So what's the consensus on this practice?
It's never really bothered me but it irritates a few of you. I don't particularly sit on the stairs myself but how safe is this, especially if the train had to come to a sudden stop? There's nothing in front of these people to buffer them, like the person in the quad opposite you who is your personal airbag.
Yes. Personal. Airbag.
I will sit on the stairs only on express trains and in the summer if the floors are less likely to be wet. Once the train gets close to the station though I will get up and move.
ReplyDeleteIt's either sitting on the stairs, or standing in the isles crowding over those in the quads...which would you prefer?
A) I will NEVER sit on the steps.
ReplyDeleteB) The few times I have accidentally taken the wrong train, I have been corralled upstairs BECAUSE these yahoos generally don't move so you can get back down the stairs to switch cars.
I'm never sitting on the steps, way too filthy!
ReplyDeleteOh hey, that's my photo. :D
ReplyDeleteThe only reason they were sitting on the stairs is because they wanted to sit. As I mentioned in my text, there was plenty of standing room on the upper level.
Gotta park my ass to thumb through my blackberry! Hurf durf.
While I fully agree this is dangerous! I also think there is something to the GO train being so full that this is becoming a common sight. On the trains I take they have had their platforms extended to accommodate 12 coaches but keep them at 10 coaches? I have seen this many times on the two lines I take (not Lakeshore lines) and I have to ask myself why GO is taking so long to add the additional 2 coaches, which would stop this annoying (to some) and dangerous practice?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest it doesn't bother me because people are sitting there, it bothers me because they pay a fair amount to take the train and are reduced to sitting on stairs, while GO once again drags the heels to come to realization that there service is sub par.
@Anon, they won't add the 2 extra cars until ALL the platforms on the particular line have been extended.
ReplyDeleteAnd to think: they are increasing fares to continue providing this sub-par service.
Absolutely. Not everyone can stand. Some people have back issues that aren't visible to us and sitting on the stairs is the only way to get off their feet and that is totally something GO needs to address and accommodate.
ReplyDeletePeople shouldn't be forced to compromise their safety.
Ideally sitting on the stairs should be a last resort for those who can physically stand as it is dangerous seeing as a person can be thrown several metres across a coach and be slammed against the wall.
I'm being excessive here, I know but I think of these things.
I would think that sitting in the stairs is no more dangerous for being thrown than standing. It is dangerous however if someone tries to navigate around you and trips.
ReplyDeleteI’m a stair sitter on occasion. Trust me, people don’t do this because they enjoy it. But if given the chance to sit on the stairs, or stand the whole way home, I’ll take the stairs every time. It’s just more evidence that GO needs more trains, and/or longer trains.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the question about 12-coach trains stopping at 10-coach platforms? GO trains have the ability to only open doors on certain coaches, like when they are doing construction on a platform they do not open the doors to the coaches that would be within the construction zone, so this isn’t a good excuse. I say add the coaches, and make announcements as to which stations are NOT serviced by the last two coaches and advise passengers to move to another coach to exit the train.
I occasionally will sit on the stairs (waiting until the train leaves to give people the chance to get up or down). I find when standing I usually have to hold on and it's more crowded, at least on the stairs I can read my book and pass the time more easily and comfortably. I don't feel like I'm in the way and I get off at the first stop (express) so don't block anyone else exiting.
ReplyDeleteGO cannot extend trains form 10 to 12 cars until EVERY platform has been extended *and* they have had enough new carriages delivered. New carriages are rolling of the production line as we speak, and I'm expcting the Barrie line to get 12-car trains this autumn (or an extra train, which amounts to the same thing). Milton or Stouffvile can also expect an extra train this year.
ReplyDeleteAs for opening only some doors... the CSA can open all the doors in front of 'his' door, and/or all the doros behind. There's no way to open the dooos on 10 out of 12 carriages.
(That's why when platform works happen, it's always the first 5 carriages which will/won't open).
Safety: if the train derails or is in a collision, then whether you are sitting on the stairs, sitting in a quad or standing makes no difference.
The crucial things are whether or not the bodyshell gets deformed and whether or not the windows don't break (and hence keep you inside). Those are the things which matter.
Wow, a lot of typos there :-)
ReplyDeleteI used to sit on the stairs of a double decker bus in Asia on the way to/from school during rush hour, and I think the general etiquette is that you only do it if all the seats upstairs are full and it's not a bus that stops frequently (i.e. there's going to be a long stretch of travel). So on a train I'd expect it to mean that you only sit during the express (skipping stops) segments or if there's no stops for a good chunk of time.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have to have every platform extended. I'm an LSWer and GO was forever working on Appleby or some oakville/burlington platform and for what felt like 2 years I had to listen to "the doors on the following coaches will not be opening" announcement.
ReplyDeleteWhy not have 20 coaches on busy trains and when you get to union just walk through the coaches till you get to the ones where the doors open? We already wait forever for people do disembark and embark at the busy stops.
20 was an exageration but, even if there was one extra coach whose doors never open would help. People could sort out exit strategies.
I am a rare stair sitter, but am very aware of people attempting to exit. It's no different then getting out of someones way for any number of reasons.
ReplyDeleteFolks, dont sit on the stairs because you dont know what bacteria, viruses, mould, etc... are on those surfaces.
ReplyDelete@ Anon: That's true of the seats.
ReplyDeleteAs for the 'extra carriage' option: the CSA *cannot* open the doors on all-carriages-but-one.
Hands are the primary carrier of bacteria & virus. So standing and holding onto the metal bars poses the greatest health risk. Hopefully we all wash our hands when we get home. Ask any nurse what the number one defense against infection is, and they'll tell you "handwashing".
ReplyDeleteIts unlikely that sitting on stairs or seats would be a big health risk as far as bacteria or virus is concerned. But stairs would be dirty, no denying that.
I'm surprised I haven't seen someone pull a little rug out of a plastic bag, unroll it on a step, and sit on that.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with people who sit on stairs. I've sat on them on ocassion. You pay a fare, you should be getting a real seat, but GO transit doesn't seem to care about good customer service.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is not the people sitting on the stairs it's the attitude and refusal to move as I want to go up. I say excuse me then get sworne at on a daily basis. What do I do? Get crushed on the bottom of the train? No change on the middle level. At least I can stand on the top. What do I do? It's as if I'm taking their actual seat when I ask th to stand.
ReplyDelete