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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

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.

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.

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#7

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Mogsy67 Report

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TheGirlWithTheZen
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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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AlexTheGeordie Report

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

I sometimes have to use a cane when I'm walking. I don't care about being offered a seat but the people in these anecdotes are c*nts. One day when I was about 24, I was on the way home from work and the tube was rammed. I squeezed myself on and managed to get to the hand rail by the seats. Some twat in a suit was sitting on the chair meant for disabled people. Someone told him to give me his seat, which he did but loomed over me. He pointed at my cane and said in a REALLY twatty tone, "that's a good prop, I should start using one then I'd always get seat too." I said "would you like the kidney disease that goes with it. That shut him up. Another time when I had my cane, (again on the tube), a man was staring at me whilst sitting in the disabled chair. He didn’t offer it to me and got off at the spot before mine. All the while staring. Some people are d***s.

Billy The Kid
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3 years ago

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

there is a very good reason why it is not allowed to eat on any public transport anywhere (or at least the short trips)

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

what happened!! we need endings, sequels, something for closure!

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

Well this made me laugh. Sounds like something out of the Flying Circus! LOL

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

Did you expect some pasta in a tupperware container, followed by an orange for desserts?

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

..and then? Who would eat sloppy yogurt oon a train anyhow.. especially if standing up with crowds around ..and under?

Mohsie Supposie
Community Member
3 years ago

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So what fell on your head, the yoghurt or her drool?

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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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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.

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#16

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Ellie_Outside_ Report

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Phendrena
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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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TheAntiMidas_ Report

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TheGirlFromTheNorth
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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.

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#21

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James016
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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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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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Jay8ee Report

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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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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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#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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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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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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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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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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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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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.