NYC Commute: An Experience

If you live in New York City, you’re bound to see/encounter at least one crazy/interesting thing throughout your day, almost every day. From the subway performers who insist on getting a performance in on a crowded train during rush hour to the homeless people who treat subway cars like their personal living space. As undesirable as their presence often is, they help to keep New York interesting and lend credence to the phrase “never a dull moment” that so aptly describes my city. And, as much as I might wish I owned a car during the times when they disturb my commute, they are mildly harmless and tolerable. It’s really the unstable commuters that you have to be aware of. And steer clear of.

My experience with “crazies” has been plentiful but there are a few that stand out in my mind. I should mention the baldheaded lady who was combing her head with a comb and alternatively mumbling to herself and cursing at another commuter. It was catching the tail end of their encounter that got me started thinking about the guy who is currently wanted for masturbating on the train as well as my own experiences. Not nearly as exciting as some of the other stories I’ve heard but once, I inadvertently offended a homeless man begging for change on a No.1 train. As the train was crowded, he had a somewhat difficult time making his way from one end of the train and by the time he got to where I was standing at the other end—practically straddling a pole—I instinctively leaned back from both the closeness and from the smell. More than the serious stink, I hated having my personal space invaded and he must have known that the way to punish me for the slight was to stand very close to me, staring at me for at least a minute (a minute never felt that long). But as uncomfortable as that minute was, it wasn’t as bad as the guy who asked me for a quarter and cursed at me for several minutes because I refused to give it to him. Or, the man who sat with his legs spread-eagle then complained that I was touching him when I squeezed as small as I could into a seat on one side of him. Knowing that I shouldn’t engage him, I immediately popped out of my seat and moved to stand in the middle of the train, where his curses followed me. I didn’t realize that I had remained tense until I felt myself relax when he exited the train a few stops later.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to avoid situations such as these but there are clues that I was aware of and ignored. First, if there are lots of empty seats around someone on an otherwise crowded train, chances are you want to ignore your desire to sit, at least until seats open up elsewhere. The mumbling is more obvious, although some people will wait until you are comfortably seated before starting up. Don’t try to tough it out as those who engage in this type of behavior seemingly only need a target in which to focus the “crazy.” And then, sometimes for no apparent reason at all, someone has decided that you’re it. I find that the most important thing is to be aware of what’s going on around me. That way, I can enjoy living in this great city without subjecting myself to too much of the unpleasantness. Happy commuting!