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Metro-North riders fed up with man who sprawls out on train


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Metro-North riders fed up with man who sprawls out on train

May 8, 2017 | 2:33am | Updated

 
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Steve S. is sprawled out on this 5:36 train from White Plains to Grand Central Station.
Richard Harbus

 

 

All abhor the sleeper car.

 

A guy who treats an early-morning Metro-North car like his own living room day after day has drawn the disgust of his fellow commuters, who are sick and tired of him taking up four seats and putting his dirty shoes up on the cushions.

 

170507-sleeper-embed.jpg?quality=90&stri

Richard Harbus

 

“He takes up all four seats with his dirty feet up all over the seats,” said a rider who methodically took photos of the pro sleeper from the same angle every weekday morning for nearly a month.

 

“One day someone tried to sit where his feet were, and he didn’t even move.”

 

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Steve S. wakes up from his slumber

Richard Harbus

 

The passengers are also tired of Metro-North conductors not doing anything about the man lounging across so many seats and treating them like his own personal ottoman.

 

“They always walk right past him and let him sleep like that,” he said.

 

The rider who took the photos sent them to the MTA.

 

“I messaged Metro-North several times, and they kept replying, but then I realized they were sending generic responses and no one was going to do anything about it,” said the commuter, who gets on the same car of the 5:36 a.m. from White Plains and encounters the sprawled-out sleeper every time they make the 35-minute commute into Grand Central Station.

 

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” most of the responses read. “The issue has been reported.”

 

The impolite rider is Steve S., a 41-year-old electrician who claims he has to get comfortable on the train because he has a 90-minute commute that starts at about 4:30 a.m. every day. So he goes to bed around 10 p.m., wakes up to start his commute, then catches more zzz’s on the train.

 

MTA officials said they couldn’t interview every conductor on that route to confirm that none of them had ever told Steve to take his feet off the seat.“I’m on the train for 90 minutes and I’m bored, so I sleep,” said Steve, who stands about 6 feet tall and was wearing a gray hoodie, jeans and black sneakers as he snuggled into the seat one morning last week. He declined to say where he gets on the train.

 

“Metro-North asks customers to refrain from putting feet on seats and to be thoughtful of their fellow customers,” said spokeswoman Nancy Gamerman.

 

Others riders on the train say they’re fed up with Steve.

 

“Show a little compassion for people who are tired and getting up at the crack of dawn in the morning,” said Brendon Walsh, a 21-year-old New York University student from Chappaqua.

 

Source: http://nypost.com/2017/05/08/metro-north-riders-fed-up-with-man-who-sprawls-out-on-train/

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It's something that has irked me also.  People should not have their dirty shoes on the damn seats. They become filthy enough as it is with just ordinary use.  I see too many people on the Hudson line with their dirty shoes all over the seats, particularly coming home at night as if they are at home, and the conductors come right on by and don't say anything.  They need to start enforcing this again.  The other thing that is becoming annoying is people yapping in the quiet cars.  This guy was literally just shouting in the car one morning about some stupid meeting with the guy next to him as if the two of them were deaf.  I had to turn around and tell him firmly that this is a quiet car and implied with my tone that he shut the hell up, and then he goes "Oh I didn't know it was a quiet car" in a sarcastic tone, but then again, I realized that even though it was a quiet car, there were no signs around saying that it was, so in reality, he may not have known.  Either way, his behavior was just ridiculous, quiet car or not.  The conductors should have the right to remove these people from the trains.  They are inconsiderate, and think that because they pay that they can do whatever they want.

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Two years ago I took the Saturday 5:48 am train from Fordham to New Haven and it was about 7 times worse. Half the people on the train were more than likely pulling all-nighters at the bars and nightclubs and were all sprawled out across 2-seaters and even 3-seaters... and this was a 9 car train! I had luggage that I ended up having to drag through about three cars before I found a seat.

 

The weekday equivalents of this train are nowhere near this insane.

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Two years ago I took the Saturday 5:48 am train from Fordham to New Haven and it was about 7 times worse. Half the people on the train were more than likely pulling all-nighters at the bars and nightclubs and were all sprawled out across 2-seaters and even 3-seaters... and this was a 9 car train! I had luggage that I ended up having to drag through about three cars before I found a seat.

 

The weekday equivalents of this train are nowhere near this insane.

I have requested that they also add quiet cars on weekends.  My ride is not that long, but you always get these loud obnoxious people that come into the car and can't shut up (usually they travel in groups so they get on and talk non-stop, completely oblivious to everyone else around them).  A few weeks ago, I was on a train to Greystone (it was the 20:37 train) and it has far fewer cars than normal open as a result, which leaves very few cars to go to. We get to Yankees-East 153rd street and this family gets on (mother and father and two kids).  The boy didn't shut up from the time he got on, asking questions about EVERYTHING.  By the time we reached Spuyten Duyvil, I was literally cursing out loud for that kid to shut the hell up.  I now try to avoid that train as much as possible and either get an earlier one or a later one that makes fewer stops and runs semi-express to Croton-Harmon with more cars open and I make sure to walk all the way up in one of the quiet cars so this way if some big mouth gets on, I can let them know what car they're in.  The fewer stops, usually the fewer idiots you have to deal with.

 

I really feel for you on those New Haven trains that stop at Fordham.  The people get on like the train is going to leave without them.  Ill mannered, loud and just rude all around. I probably hate that line more than the Harlem line.  With the Harlem line, even though it's generally packed, if you can get an express train, the crowds are a bit less and it's generally quieter.  There a few local trains that are okay as well, but most are packed and loud.

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Why did they order cars with this stupid set up in the first place? At least if you have all rows facing the same direction, you can't spread out across four seats (granted, you can still try to lie down across a row, but you can't really prevent that. I see people do it on the express bus at times). 

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I only spread out on the express runs if there's a lot of room, when I know for a fact that no additional passengers are going to board within the next 30+ minutes...

 

Basically: If you're going to stretch out, don't do it on a full train, don't put your damn feet on the seats, make sure other riders don't need the seats, and also please try to be quiet.

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Why did they order cars with this stupid set up in the first place? At least if you have all rows facing the same direction, you can't spread out across four seats (granted, you can still try to lie down across a row, but you can't really prevent that. I see people do it on the express bus at times). 

Good question. A good portion of the seats are not usable because there isn't enough leg room with the seats facing each other.  I think the new trains on the New Haven line are laid out with all of the seats facing one way, save the fold up ones. 

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Good question. A good portion of the seats are not usable because there isn't enough leg room with the seats facing each other.  I think the new trains on the New Haven line are laid out with all of the seats facing one way, save the fold up ones. 

There's actually a couple of non-foldable seats that face each other on the M8s across from the lavatory. I think there's even a set of three seaters that faces each other also.

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There's actually a couple of non-foldable seats that face each other on the M8s across from the lavatory. I think there's even a set of three seaters that faces each other also.

That's dumb. I thought they had purposely reconfigured the seats on those trains. I recall them letting passengers sit and try them and get feedback about what they liked and didn't like about them.  I don't see the point though, because as I said, most of them can't be used due to the lack of leg room.

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There's no way im standing while he's relaxing like that...I would simply go to the conductor and have him wake him up and sit properly

May I suggest pouring scalding hot coffee on said violator?

 

Oops...train brakes :P

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That's dumb. I thought they had purposely reconfigured the seats on those trains. I recall them letting passengers sit and try them and get feedback about what they liked and didn't like about them. I don't see the point though, because as I said, most of them can't be used due to the lack of leg room.

Oh yea, I remember seeing the prototype for myself at GCT back in about 2008.

 

The seats facing each other in the prototype actually had *worse* legroom than what they have now, and I let them know about it that day.

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Oh yea, I remember seeing the prototype for myself at GCT back in about 2008.

 

The seats facing each other in the prototype actually had *worse* legroom than what they have now, and I let them know about it that day.

That's crazy.  That's one main reason I go for the fold-up seats. I don't know about you, but at 6'4", there have been times that I literally got up and stood by one of the doors because I was uncomfortable sitting in one of those seats facing in the same direction (three seaters).  I only take those or the two seaters if the fold-up seats aren't available.

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Exactly why I don't tweet complaints much anymore.

I used to. Lots. I irritate personnel instead and give them the speech.

 

I find it more amusing and effective to wear them down psychologically if their employer doesn't first.

And you think doing something pathetic like that helps how?

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And you think doing something pathetic like that helps how?

It doesn't. I'm aware of that. Sometimes painting a picture to them works better than sending a tweet.

 

If they want to let people ride free, they can ride the consequences along with that.

 

I have time to pick and choose another bus. *shrugs*

 

Sent from my m8 using Tapatalk

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It doesn't. I'm aware of that. Sometimes painting a picture to them works better than sending a tweet.

 

If they want to let people ride free, they can ride the consequences along with that.

 

I have time to pick and choose another bus. *shrugs*

 

Sent from my m8 using Tapatalk

I'd rather take Metro-North to White Plains and be up there in 20 minutes than take 2 hours on a Bee-Line bus...

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It doesn't. I'm aware of that. Sometimes painting a picture to them works better than sending a tweet.

 

If they want to let people ride free, they can ride the consequences along with that.

 

I have time to pick and choose another bus. *shrugs*

 

If that's your rational, then you being a dickhead changes nothing. That is the rule they must follow.

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Major difference between the MNRR & the LIRR?

Something like this makes the paper regarding the former, while behavior like that is much more expected/tolerated on the latter....

 

MNRR = class..... LIRR = crass

 

When I see somebody in the fetal position (or close enough to it) like that on the LIRR, I just smh & continue moving about the train to find a "good" seat - Same exact thing I would do on the subway.... Now if I were to take the MNRR & saw that, my instant reaction would be "what the hell's been goin on lately" (since I seldom ever take Metro North these days)....

 

 

That's crazy.  That's one main reason I go for the fold-up seats. I don't know about you, but at 6'4", there have been times that I literally got up and stood by one of the doors because I was uncomfortable sitting in one of those seats facing in the same direction (three seaters).  I only take those or the two seaters if the fold-up seats aren't available.

I don't sit in the 3 seaters because I don't want anyone sitting adjacent to me.... Worse than that are the seats in the middle of the train, where there's a [pair of 2 seaters on one side] that faces each other & a [pair of 3 seaters on the opposite side] that faces each other.... That setup is a bit of a gripe I have with the seating arrangement on our more newer bus fleets....

 

If by the fold up seats you mean the wheelchair/handicapped area, then yeah, I gun for those seats also..... Either that, or the seats on the M7's that are supposed to be meant for the c/r (but pax are allowed to sit in them, save for the occasion when the c/r needs to open the doors).... Now that everyone's got phones that need to get charged or w/e, those seats have gotten far more popular than in years past - where they were more or less forbidden.... Those equivalent seats on the M3's though... Lmfao... anyone above like 5'2" cannot comfortably sit in those things, leg space is so virgin tight :lol:

 

 

It doesn't. I'm aware of that. Sometimes painting a picture to them works better than sending a tweet.

If they want to let people ride free, they can ride the consequences along with that.

I have time to pick and choose another bus. *shrugs*

Great - So you're a troll on this forum & offline as well... Number of people awe struck? None.

 

Ride the consequences? You haven't got a hold of the right c/r yet.....

How about you ride the bus you have time to pick & choose & shut the f*** up.....

 

I'd rather take Metro-North to White Plains and be up there in 20 minutes than take 2 hours on a Bee-Line bus...

Let him ride his bee line bus.... Better yet, let him hee hee hee & haw haw haw at tryna "psychologically" wear down one of those LL b/o's!

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Major difference between the MNRR & the LIRR?

Something like this makes the paper regarding the former, while behavior like that is much more expected/tolerated on the latter....

 

MNRR = class..... LIRR = crass

 

When I see somebody in the fetal position (or close enough to it) like that on the LIRR, I just smh & continue moving about the train to find a "good" seat - Same exact thing I would do on the subway.... Now if I were to take the MNRR & saw that, my instant reaction would be "what the hell's been goin on lately" (since I seldom ever take Metro North these days)....

 

 

 

I don't sit in the 3 seaters because I don't want anyone sitting adjacent to me.... Worse than that are the seats in the middle of the train, where there's a [pair of 2 seaters on one side] that faces each other & a [pair of 3 seaters on the opposite side] that faces each other.... That setup is a bit of a gripe I have with the seating arrangement on our more newer bus fleets....

 

If by the fold up seats you mean the wheelchair/handicapped area, then yeah, I gun for those seats also..... Either that, or the seats on the M7's that are supposed to be meant for the c/r (but pax are allowed to sit in them, save for the occasion when the c/r needs to open the doors).... Now that everyone's got phones that need to get charged or w/e, those seats have gotten far more popular than in years past - where they were more or less forbidden.... Those equivalent seats on the M3's though... Lmfao... anyone above like 5'2" cannot comfortably sit in those things, leg space is so virgin tight :lol:

Yeah the wheelchair handicapped ones and if there's a chance of someone wanting to sit in the one opposite of me, I'll go for the one that only has one seat. Hate having people sit near me and cramp me up. In the old ones, I'll go for a two seater in the back area sit on the outside seat, and dare someone to even think about asking to sit. I just give the look like it's crowded back here and step the f-off and sit somewhere else. :lol:
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Yeah the wheelchair handicapped ones and if there's a chance of someone wanting to sit in the one opposite of me, I'll go for the one that only has one seat. Hate having people sit near me and cramp me up. In the old ones, I'll go for a two seater in the back area sit on the outside seat, and dare someone to even think about asking to sit. I just give the look like it's crowded back here and step the f-off and sit somewhere else. :lol:

The one on the opposite side/across from the one I'm sitting at, IDC if anyone sits in that one.... What I do mind is when I end up sitting at the one w/ the two (folding) seats, someone wants to come along & unfold the other seat, narrowingly missing my knee if I don't move fast enough.... This has happened to me twice since I've been commuting on the LIRR.... The whole thing is equivalent to riders on the express bus that recline hard/fast w/o any regard for the person behind them....

 

- When someone comes on w/ a bike though (or a baby stroller), I'll relinquish the seat.... Don't have a problem with that....

Those that come one w/ those Luggages/rolling bags OTOH, it depends on my mood; sometimes I'll willingly get up, sometimes I'll do the whole non-acknowledgment thing (if I don't draw attention to myself by looking at them, knowing I'm in that seat, then chances are they won't gun for that seat)....

- Although I've been on a few cars w/ a wheelchair passenger aboard, I've never been in those seats (at that time) to where I had to get up for a wheelchair passenger....

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I don't understand what the point of the three-seaters is. As it stands Long Islanders are so... (territorial? anti-social? idk the word other than "generally unpleasant to be around") that no one ever takes the damn middle seat anyways, so it's just a waste of space IMO. Chuck out those third seats and put in some handholds on the seats so that you can actually stand in the aisle.


Major difference between the MNRR & the LIRR?

Something like this makes the paper regarding the former, while behavior like that is much more expected/tolerated on the latter....

 

MNRR = class..... LIRR = crass

 

When I see somebody in the fetal position (or close enough to it) like that on the LIRR, I just smh & continue moving about the train to find a "good" seat - Same exact thing I would do on the subway.... Now if I were to take the MNRR & saw that, my instant reaction would be "what the hell's been goin on lately" (since I seldom ever take Metro North these days)....

 

If by the fold up seats you mean the wheelchair/handicapped area, then yeah, I gun for those seats also..... Either that, or the seats on the M7's that are supposed to be meant for the c/r (but pax are allowed to sit in them, save for the occasion when the c/r needs to open the doors).... Now that everyone's got phones that need to get charged or w/e, those seats have gotten far more popular than in years past - where they were more or less forbidden.... Those equivalent seats on the M3's though... Lmfao... anyone above like 5'2" cannot comfortably sit in those things, leg space is so virgin tight :lol:

 

At this point, having seen someone on the LIRR plug in a damn Keurig, I can safely say that LIRR passengers are worse than subway passengers. I will take general grumpiness and indifference to the massive self-entitlement on the Island.

 

The worst cars with the legroom situation are the double-deck ones on diesels, IMO. But there's a lot wrong with those cars.

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At this point, having seen someone on the LIRR plug in a damn Keurig, I can safely say that LIRR passengers are worse than subway passengers. I will take general grumpiness and indifference to the massive self-entitlement on the Island.

No way! LMAOO! :lol: :lol:

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This guy should just get a neck pillow or something so he can sleep sitting up. I get that folks' commutes are tough, but if you want the sleeper car, take the Amtrak. Commuter rail shouldn't be the place to be sprawling out like that.

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If that's your rational, then you being a dickhead changes nothing. That is the rule they must follow.

 

Not every operator is a conformist. You can't pick and choose which rules to follow and not expect repercussion.

 

just in case that's used against me layer, I am not entrusted with the safety of my fellow passengers for scenarios outside my decision making.

 

if I had a commercial endorsement I'd be more careful with it.

 

and if I had issues with the rules, I would give the employer my input. If he doesn't take it seriously then I ite my tongue and start job searching.

 

Transit is a public service, And without the public they are of no other service.

 

call me insensitive but this is still a business. That bleed money by the billions. :-\

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