Commuter Science

Welcome, visitor, to this taste of Commuter Science. The Introduction and Table of Contents are freely available to all, while individual chapters are currently password protected. Want to read more? Please drop a note to bill@wdcohen.com. Thank you, and enjoy!

Preface & Introduction

Chapter 01. Conditioning: Is What You See What You Get?

1. Seeing Red
2. The Empty Car
3. Working Mom
4. Cop or Comrade?
5. Second Look

Chapter 02. Dominance & Aggression: Who's Running the Asylum?

1. If You Can't Lick 'Em
2. Ultimate Threat
3. Intimidation & Rebuke

Chapter 03. Cooperation & Altruism: We're All Winners Here

1. Driver Ed
2. Holiday Spirits
3. The Mutiny

Chapter 04. Identity: Am I Who I Am?

1. The Umbrella
2. Melting Pot

Chapter 05. Sexual Behavior: Tokens of Affection

1. Peacock But No Peahen
2. Spring Fever
3. Peek-A-Boo

Chapter 06. Adaptability: Got Lemons? Make Lemonade

1. Heads Up!
2. Track Trickery
3. The Labyrinth

Chapter 07. Location Science

1. Minimum Time
2. Minimum Energy
3. Minimum Cost
4. Minimum Hassle
5. Minimum Risk

Chapter 08. Walking, Running and Standing

1. Strategic Legwork: How to Walk City Blocks
2. Run For It: Knowing If You'll Catch the Bus
3. Never Look Back: Dashing to Alternate Transportation
4. Pole Physics: Standing In The Subway
5. The Rack: Standing At Your Own Risk

Chapter 09. Seatmanship

1. Seatmanship Without Accessories
2. Seatmanship With Accessories
3. Experimental Results
4. Applied Seatmanship

Chapter 10. Materials and Methods

1. Newspapers
2. Bus Receipts
3. Ye Olde Token Ten-Paks

Chapter 11. Biological Timers and Sensors

1. Inner Alarm
2. Commuter "Chicken"

Chapter 12. Nature Studies

1. Ratwatching
2. Squirrel Feeding

Chapter 13. Going Places

1. Lincoln Center
2. The New York Public Library
3. Your Own Loo Review

Chapter 14. Observation: Sights

1. Signs of (Commuter) Life
2. Dual Personality
3. Commuters Ahoy!

Chapter 15. Observation: Sounds

1. Do My Ears Deceive Me?
2. The Voice

Chapter 16. Observation: Smells

1. Preferred Route
2. Courtesy Is Contagious

Chapter 17. A Field Guide to the Urban Commute

1. THE GAPPER Annoysus maximus and THE SIDESTEPPER Annoysus frequentus
2. THE SUPERPOLITE SOB Politus extremus and THE SUPERIMPOLITE SOB Politus minimus
3. THE TOKEN SUCKER Turnstilus horribilus (EXTINCT)
4. THE BEGGAR Donaskus pleasus
5. THE MUSICIAN Musicus hapharzardus
6. THE URINATOR Fluidous eliminatus
7. THE DOORBLOCKER Bestus avoidus
8. THE POLEHUGGER Hoggus wholpolus
9. THE OBLIVIOUS DINER Maximus smellius
10. THE LEGSPREADER Blockus biseatus
11. THE COMMUTER Gous Backandforthus and THE TOURIST Gous nottoworkus

Chapter 18. Miracles

1. War Lost, Battle Won
2. Winter Wonder
3. Now You See It, Now You Don't, Now You Do Again
4. Through the Eye of the Needle
5. D-Day
6. Help Is Here

Epilogue: The Commuter's Refrain