I had a VERY uncomfortable train ride the other day. Uncomfortable mentally, not physically. Actually the train is quite comfortable unless a big sweaty guy comes and sits next to you. But that's a story for another day. Yech!

I'd just missed the first train going home, so that meant that I got the cream of the crop seat on the next train since I was one of the first to get on that car. My favorite seat is right by the door on the right side of the train so I can just get up and hop off when we get to my stop. It's also a great place for people watching. Again, another story for another day.

Anyhoo (get to the point RG!), I was sitting in my favorite spot next to the door watching all my fellow train-riders file in. There's a spot on the train where the bike riders can park their bikes and tie them down. If there aren't any bikes, there's a seat that folds down in that area. EVERYONE knows that this spot is for the bikes, but some doofus sat there anyway. There were lots of other places he could have sat, but he chose to sit in the bike area.

As I suspected, a bike rider came aboard and asked doofus if he would kindly move to one of the MANY open seats so he could park his bike there. Doofus (who really DID look like a doofus) told him no- he wasn't moving. I fully expected a scene, but there was none. The bike rider instead pulled his bike over to the door next to me, tied it to the door handles with a bungie cord, and then proceeded to go to the next level on the train. This is when I started to squirm a bit. The first train stop opens on that side of the train.

I comforted myself in thinking that either:
a. the security guard would see the tethered bike and move it
b. the bike rider would be getting off at that stop and untie his bike prior to.

Neither happened. The security guard walked right by the bike and there was no sign of the bike rider as we pulled into that first stop.

The door opened and the people on the outside trying to get in started yelling about this bike blocking their way. I was sitting right next to this bike, and got the wrath from many of those people. A guy sitting next to me untied the bike and moved it so the train riders could get on, telling people that this was not his bike. He also said very loudly, "Home-boy over there wouldn't move his fat @$$ to let the guy tie up his bike". I was fully expecting 'home-boy' (aka doofus) and this guy to get into a fight, but nothing of the sort happened. Doofus just sat there with a very smug look on his face.

The train riders were going on and on about it as the bike-owner came down to fetch his bike.

"You've got some nerve"
"Why would you tie your bike to the door?"

Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

The bike rider kept his cool, although clearly uncomfortable, while he stood there in the middle of the crowd with his bike. Doofus still had that stupid smug look on his face.

Doofus moved to another seat two stops later, and the bike owner took the opportunity to tie up his bike. I wanted to smack the smug look off Doofus' face, but instead chose to give him my daggers of steel. I'm sure he won't sleep for weeks after seeing the dirty looks coming from me. (yeah, right).

The bike rider got off the same stop as me, and I walked off the train with him. I wanted him to know that he wasn't 'alone', so I told him that I was really impressed how he kept his cool and that most people wouldn't have handled the situation so calmly.

He smiled back at me and just said, "Some days you just can't win".

I passed him by as I drove home and saw a huge smile on his face. I hope that smile was because he was proud of himself for being a gentleman.