When standing, do you generally hold onto the bars or the loop handles attached to the bars? What did you do this morning if you were on one?

I left Toronto some months ago, maybe I have rose-tinted glasses but I find the TTC and other buses there were way smoother of a ride than in Vancouver. I’m seeing if it has any influence on the amount of people using bars/loops via informal poll. Let me know your thoughts.

E: Sounds like bars are the popular option here too, for many reasons. Hygiene was a big one I hadn’t initially considered. Thanks for answering everyone!

  • Pxtl@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    I’m short. I will push through the crowd until I can find a column-bar to hold. Never trusted the straps, but we don’t generally have those here in Hamilton.

  • Seigest@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    I am 6’4" I use the bars as the straps are too low for me. As is the ceiling of the bus.

    • Rentlar@lemmy.caOP
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      1 year ago

      Have you ever bumped your head against the bar or the roof getting up from a seat on a bus or tram? I’m not as tall but is happened on a corner seat where the roof was lower, it sucks.

      • Seigest@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Yhea I’m usually pretty cautious but it happens. The worst was being stuck standing on a GO bus. It was a double decker and I was standing on the lower level (damn route is always overfilled) it became a 3.5 hour trip due to bad traffic.

        The height of those buses is like 6inches too short for me to stand comfortably so I have to hunch over the people infront of me. Every bump my spine whould hit the ceiling. Felt that one for weeks after.

  • streetfestival@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    If your hypothesis is that smoother rides - based on street/vehicle/driver factors - are associated with reduced passenger use of handles or bars to stabilize themselves while standing, I’d say that makes sense. I’m less sure about the between city comparison. I prefer not to touch common surfaces for hygienic reasons, which is pretty influential for me. There are three circumstances in which I’d hold a bar/handle to stabilize myself: 1) It’s so crowded that I can’t spread my feet far enough apart to stabilize me so I make prolonged use of a bar/handle, 2) I’m exhausted and use the bar/handle for a prolonged period to rest some stabilizer muscles, 3) There’s a sharp turn or stop and I proactively or reactively use a bar/handle temporarily for stability until the acceleration’s back to normal. Hope that helps :)

    • Rentlar@lemmy.caOP
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      1 year ago

      Thanks for the detailed response! Yeah, it’s mainly about whether in bus rides in Ontario which I found were less jolty, more people would want to use the handles.

      I’ve received a number of other reasons for preference, which I find quite neat.