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Prior to the pandemic, an estimated 34 million times each weekday, people boarded public transportation. In 2019 alone, Americans took 9.9 billion trips on public transportation, according to the APTA. The numbers speak for themselves, making commuting a quintessential part of our pre-Covid lives.

But what makes being crammed into a tiny space with more strangers that you could count a one-of-a-kind experience is the sense of the unexpected. The colors, smells, glances, murmurs, the sounds of clearing one’s throat, it has it all. The good, the bad, and the weird.

So, when James Felton, a comedy writer with 278.5K followers on Twitter, asked people “What’s the weirdest thing you saw on your commute?” it just seemed natural that everyone would have a lot to share in that department.

Let’s see what happens behind the sweaty doors of our urban rapid systems where the things you see stay with you for all time.

Image credits: JimMFelton

#1

Weird-Things-People-Saw-Commuting

franquinn Report

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Mary Peace
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the Bible it says, "Everyone should be subject to the governing authorities." That means if you want to travel on the train, you have to pay your fare, the same as anyone else.

Jon Varley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was the title most bizarre, or most insane? You don't have a ticket duck, there's nothing the bible is going to do for you, and there's no exemption voucher onside the front cover. Pay up you religious nutbag.

miss miss
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am a Christian. I would not do what she did , but you seem intolerant .

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Ryan Michaud
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is an old show called highway to heaven, and a song call highway to hell. (By: ACDC.) Though I'm still waiting for the song and show of Highway to Hastings.

JuJu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe he is part of the Gay Satanic Clowns and here to protect us.

Pascale Pierloot
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heaven can wait...or at least till they make it to Hastings without devine intervention, 🤞.

Ednineson Vertus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I was there i'm getting out of that train because who knows what she was going to do after saying that

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RELATED:

    Bored Panda reached out to James Felton, the man behind this Twitter thread, comedy writer, and the author of the book “52 Times Britain was a Bellend.” James’s question “What’s the weirdest thing you saw on your commute?” got 9k likes, but with James’s 278.5K-strong Twitter audience, this is not something out of the ordinary.

    When asked how James got the idea to ask his followers about the weirdest things that happened to them while commuting, he recounted an incident which got him thinking if it was only him feeling weirded out on the train. 

    “I was just thinking about how weird it was that I used to commute every day, happily sat in the luggage rack like a bag, when I remembered that a guy brought out a potato from his briefcase (no foil, just loose) and began crunching away like it was a fine pear, and wondered if anybody had similar tales.”

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    The comedy writer believes that many people found the question so relatable since “I’m pretty sure everyone who commutes has a story like this (or far weirder), it’s just what happens when you cram half of humanity into a tin two times a day, five days a week.”

    Public transport being a perfect place for the weird and the weirder things of the world to occur is no secret to anyone. The question “Why are there always weird people on the bus?” was recently posed on Quora, where people shared their insights on the matter.

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    According to Rob Davis, retired bus supervisor, it may come down to the fact that public transport bears a “concentration of those whose situation keeps them from owning a car,” which suggests that people from all walks of life come together under this one big moving roof.

    #7

    Weird-Things-People-Saw-Commuting

    Mogsy67 Report

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    TheGirlWithTheZen
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can just visualize the entire compartment listening with horrified fascination - Don't really want to know, but cant bear to stop listening & get off at their stops. XD

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    On the other hand, there’s a lot of stigma on people who travel in the US by public transport. It’s not a secret that some commuters are labeled “weirdos” because of their distinctive looks, odd behaviors etc. However, as long as nobody does any harm and abides by the public rules, no one, especially those who’re most vulnerable, deserves to be looked down upon.

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    #15

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    HPSaucey44 Report

    But commuting as we knew it before is likely to change after the pandemic is over. Many people are now opting for healthier and safer alternatives like bikes. In fact, the decrease in public transport has made the air quality around the world way better, and with bikes staying as a popular commute alternative, the chances are, the cleaner air will partly remain this way.

    #16

    Weird-Things-People-Saw-Commuting

    Ellie_Outside_ Report

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    Phendrena
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dog farts are bad enough, but with added Egg niff. Nasty nasty whiff.

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    #18

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    TheAntiMidas_ Report

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    TheGirlFromTheNorth
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This kind of reminds me when me and a friend visited London, took the train on sunday night to go for dinner, around 6.30pm. The guy next to us, full suit and briefcase, pulled out a tiny notebook, draw an airplane and then put the notebook back in the briefcase. Thought that was a little odd but didn't think about it more until the next evening. We were going back to Sweden and was in the check-in at the airport, when the lady behind the desk said we weren't booked on that flight (the flight was leaving 6.30pm). Couldn't understand why, so frantically browsing our ticket just to find out WE BOOKED OURSELVES ON THE EXACT same time but the DAY BEFORE!!! THE TIME THE GUY ON THE METRO DRAW AN AIRPLANE OUT OF NOWHERE!!!! For some reason we'd booked our hotel for the correct amount of days, but messed up the flightbooking. Still gives me the shivers...

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    Commuting has also been affected by the newly established work from home model. As the previous stigma against it has disappeared during the pandemic, it’s now expected that many remote workers will intend to work from home even after the pandemic is over.

    This will immensely impact public transportation, and according to Moshe Lander, an economist at Concordia University, we are going to see major shifts. “It’s going to have broader implications for urban planning and for residential and commercial design as well,” she commented.

    #21

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    oliviaRowley17 Report

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    James016
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone I know brought his house phone to the pub once. He was rightly mocked mercilessly for it.

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    #22

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    dtmooreeditor Report

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    Teucer T
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How can you get mad at Terry Pratchett? Oh, wait... He wasn't an MP, was he?

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    #23

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    linzjk Report

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    Hugh Cookson
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Been there done that - once, working as a hotel manager in a v posh hotel that was hosting a society wedding this particular day - lived 30 minutes away and was late, rushed out of the door in my morning suit and Sandals ...... thankfully, someone found a pair of shoes that fitted.

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    #26

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    Jay8ee Report

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    #38

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    SimonBruni Report

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    Wistre Vist
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    for those of you too lazy to google, gilipollas basically means douchebag/idiot/asshole in Spanish! :)

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    #44

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    judith_potts Report

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    Julia Atkinson
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was on a bus when the driver got out, picked up a bagful of fallen apples in a field, got back on and said "Sorry about that, my friend has a horse"

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    #45

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    KEEZEES Report

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    #47

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    TetchyBitch Report

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    Joe Reaves
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wonder if that was the groom (in the condom)? Maybe it was a 'joke' about why he was having to get married.

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    #56

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    DogMom
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of a mr bean episode where he made tea in a hot water bottle

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    #57

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    lucytmeredith Report

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    Jayne Kyra
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe they just did not have any other way to transport them and the jug was practical, but THE FOOT!

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    #64

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    Roppa77 Report

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    Doggo Froggo
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am so glad I didn't witness that..... but I still think I need some un-see juice!

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    #66

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    AlexAndlau Report

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    ispeak catanese
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He was praying for her safety with petals that have been blessed. My mom does that to our pictures.

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    #67

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    AudreyBanks Report

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    Katherine Boag
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some people are very sensitive to scents, and have a lot of trouble in crowded areas.

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    #73

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    JimMFelton Report

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    Bethan Coleman
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've done the same. It was quite comfortable once I took my coat off and used it as a cushion.

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    #74

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    Jon_T_R Report

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    Mary Rose Kent
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That’s nothing...I once bought a dresser at a sidewalk sale and brought it home on a bus by entering via the back door (I had my MUNI card—I’m not a fare cheat).

    #75

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    nobbyhasasock Report

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    LesAnimaux
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "A stranger talked to me" - is that really the *weirdest* thing that happened to you?

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    #77

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    clarkerm Report

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    Lauren Caswell
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh dear god no. I've read some crazy stuff but didn't feel grossed out til now. I just don't like feet, at all.

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    #82

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    muzzer_daftbat Report

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    WilvanderHeijden
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was fun watching Guiliani's brain starting to melt because of the enormous amount of lies and idiotic conspiracy theories it had to produce.

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    #83

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    JaneRemain Report

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    Andrew Gibb
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they usually try and make you drink in Scotland, so you did well not to be cajoled to join into joining them.

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    #84

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    NiallcNPC31 Report

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    Max L.
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some people drinks at insane levels in uk. Saw a family of three in an airport at 7.30 am having drinks. The bar was full, but those impressed me because the mom was having an alexander which is quite strong. 7.30am.

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    #85

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    lucyinglis Report

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    MiriPanda
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not so very strange, and he did not leave shells on the floor.