Often I like to think about the decision people make when faced with choices that on the surface offer absolutely no advantage or disadvantage. For example many of the trains here in Holland are two story. I think that basically, some Dutch guy went to London many many years ago, he saw the buses there and decided that they would get the jump on train design and go double-decker before the English did. Don’t get me wrong, I like the fact that I can choose between sitting upstairs or downstairs, but it does feel a little bit like the Razor blade wars that has gripped mens shaving accessories for the last few years. My money is on Germany going for the triple decker, after that, well, it’s anyone’s.
But I digress.
This morning I got on the train at peak hour, there were a lot of people waiting get on. I was toward the front of the queue and I had a gentlemen standing to the left of me. Upon entering the train you are of course faced with a choice, do you want to sit upstairs or downstairs? Now, to me, this decision is pretty arbitrary, but interestingly it most certainly was not to this guy.
The first set of stairs, and therefore the most convenient, were on his left, and were leading down. I headed for them before realising that I was quickly heading for another crash. You see, despite the weight of thousands of commuters bearing down on him, this guy had decided that he wanted to sit upstairs, and in doing so effectively cut off any number of people that were heading to the ones leading down (think turning left in your car from the right hand lane, this is the guy in the left lane who is going straight).
Now, I agree that this guy was well within his rights to choose where he wants to sit, however, I am well within my rights to ask why? And I mean this in the nicest possible way, with all due respect. He left me wondering just what exactly it reveals about his personality? Does he know something about sitting upstairs that I don’t? Has he looked at the crash statistics and found that you have a greater rate of survival sitting upstairs? Is it cooler there in the summer? Do you find a better smelling class of commuter? Is he being hunted by a ninja and wants the strategic advantage of fighting with a sword from above rather than below?
You see, unlike everyone else, including me, he did NOT make a random selection of floor based on whatever was most convenient. He intentionally selected the upper floor, and that makes me curious.
In closing, I ask, what does this say about a person? What is the psychology behind this? What would this sort of behaviour, that is choosing upstairs instead of downstairs, say about you? And most importantly, do you think I should sit upstairs?
Where do YOU sit?
P.S. If my good mate, and resident Public Transport aficionado, Michael Alexander is reading he probably had the answer…<grin>
P.P.S. If I were in London I bet the folks over at Going-Underground here would get to the bottom of it, if only the Tube was double-decker.
Well Daniel,
I have faced similar situations in the trains here in Holland.
There are some rational reasons on choosing the upper floor or not. When the weather is warm enough, the upper floor is always fresher (don’t ask me why, but the A/C system seems to work better there). In the beginning, I had the same thoughts on why some people intentionally choose to go to the upper floor or not.
Once, while i was travelling to Eindhoven – with an intern of my company – for a design exhibition, i had a confronting experience. When the train arrived in the CS, and the doors opened, I went to sit in the “ground” floor. Though, my intern said to me that we should better sit on the upper floor! Uh? Duh? What’s that i asked him. Then with low voice he replied me that usually in the upper floor there are more young people sitting! :S Crazy eh? But since that time, i started to observe this phenomenon and guess what….he was right!
Though, I have the feeling that the most crazy situation in similar cases is in Rome. Tomorrow you will go there and just check it out. Once you will be in a crowdy bus or Metro, you will see people (local ones) that will start asking you “are you going to step out in the next station?” if you say no, then they will want to come in front of you, near the door side. If you will say: “Yes, i will go out in the next stop”…crazy stuff is happening! They will be there, ready to take over you and they will look at you as you are between them and their freedom! Just check it out. (Though, I hope there will be enough Italians in Rome right now, cause of course is August…
)
Have fun
Tms
ok. some theories of a local:
- down stairs is more space. (Maybe this guy likes to sit close to others)
- view is better from upstairs. (makes sense)
- down stairs you can open the windows, upstairs not. (he might be afraid to get a cold)
- than ofcourse you could consider he has some sort of mania. Though this one is not really likely since he’s dutch
Any way, these are just some options to consider.
Good luck with your quest. Time for me to come home to keep you busy with other things.
Interesting post Daniel,
Personally I think downstairs is better.
- Since the entire cabin is rectangular you have more spcae as opposed to upstairs where the ceiling is arch shaped, leaving less headspace.
- The view downstairs is better, the windows are straight. Upstairs they are curved rendering the cows as if the were Indian….it makes them look holy but when it comes to the beloved windmills…..
I would recommend you always to get in as the second person.
- People in the train will flock together, they follow the first person entering. So come in secondly and make the opposite movement(this is only a valid technique in rush hour)
Furthermore, enter between the narrow gate on the left hand side (more rush hour technique).
- As you might have noticed the train is the Wild WILD West, but noone prefers the stretchy space the gates leave you. As a result you can enter and leave quicker.
Regards