Interesting. The Washington Post had a front page story about seat hogs on Metro – people who take up two seats even when people have to stand. These people either pretend they don’t see the people standing or get aggressive and rude when asked to move.
The disdain – or even outright venom – from the able-bodied towards the article is rather perplexing to me. As someone who can’t stand for very long on Metro and who has had a ridiculously large number of ugly encounters with seat hogs, I have to say that I think the people who don’t get it out to spend a day riding the Metro with someone who can’t stand. Maybe it would open their eyes a little bit. Maybe the ones who are most vocal about assuming the problem lies with the people who can’t get a seat are themselves seat hogs.
I doubt an article will shame the unrepentant seat hogs into being more considerate, anyone that aggressive about not sharing a seat isn’t going to be fazed by a newspaper article. That may sound pessimistic, but I’ve been riding Metro for over 20 years and this problem just gets worse and worse and I feel like over time these people have learned that there are no consequences to their refusal to share a seat or give up a disabled-access seat so it doesn’t seem like the situation has any chance or improving.
If people lack the guts to ask a person to slide over or give up their seats they should get a car and stop taking the train. Do you really ask people to move or do you just stand there clearing your throat and hoping they’ll hear you over all of the other noise and distractions? There are services like Metro Access for the handicapped and if they can’t navigate metro they should take advantage of these options and stop whining. The real lesson from this article is that a lot of people ride metro who need to grow a pair.
I was thinking that I needed to edit this post and add links to some of the comments and blogs I saw criticizing it, but I see Jim is riding to the rescue.
Jim – Metro Access is a disaster of a service that routinely leaves the disabled stranded. It’s for people who cannot access regular Metro services. I don’t believe it’s fair to decree that Metro is some sort of Lord of the Flies environment and only the meanest or largest or rudest are allowed to enjoy it’s services. That’s simply absurd.
Additionally, although I can’t speak for everyone, I have been very vocal on many occasions about needing a seat. Most of the time the person shares so I know I’m doing something right. The ones who don’t are clearly out of line. I’ve observed also this situation many times when I haven’t been the person trying to get a seat (some days I am able to stand without falling on the train and have in fact given up my own seat when someone else won’t).
Knowing Rebecca – she’s not one to shy away from asking someone to budge up.
These seat hogs are just part of the culture of entitlement – why should they have to move? They deserve the seat as much as anyone.
Makes me want to kick them in the kneecaps.
Hey Jim, I would like to invite you, then, to USE metro access’ services. You see, I run a program with mentally and developmentally disabled people where I have had to sit in the upwards of THREE HOURS waiting for their scheduled ride to appear. I’ve had to basically tattle on drivers SO incredibly rude that I was momentarily thankful that my participants nature is one so upbeat and her comprehension of tone not so advanced so she didn’t understand how grossly she was being treated. And I’ve had to direct belligerent Metro Access van drivers to the handicapped ramp for wheelchair navigation where the driver chose to yak to her mother on her cell phone while spitting sunflower seeds into a cup instead of actually, you know, DOING HER FUCKING JOB.
SO Jim, yes please, how about YOU ride a metro access van and leave a seat on the metro for someone else
Thank you, Beth for giving a first-hand account of Metro Access. I was having trouble composing a response, since I don’t rely on the service all of my info is anecdotal or based on media reports.
Rebecca- I would not wish metro access on my absolute worst enemy. There are a few privatized para-transit companies such as MTM or Battles. I would reccommed the former over the latter just in case anyone is looking for reccommendations.
I’ve got a whole load of trolling comments I’m leaving in moderation because I don’t have the patience for dissertations on the benefits of eugenics. If your comment isn’t appearing, that would probably be why.