but when I was in BC I didn’t try this trolleybus, only the sky train.

Must be a funny sight to see the first 5 times, before it gets boring.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Sounds fun! Probably frustrating if that's your everyday commute, but my friends and I enjoy telling each other stories of our transit related disadventures (car drivers being idiots and bus drivers acting accordingly, the metro automated system being stupid, stuff of this kind), so we'd probably like that.

You hate it while it's happening, but it makes for some pretty silly memories. And most importantly it helps break the monotony of your commute.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Bars. They don't move (usually).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Now look, I'm not a bus commuter, but I've been riding buses all over Europe and beyond, and I immediately just hold onto anything that's in reach.

As a matter of fact, as long as there's not a visibly old/pregnant/disabled/etc person around, I'll make sure getting a seat no matter what and something to hold onto.

At this point I'm quite certain there's a secret society of bus drivers with chapters all over the world, and their motto is "drive like there's no tomorrow" and they all have "NO FUTURE" tattoed in huge black capital letters on their chests.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

"Sorry ma'am, I'll just need to hold onto your purse here for stability."

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

depends. if I can use one of the vertical bars, going from the floor to the ceiling, I do that. but there's a lot of space between them (not every seat) and I'm a short person. I can reach the loop, I can't reach the handrail the hang from. so if the bus is crowded, I'll wind up on a loop.

luckily, I get on my current daily commute early enough to grab a seat most days, but a previous job had me hanging from the loop every day.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

sometimes I use the ceiling as the handle when it's too crowded

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Tall people vibes right here. When I used to take the train daily at rush hour, I'd squeeze into the car and pin my hand to the ceiling to stabilize myself. Never lost my balance.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I'm not sure I've seen any buses in the UK with handles, they only have bars. So bars.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I usually use bars since loop handles in my city aren’t well maintained or durable and they break easily. Yes you read that right.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dang, that sucks. Is it the rubber type or a sort of rope with a rigid plastic ring? I could see either breaking from poor maintenance but in different ways.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

A rope with a plastic ring usually

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Just an informal poll for commuters to shake up the community feel a bit... sparked this morning being on a crowded bus. On my bus, it was about 4 people holding bars per person holding a loop.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't like to use the handles. They are so high up that it get's uncomfortable and when I pull down to stabilize, my Fingers usually get squished. Most of the times when I use the handles, blood starts to leave my arm. Maybe the handles in my buses just really suck but I always use the bars or anything else to stabilize.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Have you checked that the handles on your buses aren't disguised vampires?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

To quote a rapper, "bars."

I'm too top-heavy to have the thing connecting me to the thing that changes my inertia also be moving.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bars, because sometimes you’re not 100% certain you don’t have a tiny wet spot under your white shirt arm pit…

But if did not sweat, I kinda like the hooks, it’s just that it can be a kind of a bet.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Hopefully your username wasn't earned from a scenario related to this wet spot.

Glad to see someone appreciate loops, they are useful and seemed easy to use for people standing and looking at their phone.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Bars. I don't feel safe with the handlers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I use bars. I feel like they are easier to clean since you just have to wipe them down.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I usually hold the bars, as they're fixed and and I can imagine easier to clean. There were seats today though so I sat down 🤪

I only really hold the handles if the bus is absolutely packed, and the wheelchair area is already full of standing passengers

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Very true. The hygiene element many people pointed out wasn't on my mind when I asked, it's very neat.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Handles, if it's not too crowded, otherwise bars

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Nice. I can understand. On a crowded bus I've tried handles and it takes half my energy not to accidentally bump the person next to me. But also easier to check my phone while riding with less strain.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use bars more than handles. It's usually the quickest thing to grab a hold of

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

When the bus starts going while I'm moving to the back you'll see me holding on alternating hands like I'm on a set of monkey bars.

[–] Buddhist1961 2 points 1 year ago

Bars, because I live in a third world country with subpar and barely maintained public transport handles aren't even an option. I suspected what handlers are but I actually had to look them up just to be sure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I don't live where the busses are regularly so full you have to stand, so no. I just take a seat and relax.

When I was in NYC, I didn't touch anything on the bus or subway when I used them. I kept my hands in my pocket cuz everything there was icky.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm a bar person myself