[VBprogrammer]

While it's an interesting point. I'm not sure I agree that these are here purely to stop homeless people from sleeping on them.

For a start, I would give anyone on the underground about 3 minutes, if they attempted to sleep anywhere, before they were moved on. It's one of the few places where you regularly see staff on the public transport network in London.

I think there is a legitimate argument that these arm rests are actually providing a useful service by delimiting the space for each person. Few people will naturally sit on the spot at the end of a bench seat which is already partially occupied (and other people will discourage it by sitting near the middle). Where as people will take an empty seat which is clearly free and separated from the other people on the bench.

[yardstick]

> I think there is a legitimate argument that these arm rests are actually providing a useful service by delimiting the space for each person. Few people will naturally sit on the spot at the end of a bench seat which is already partially occupied (and other people will discourage it by sitting near the middle). Where as people will take an empty seat which is clearly free and separated from the other people on the bench.

Yes, exactly this! Especially when the platforms are crowded, it makes so much sense to be efficient on the allocation of seats.

Now we’ve still got to deal with some people bag-spreading but normally most people take their bags off as soon as it gets busy or someone asks.

[shermantanktop]

I assume you mean stations/platforms/etc. — the trains themselves have dozing people in seats all the time.

And yes, I don’t recall any opportunity to sleep as I shuffled along in the massive crowds for the Waterloo and City line.