The yellow strip

If you ride BART, you are familiar (or should be) of the yellow strip that's about a foot wide and runs the length of all BART platforms. This is the yellow strip that you should never, ever, EVER stand on. Some BART operators get very perturbed if riders are standing on the yellow strip while the train is pulling in. Basically, they're freaked out that the person will slip and fall and get crushed by the train. I can see their point. Wouldn't be a very good scene.

What I don't get are people that do this:

I'm first in line for the train. I do not stand on the yellow line, but I'm pretty darn close to it. I'm usually plugged into my iPod with book in hand, reading. Since book is in hand and being held away from my body, my book is technically on the yellow strip. But hey, it's only a book, so I will take my chances. I'm not really paying much attention to those around me because I figure they should be somewhat responsible for themselves.

Then...a blur! Someone walks, right in front of me, on the yellow strip, to get to the other side of the line I'm in. What amazes me is that these people who do this must think I really care about their safety or that I'm paying attention to their actions. Well, unfortunately, I don't care and I'm not paying attention. They could just as easily say, "Excuse me," to someone in line, where safety is in abundance, but no, this hardly happens. The yellow strip is the only way to go.

I'm just waiting for the day when I'm turned to the side, and someone tries to cross in front of me from my backside while I suddenly turn to the other side for some reason, and BAM! they're knocked into oncoming BART traffic. Oh well.

The only word of advice I can give is that you make yourself apparent and say, "Excuse me" because people tend to respond to politeness instead of barging.

I have yet to witness a fatality, although I did witness some kid's sign-up sheet for football pandering fall between the train and the platform (mind the gap!). Instead of getting on the train, his mouth dropped open and then said, "My paper!" Then he quickly slipped through the doors as they were closing. Those kids always annoyed me, so it was pretty good justice for all.