Overcrowded subway trains are a source of discomfort for everyone. It is human nature to want to sit down if a seat becomes available. Is there a way to get a seat on a packed train? A renowned Japanese physicist pondered this same question a century ago and, after conducting field research, developed his own rule.
On July 7, the Mainichi Shimbun reported in its "Science in Everyday Life" section on the topic: "Is it possible to get a seat on a packed train? The foolproof method devised by a physicist." According to the article, Terada Torahiko (1878?1935), famous for the saying "Genius (or disaster) comes when it is almost forgotten," is well-known for his numerous essays connecting everyday life and physics. In his 1922 essay "On the Congestion of Streetcars," he wrote: "Clinging to the handrail, being pushed, poked, and jostled on a packed train is an almost unbearable ordeal."
Terada realized that congestion on streetcars followed a cyclical pattern, with periods of intense crowding alternating with less crowded intervals. As a streetcar leaves its starting station, delays begin to accumulate. The later it arrives at each station, the more passengers board, which increases the time spent at each stop and intensifies the congestion. Using mathematical formulas, Terada hypothesized that on average, every three to four trains experience severe overcrowding, while the following two to three trains are relatively less crowded. He then conducted a survey of crowding and arrival intervals at the Jimbocho stop in Tokyo, confirming that his hypothesis was fairly accurate. He ultimately concluded: "It is more convenient, not only for oneself but also for others, to yield an overcrowded car to others and take a step back to board a less crowded one; this appears to be an 'efficient' action."
Modern physicists are also considering how to get a seat on a packed train. Koji Hashimoto, a professor at Kyoto University who once commuted four hours round-trip on overcrowded trains, shared his tips: "The key is to carefully observe where people are getting off." Professor Hashimoto stood at the end of the platform and observed the arriving trains from beginning to end. When he identified a crowded car, he would actually ride from the starting station to the terminal to investigate why that particular car was so full. He found that he could predict empty seats using the following methods:
-Identify the stations where high school students in uniforms or office workers are likely to get off
-Check for transfer trains that connect to other lines or express trains
With this information, he was able to predict where seats would become available.
Professor Hashimoto commented, "Physics may seem disconnected from everyday life, but as Terada's essay shows, it is fascinating to see how human behavior can be clearly described by rules, and how applying these rules can benefit oneself."
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