Sitting next to strangers

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This is an uncomfort that I'm forced to endure twice a day, 5 days a week. It's beyond my control, it can't be helped.

Me, too. I especially hate it if they move and so some parts of their body touch me.

I do that everywhere; not just on buses. I am ok staying in a seat if the arena/conveyance is simply crowded though.

I get to places super early just so I can get my preferred seat.

Probably has something to do with the fact that the person sitting next to you MIGHT have ulterior motives directed at you, the type of ulterior motives that will rarely (to even never) do you any good.

The further you are from such a person, the better.

I'm a little late to the party. But I ride NJ Transit Rail, and the NYC Subway daily. Funtimes. On the NJT trains depending on the car it could be a 2 across, or 3 across seating. How I deal with it is if it is a 2 seater I'll toss my backpack on the aisle seat, and take the window seat. If it's the 3 seater then I take the window seat, and my pack resides in the center seat. On the subway I go to either end of the car so I can watch what's going on in the rest of the car.

It is the worst when, after you squeeze up against the side so you don't have to touch them, they slide over closer to you. NOOOOOOOOO. Smokers are the worst, yuck.

I'm a big guy and have a fairly big bubble of personal space. When strangers want to snuggle up to me and share their smells... it's quite disturbing.

I can relate since I am a former smoker (I vape now). I also hate getting into elevators after a smoker rode in it. ewww

I put my backpack on the seat next to me on my Greyhound trips & it worked when the bus wasn't crowded. I regretted it when the bus got crowded thou because I had to move it & I was wedged between the window & a stranger. I much rather be away from the window & by the isle when sitting next to someone . I don't have short legs.& I'm able to stretch one leg out in the isle & give more space for my other leg. It's also alot easier for me to reach my backpack. I keep it on the floor because I have things in it I need on the bus; water, my prescription medication, snacks & the like. When I'm next to the isle I can move my leg to isle side & slide my pack into the isle instead of having to squeeze it through from between my legs & the seat.

I really don't mind sitting next to strangers. Basically because I have balance issues. I can never stand on a moving bus without loosing my balance and accidently falling on people, even when the bus is about to stop. I think all drivers know this by now, since I'm on the bus several times a week. I have to sit on a certain side when I'm on, because I need to look outside so I won't miss my stop. Sometimes people think I'm staring at them, but I'm not -- I'm just looking out the window. I guess I'm used to strangers, because I'm forced to. Sometimes the stranger minds, but I sit down anyway. It's either bother them, or fall on everybody. Sorry about that!

I used to be terrified about taking buses. I was lucky that my parents drove me everywhere I needed to be, even as an adult. When I first moved, my program at the time had "learn the bus routes" group. One of the clients took his group on trips to get to know the local system. Slowly, I made progress and got brave enough to ride by myself. Since then, I moved, but I have no trouble with buses anymore.

I also prefer sitting by myself. For a while, I thought anyone who wanted to sit next to me just wanted to intentionally annoy me and ruin any activity I could be doing while seated. However, as time passed, my paranoia subsided.

I'm actually getting worse with this sort of thing.

I'm quite ill at ease now when someone sits behind me or in front of me on a bus, never mind next to me.