Yes! Perhaps not in some city buses, but otherwise of course (safety is a big deal here, [infact we invented the airbag and the three point belt :) ]). Not that everyone uses them, but most sensible people do I hope.
The finnish nightmares image is pretty accurate. Everyone takes a spot until the only spots available are next to other people.
Mutual respect of personal space.
Yes! Perhaps not in some city buses, but otherwise of course (safety is a big deal here, [infact we invented the airbag and the three point belt :) ]). Not that everyone uses them, but most sensible people do I hope.
But it will also increase the chances that the driver out of control hits somebody.My suggestion, they learned this way. In case of traffic accident, when car loses control and flies into bus stop - there will be less casualties this way.
Even those going like 70 km/h and up?! But for city buses I think that trend is accurate here as well.The more you know. We used to have them here as well, but I haven't seen one in newer busses for the past 10 years. The current trend is moving towards more and more standing positions as well.
A few years ago I went to a movie and found myself sitting in a theater that was almost completely empty. A 30something couple were sitting several rows in front of me and that was about it. During the previews they suddenly got up and sat RIGHT NEXT to me without saying a word. I didn't even know how to react. Was this to prove a point? Was there a reason for this? Seemed like anything I could say or do in that situation would spark a shitshow, so I just shrugged a fuck off and continued watching the film in a mostly empty theater with the couple. I will say this, at least they were chill enough to not talk through it!
I imagine this is some kind of Scandinavian politeness thing, but it seems crazy to spread out so much when there's still ample space near the stop itself, especially in those photos where it's raining/snowing and you might want to be in the covered area. But hey, to each their own.
But to you Northern Europeans, would I be thought of as impolite if I were to stand closer than 3 feet from another person while waiting on transit? Or would they think, "Ah, must not be a Swede/Norgwegian/etc?"
Population density mate, it's low
Yeah, that's how it's done here :)
Bonus reading: http://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/things-of-latvia-getting-off-buses.a244823/
Even those going like 70 km/h and up?! But for city buses I think that trend is accurate here as well.
Even those going like 70 km/h and up?! But for city buses I think that trend is accurate here as well.
This is how we stand in Canada.I think maybe this is more extreme as you go further north, I live in the south of Sweden and while people still give each other plenty of space it is not taken to the extreme shown in most of those pictures. Closer to this one
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although that seems to be in Finland so that blows my "more extreme in the north" theory apart. I don't know, how do you queue in the States?
But if the place is empty - why on earth would I stand right up against strangers?
But it will also increase the chances that the driver out of control hits somebody.
Why is being a "stranger" such a pejorative to you that the simple act of standing next to one is an event?
It sounds paranoid and bizarre.
Is this strictly a bus stop thing or does this happen anywhere people are queued?
We Finns just avoid unnecessary socializing. If there isn't rush hour going on then there is literally no reason to get unnecessary close to strangers while waiting for e.g. bus.
I don't like huddling next to strangers either but the pics in the OP are an impractical exclusion zone taken to extremes. This is how it is in the UK:
Gaps are about the width of one person.
I love it. Wish the US had the same affinity for personal space and comfort.
Meanwhile on SF Muni I just rode for forty minutes with an old guy using me as a chair back. We were both sitting down, but only he turned his body 45 degrees and put his full body weight on me, a stranger. *shudder*
At some bus stops it is difficult to know who was first, but the queuing etiquette is still in place for many other situations... except for the young and the savage teenagers (who are all arseholes).As an Englishman I like what I see. Sadly queuing is a dying art in this country. Especially in the big cities
This is true. I did it today when there was plenty of space at the bus stop. Technically there was enough space for 8 but 2 was enough and I stood outside.Looks pretty similar to what you'd find in the UK. Actually thought it was quite funny the other day noticing that because everyone sits or stands as far away as possible from other people in the shelter, you always end up with everyone evenly distributing themselves. People would also rather stand outside rather then having to sit next to someone else.
Reminds me of the time on GAF I was wondering why a Finn poster never smiled in photos. I was quickly scolded by another, who was glad he didn't come from a "forced smiling culture" like America.
Reminds me of the time on GAF I was wondering why a Finn poster never smiled in photos. I was quickly scolded by another, who was glad he didn't come from a "forced smiling culture" like America.
My suggestion, they learned this way. In case of traffic accident, when car loses control and flies into bus stop - there will be less casualties this way.
Correct...it's Fennoscandia.