From Observed Customer Seating and Standing Behaviors and Seat Preferences Onboard Subway Cars in New York City, by Aaron Berkovich, Brian Levine, Alex Lu, and Alla V. Reddy, researchers for New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A draft of the report was published on the website of the Transportation Research Board this April.

New York customers have a clear preference for seats adjacent to doors, no real preference for seats adjacent to stanchions, and disdain for bench spots between two other seats.

Some people seem to prefer standing over sitting — perhaps they have reasons to stand, e.g., traveling a few stops…