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How to make sure you get a seat on the train

18 Comments

"The other day, this reporter encountered an unfamiliar sight while aboard his commuter train. An elderly man, upon boarding at a certain station, pulled open a folding chair and gingerly sat down."

Thus begins an article in J-Cast News (Oct 28) on the subject of how to be assured of getting a seat on the train.

The reporter tapped out a few tweets on Twitter and performed some searches, the result of which was to discover that the practice of bringing along one's own seat in Japan is by no means rare. Actually, it appears that there's no particular problem in carrying a folding seat aboard a train; rather, the problem that arises is whether or not one can put it to use.

The elderly gent in question happened to be taking one of the JR commuter lines in Kanto, slightly after the end of the rush hour. Quite a few passengers were standing, but there were open spaces that would accommodate the chair in the aisle or near the doors. The chair the man unfolded stood about 30 centimeters high and as he sat down he steadied himself with his cane.

The other passengers glanced at him, but no one offered him their seat. The gentleman did not approach the courtesy seats reserved for elderly and handicapped. After several minutes, however, a seat did open up nearby, and at that point he stood up, folded his chair and moved to the seat. The reporter thought he gave the impression of being quite practiced at such maneuvers.

"I'd seen people sitting atop their rucksack or suitcase on trains, but I wonder how many people are in the habit of carrying their own chairs with them," the reporter wondered, tweeting messages to that effect.

Several responses arrived, including one who claimed to have seen a female office worker so seated, looking cool and composed, on the Marunouchi subway line during a period of extreme crowding. She was, the sender wrote, using a folding chair with a frame made of metal pipes. Quite a few varieties of folding seats exist, including some designed for camping.

The question inevitably arises: What are the railway companies' policies toward passengers bringing their own seats?

"As long as the dimensions are within permissible limits for hand baggage, there's no problem to carry one aboard," replied a spokesperson for the East Japan Railway Company.

Those dimensions are, by the way, up to two items with a combined width and height measuring 250 centimeters, or a maximum length of 2 meters, with a weight of 30 kilograms. Dangerous items or things giving off an unpleasant smell are prohibited. So if the chair clears these restrictions, it can be brought aboard.

But what about actually sitting on it?

"A station worker or conductor will inform the person if he believes it to be dangerous, both while aboard the train and on the platform," came the reply.

The reporter received a similar reply from the Tokyo Metro. "There is no official rule about using a chair, but we would expect the person to take precautions so as not to annoy other passengers."

The elderly gent who inspired this article did not appear to be bothering anyone, but if people use them during periods of peak crowding, the possibility occurred to him that a chair might tip over on a curve, or send the seated person sprawling should the driver be forced to apply the emergency brake, in which case it could be dangerous both for the chair user and nearby passengers.

The solution, it would seem lies in creative thinking. Perhaps someone could devise a chair designed specifically for train use, with suction cups on the bottom?

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

18 Comments
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"... things giving off an unpleasant smell are prohibited." Hmm. I think about this when carrying my aged Camembert home on the train

2 ( +5 / -3 )

“A station worker or conductor will inform the person if he believes it to be dangerous, both while aboard the train and on the platform,” came the reply.

Right, BEFORE they get on, not while they are using it correct? If they are not in the way, who cares!

. Dangerous items or things giving off an unpleasant smell are prohibited

This is one "rule" that hardly seems to be followed! Unless smelly arsed drunks are considered "acceptable" odors!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

A shooting stick should work. A hammock would be cool though.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

"... things giving off an unpleasant smell are prohibited."

Reminds me of when people eat McDonalds on the train.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The author has clearly done alot of research for this article, but they seem to have completely missed the most common occurrence of people bringing their own seats onto the train; wheelchair users. As long as wheelchairs are allowed I don't see how the train companies can ever justify banning the use of these small stools on the grounds of size, safety, or inconvenience to other passengers. If they did, the stool people might just start rolling up in wheelchairs.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

As long as wheelchairs are allowed I don't see how the train companies can ever justify banning the use of these small stools on the grounds of size, safety, or inconvenience to other passengers.

It's easy to justify this. People in wheelchairs literally cannot stand up. People who can stand up, can stand up.

I don't think we're ever going to see a preponderance of people who are going to start using wheelchairs just because they don't want to stand on the train.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

How about those shopping bags with wheels and seats lots of old people use? They must be acceptable. I always wanted one of those because having one also means you can cross the road anywhere at any time.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@Strangerland

I take your point, but the fact that these people are taking the trouble to carry around their own seat seems to suggest that standing for extended periods of time might be difficult or impossible for them. I also don't think the ability to stand is a good test when you consider that quite a few wheelchair users can actually stand, it's sometimes the inability to walk longer distances that necessitates the wheelchair. But since their wheelchair can't be folded up, they might as well sit in it.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Reminds me of when people eat McDonalds on the train.

In Osaka they have "551 Horai". Whenever someone brings that on the train I have to switch cars, the smell is awful.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Someone needs to design a cool product promo video, for a commuter backpack that turns into a seat on the train, and then promote your kickstarter project all over facebook as "The best ever backpack, you will be AMAZED"

0 ( +1 / -1 )

M3M3M3 wrote on Oct. 31, 2016 - 08:17AM JST ... I also don't think the ability to stand is a good test when you consider that quite a few wheelchair users can actually stand, it's sometimes the inability to walk longer distances that necessitates the wheelchair. But since their wheelchair can't be folded up, they might as well sit in it.

Actually, a wheelchair CAN be folded up. But even then it takes some space because, of course, the handles and wheels can't and, well, a wheelchair isn't really portable anyway...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How to make sure you get a seat on the train

Simple answer SBD, drop one and you will get instant seating! Just be careful about wafting and wind currents, might give yourself away.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the possibility occurred to him that a chair might tip over on a curve, or send the seated person sprawling should the driver be forced to apply the emergency brake, in which case it could be dangerous both for the chair user and nearby passengers.

Because application of the emergency brake would not make it dangerous for passengers who were standing on their feet?

Come on!! The same two feet on the floor AND legs on the chair! Not to mention a lower center of gravity!! The chair is obviously safer - but that's not really the point of this article. (End Rant)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

things giving off an unpleasant smell are prohibited

So just where am I supposed to plant my buttocks

But seriously, if people can bring surfboards, bicycles, and huge suitcases, why not a little chair?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

M3M3M3: "As long as wheelchairs are allowed I don't see how the train companies can ever justify banning the use of these small stools on the grounds of size, safety, or inconvenience to other passengers."

Aside from the obvious fact that the people in wheelchairs are considered 'handicapped' and likely canNOT stand up, whereas the people with folding chairs can, there are seats assigned for those with difficulty and/or reasons why they might not be able to stand for long periods of time -- which they can make their way to. By your logic anyone should be able to bring a dog or pet besides on the train even if they're not blind because you can't justify keeping them off if someone who's blind has permission to bring on a seeing-eye dog.

Besides, some of those little seats put you directly at crotch level with those standing, which could be a major problem (or draw from sickos!).

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

More trains and double decker coaches would increase the chances of getting a seat.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Remove all seats. Would make it more comfortable for all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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