Public Transit Etiquette from NYC to the PNW

The social dynamics of public transportation may be universal; however, Transportation Sociology is certainly dictated by the local "vibe" of a city. 

The tendency to avoid sitting next to strangers is a common, but I think the execution varies between the high-pressure corridors of New York City and The he Pacific Northwest.

In New York City, the sheer volume of humanity usually overrides social hesitation. 

On an MTA bus or subway car, an empty seat is a commodity, not a threat. New Yorkers are generally governed by a sense of survivalist pragmatism: if there is a seat, you take it.

The "digital shield" still exists—the phone is still the primary focus—but it’s used to ignore the person you are already shoulder-to-shoulder with. 

Contrast that with the Pacific Northwest, where the social contract is built on a foundation of "passive politeness" and a high premium on personal bubbles. 

In Eugene or Portland there is an unspoken understanding that unless the bus is at "standing room only" capacity, sitting next to someone is almost an intrusion. 

To take the aisle seat next to a stranger feels invasive.  In Portland or Eugene, a line of people can be seen standing in the aisle of a Tri-Met or LTD City Bus.

You may see them staring intently at phones, while half a dozen window-seat occupants have empty spots beside them!

In the PNW, the smartphone doesn't just provide entertainment, it provides a justification for the distance. 

By and staying "plugged in," commuters become autonomous.  This provides a virtual social veil to maintain a separate singular presence.

What is being said here is geography dictates our comfort levels. 

In New York, the environment is so crowded that the "bubble" has to be internal. 

In the Pacific Northwest, there is still enough physical room to try and maintain an external bubble. 

In both cases, the phone remains the ultimate tether—allowing us to be physically present in a public space while remaining mentally miles away.