straphang

Ride standing up

To straphang is to stand in a moving bus or train while holding an overhead strap or handle for balance—the fate of passengers who board after all seats are taken.

A straphanger is someone who commutes this way, and by extension, any regular user of public transit: The mayor posed as a straphanger to show solidarity with commuters.

standing

pole

Cylindrical shaft or extremity

handrailBar for gripping on stairs
loopCurve closing on itself
handholdSomething to grasp

upright · fatigue · endurance

commuting

subway

Underground transit passage

metroUrban rail transit
transitMovement between places
passengerTraveler, not operator

train · carriage · platform · station · fare · turnstile · conductor · transfer · ticket · route

crowded

packed

Filled to capacity

sardinesSmall canned herring relatives
crampedUncomfortably lacking space
jostlePush roughly against

squeeze · pressed · crush · elbow · shoulder · swaying · bumping · overcrowded · stuffed · proximity

balance

grip

Secure manual hold

swayRock back and forth
lurchAbrupt unsteady movement
braceDevice providing structural stability

steady · wobble · jolt · footing · one-handed · overhead · reach · grab · lean · planted

Opposites

seated versus standing travel

straphangsit

Rest on a seat

have a seat · sit down · recline · lounge · relax

mode of commuting

straphangdrive

Operate a vehicle

chauffeur · carpool · cycle · walk

Family

straphanger, straphangers, straphanging

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G