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Every subway rider has spent time wedged into a forest of armpits, avoiding eye contact. Posted train etiquette directs us to the center of the car, which often has more room; the crowd shifting that way would alleviate pressure on everyone. But public transit is largely a game of chicken with your fellow passengers, a calculus of commute length and relative comfort. Why not use all the space available to us, rather than packing ourselves near the door?
