Won’t Feel the Benefit

The recent rather pleasant temperatures (at least in this part of the country) have seen customers opening passenger windows for the first time this year.

Have you noticed some interesting phenomena about passengers and their windows?

People who open windows tend to be those who sit directly beneath them. This is because it’s slightly awkward for someone behind to reach & lean over the person in front to open the window. It invades personal space. It does happen, but rarely.

But the person beneath doesn’t get the benefit. It’s the passengers behind who see the advantage. Or not. Unless it’s scorching hot, one person’s ventilation is another’s draft. Open a window in spring or autumn and there’ll be mutters from some passengers aft of the window. Most will put up with it but someone might move forward. Rarely will anyone complain & ask to close the window.

But the most interesting facet is that the passenger who opened the window will almost without exception leave it open when he or she alights.

Changes in bus design mean that these days there are more hoppers than (rattling) ventilators and this, in itself, at least reduces the gusty airflow necessary on baking days but unwelcome at other times. Air conditioning might be the answer if it weren’t so environmentally unfriendly (assuming it’s used). Even here, passengers can feel too chilled.