Commuting by Numbers: Transportation Edition
More on the “mass observation” theme… here’s a tally of the modes of transport seen on my trip in to work.
I’ve had a thing for cars ever since I was a kid, so this one came easily. (Sidebar: Last night someone offered to let me drive their BMW 850, and I couldn’t think of a way to say yes without feeling like a total loser.) Fortunately, as you’ll see below, in this town my own Honda Civic carries the same level of exclusivity as BMWs (all models combined, but still.) I suspect other parts of the country are less reliant on Bavaria, and more accepting of rust.
It’s also interesting to note that if you really want to stand out, you should either buy an Aston Martin, or a Lada.
Commuting by Numbers: Transportation Edition
Commuter: Paul Gorbould
Location: Downtown Toronto
Commuting time: 45 minutes
Route: Queen/King Streets, via streetcar
Taxis: 154
Honda Civics: 49
BMWs: 48
Mercedes-Benz: 14
Cars with any visible rust: 9
Porsches: 4
Beer delivery trucks: 4
City TV “everywhere” vehicles: 2
Ferraris: 1
Gears used by said Ferrari: 1
Aston Martins: 1
Ladas: 1
People on bikes: 79
Approximate percentage wearing helmets: 60%
People on bikes with no helmet, listening to an iPod and carrying a small dog: 1
People on motorcycles: 10
Parked Ducati motorcycles (oh yes, one day you will be mine…):4
Babies in strollers: 5
Vespa scooters: 4
Electric mobility scooters: 4
Old ladies on a child’s aluminum scooter: 1
People looking cool on a scooter: 0
Next up: Animals!
Posted by: Paul Gorbould | 07-04-2007 | 10:07 AM
Posted in: Commuting
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OK, here are my results for this morning’s commute. I sat near the front of the streetcar, waited until it was quite full, then headed down the isle inventing a tallying system as I went. A few people looked concerned (it’s hard to hide the fact that your are observing people: you look up, look around, then look down to take notes, then look up again etc.), and one clever-looking woman who had been reading a paper game me a peculiarly penetrating and knowing look over the top of her glasses. I squirmed a bit, but forged on in support of this worthy cause!
Commuter: Vivian
Location: Downtown Toronto
Streetcar: 501 going East from the Beaches on Queen Street
SITTING (total of 60)
Reading a book: 8
Reading a paper: 5
Listening to iPod: 5
Listening to other MP3: 6
Doing nothing: 21
Talking to person beside them: 6
Talking on phone: 1
Doing important-looking work: 3
Knitting: 1
Sleeping: 2
Listening to MP3 while reading paper: 1
Staring piercingly at me over glasses: 1
STANDING (total of 48)
Reading book: 5
Reading paper: 5
Listening to iPod: 3
Listening to other MP3: 3
Doing nothing: 28
Talking: 2
Looking over my shoulder to see what I’m writing: 1
Counting passenger activity: 1
The mention of a Lada reminded me of this clip about the third minute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSw4fcMHAXM