Line Behavior

To the tweens out there stop reading. This is not about the chat app “Line”.  No this is about the behavior where people wait in line for a bus. I noticed it when I came to Seattle. It also doesn’t happen at every stop. Its more prevalent at commuter buses or large passenger buses. I noticed the city buses there seems to be a free for all at times and it’s a funnel effect. 

I have been looking on line to see if I could find any reference to this behavior. I found one blogger making a comment to it on her bus etiquette article saying that if there is a line get in it and don’t cut. Other reference I found mostly talking about events where large numbers of people waiting in line for a bus to get out of the city. I also saw images of lined up people waiting at various stops all over the world, but nothing really talking about the behavior.

In my research I did recognize a singular image popping up regularly. That of school children, they were lining up for the school bus. Could this be the piece I need to understand the behavior? But what about the other times when it’s a free for all? Is this due to the lack of riding a bus when they were at a small age?

  I myself think of the etiquette and get in line.  I feel the pressure to do so or be shunned by the bus society. One slip and you are known as “the cutter” or the “slow to get your money out” person.  We all go through this assumed pressure. As humans beings we have an instinct way of following order.  Sometimes we lose this idea and break order weather for a cause or to create chaos.

Please feel free to chime in on the whole bus line behavior.  I would love to hear others perspective.

FYI...I use line. I was as to get it some time ago by some of my friends from other countries. I guess its cheaper than regular texting.