Survey Questionnaire Responses: Round 2
1) How does commuting on the bus/train affect your productivity daily?
With enhanced mobile capabilities, I don't feel that my productivity is affected that much. On the days I commute, I feel it gives me a chance to catch up on certain things that I would otherwise not have :)
Commuting in bus/train is great since you do not have to drive and thus its less stressful. However, the bus and train I take is local and thus it adds more commute time (about an hour at least)
It doesn't really affect my productivity. I don't need to be in by a certain time, and I return after 8 pm, at which time I wouldn't do any work anyway. Plus I get to read my book, at home I don't always have time for that, so I actually like my commuting time. It gives me the opportunity to read.
I read more than I would otherwise, and so in that way, I'm more productive. In terms of "actual" work in the traditional sense, of course it is negatively affected without a laptop and wifi. But I actually like having the "cheat" time that isn't otherwise socially acceptable 100% of the time. I can listen to podcasts on a crowded train, read or veg and play a game if I have a seat.
2) Are you physically comfortable? Elaborate
Yes, for the most part. I get a seat on my way to work since its the first stop and am pretty comfortable. On my way home, I usually have to stand which could be a bit uncomfortable but for the most part its manageable.
I board the bus and train both at the beginning. Therefore I always have a place to sit and that makes my ride comfortable. However, since I am physically a small individual there are few occasions were I feel squashed two large individuals sitting on my left and right.
On the way in, I usually take the bus to the F. I sometimes have to stand on the bus but it is a fifteen minute ride, so it is okay. The F is the first stop, Jamaica 179, so I always have a seat. Sometimes I take the LIRR Floral Park train in, also always have a seat. Coming back, I always take the LIRR so that is also comfortable enough
My commute is, one day, on a good day, 1.5 hours. On a bad day (usually on the return) it can be over 2- and this is the shortest commute I will ever have working in Manhattan. So, my comfort varies. I take an express bus, and it gets packed. On the way home, I have a certain door I stand at on the train for the best placement to run for the bus- and try to get a spot where I won't be pushed up against a dudes armpit. And so I stand on the train home too, by choice, to have the best spot. The only time I sit with regularity is my morning train. I get on at the first stop, and so you trade the pleasure of a seat with the frustration of not leaving for ages.
3) What is the best experience you have had with strangers on your commute to/from work?
Little kids traveling with adults and acting innocent and asking all kinds of questions and smiling and waving at you.
I like when the conductor makes a joke over the intercom, and the whole train car laughs. You really feel a connection then with your fellow commuters.
Whenever something goes wrong with the mta, everyone bonds in a rather lovely way. I've charged people's phones underground for them, and had others do the same for me.
Nothing comes to mind except the fact that time to time there are people in the car that use foul language and are disrespectful to others.
People bring smelly food and stinking up the whole bus or the train car or sitting next to you and smelling like they havent showered for days.
When people are rude, which usually happens when the car is packed or when there is a delay, which puts people in a bad mood. Recently, I got up from my seat to let an elderly woman with a cane sit, and the train was so packed that I had to try to twist myself into a pretzel in order to get up. The youngish guy who was standing in front of me was yelling that I touched him. Good thing though: everybody around me started yelling at him and thanking me for getting up.
Getting hit on. All women know the strategy to deal with this, but it's not fun. OH I just remembered two experiences, but they are both rather sad- having to do with homeless/mentally ill folks- I had one guy pull his pants down and crap on the plat form next to me. And I had a woman pull her pants and underwear down on the platform for funsies.
5) How many separate bags (including briefcases and backpacks) do you carry to and from work? How heavy?
2, a purse / hand bag and a backpack. appx, 6 to 8 lbs
Oy. On Mondays, I carry two bags, a backpack with my laptop and books (very very heavy) and an extra bag because I usually cannot stuff everything into my backpack. Same thing at the end of my workweek going home.
Just one, not too heavy. I'm not commuting to school so no laptop or books.
mostly backpack and some food items
One back pack .. about 5-7 lb
Backpack with laptop, books, notebooks, packed lunch, apple that sort of thing.
6) What is your morning routine?
Wake-up early in the morning, get ready for work, walk to the bus stop and board the bus, get out at the train station stop and board the train and walk to work.
I get up at 6:30, and am ready to go around 7:15. I either get a lift to the LIRR Floral Park station, take the train in to Penn and take the no. 1 train up to Morningside Heights. Or I take the bus to the F (saves money!!), take the F to 42nd street, switch to the no. 7 to Times Square and take the No. 1 up.
I get up, shower (curly hair woes), drink tea and watch like 15 minutes of tv, do my makeup and blow dry, and leave. I wake up super early relative to other people of my age (in my experience) relative to when I leave.
7) What is the first thing you do when you leave work?
Take the subway back home
Check my phone to see if the LIRR has any service problems, and check that I have my metro card on me.
7a) When you get home from work?
That would be at 9:30 pm. Make a cup of tea, play Words with Friends, relax.
At home? Dinner and cats . Directly after work? Book it to the f. Ny walk around the tourists.
8) How do you deal with a crowded train or bus?
Sometimes, I let the train go if its too crowded and get on the next train. Other times, I try to be mindful and take off the backpack and stand in a way so that I am taking least space
By switching my brain off and just BE.
Patiently. If you accept the reality than it becomes a routine.
Listen to podcasts, don't look at anyone. Don't give up any ground. No manspreading here, dudbros.
9) Do you ever observe people taking up more space than they need? When the bus/train is crowded?
Yes, there are some people that are inconsiderate and will spread themselves with everything possible, like not taking off their backpacks, spreading their news paper, or their handheld devices.
Yes but they will comply if asked/confronted
Almost never women, and almost always men (spreading their legs, urgh. Crowded or non crowded train, doesn't make a difference.
Ooh what a coincidence! Yes, obviously, to both.
10) Have you ever encountered or witnessed rude behavior on your commute? If it was someone else, did you step in?
I usually mind my business and try not to get involved. fortunately, I have not witnessed something that I really required to get involved with.
Yes and no I try to not get involved
People usually get testy when the train is very crowded and they think people bump into them. I have never stepped in, although I hope that I would be brave enough to act if someone really gets physically abusive. But that would be really scary.
I have before. I don't know, I feel like there's a New York understanding. I like to think that I know when people need help vs when they don't l. It's hard though, to balance.
11) How do you feel when you reach the end of the work day and have to wait for the bus or train?
I am used to it now and mostly its ok unless there is a long wait due to bad weather or some issues. fortunately there are many alternatives available from where I board
You are tired and therefore a little impatient to reach home so you are hoping that there would to no subway problems when you leave work and you dont have to wait long for the bus after you get out of the subway
I usually don't have to wait long for the no. 1 train. It is very annoying though when there is a service delay or interruption, because it means I miss my LIRR connection to Floral Park. But that is really rare.
it's bad, but I'm used to it. I've never known anything else, really, except in middle school or so.
12) What do you do on the train/bus? In the morning vs. evening?
In the morning catch-up on my emails, facebook, what's app in the bus. In train, I either catch-up on reading or listen to music. Sometimes, I catch-up on socializing by making phone calls during my bus ride (I do speak very low)
Combination of reading news paper and listening to music
I always bring a book and look forward to reading that. See question 1.
I think I've covered this - podcasts and games or reading, mostly.
