Totally off-topic, but made my day.
Riding on Chicago area Metra commuter train. They have upper and lower level seating. Upper levels hang over lower level on either side of aisle like balconies, allowing conductor (and boarding passengers) to see both levels at once. There is a 12″ high foot rail running the length of the upper lever floors, used as structural support, kick rail, and drip/debris protection for the lower level. In winter, it is stressed that passengers do not rest their feet on top of this rail, as the various bits of salt, melting snow/ice, and dirt on their shoes and boots will fall onto the lower level passengers, and conductor. From this morning:
Guy on upper level has feet on rail. They are noticeably dirty.
Conductor: “Upper level passengers, please remove your feet from the rail”
Guy does not. Conductor checks lower level tickets, comes back.
Conductor: “Sir, please get your feet off the rail.”
Guy: “Huh?”
Conductor: “Your feet, sir. You need to take them off the rail.”
Guy rolls eyes, removes feet from rail. Conductor leaves.
Guy puts his feet right back.
Time passes. A station stop is coming up.
A slightly messily dressed, coat slightly open, older passenger on lower
level gets up.
Passenger: “Sir, you gotta take your feet off the rail”
Guy, dismissively: “Oh, yeah…”
Passenger: “Sir, why don’t you take your feet off the rail?”
Guy: “Why don’t you mind your own business?”
Passenger: “Do you want to get off the train right now?”
Guy: “What?”
Passenger: “Do you want to get off the train right now?”
Guy: rolls eyes.
Passenger reaches into coat, pulls out the badge that is hanging on chain
around his neck: “Police officer, sir. Do you want to get off the train
right now?!”
Guy (quietly): “no.” -takes feet down-
Passenger: “Then keep your feet off the rail. The conductor already told you
three times.”
The other passengers snicker.
Hudson & Gaines
