In a previous discussion here about Coughing in the Crook we discussed the use of special “Vomit Pants” that are worn when one takes public transportation.
Some train and bus seats are created completely of plastic so it is a simpler task to avoid a puddle of urine or that bit of dried vomitus waiting to stain your slacks.

The newer busses and trains, however, cleverly use an industrial strength fabric that conceals most disgusting human remnants and provides no visual forewarning before you sit and, therefore, Vomit Pants become the required uniform of the day to avoid messing your good clothes in the muddle of others.

Do you have a special pair of Vomit Pants you wear on the train, bus or airplane to preserve your real outfit for the day? Or do you just risk sitting in someone else’s spew and piddle and let your pants be damned?

51 Comments

  1. I never really thought ahead that much I must say but if I wore special pants that would have meant I’d have to have brought a change of pants which would mean even more crap I’d have to lug into Boston. I just did the best I could although luckily I didn’t have to take the Orange line because that is much more disgusting than the Red.

  2. Hey Robin —
    In New York, women seem to be more proactive in wearing Vomit Pants than men. Women, I suppose, are already used to carrying their “good shoes” in their bags while wearing sneakers for the long and dirty walk to work. Adding a pair of sweat pants (Vomit Pants) and then changing into a nice skirt at work is the new cultural ritual of the day.

  3. Well I don’t wear fancy uncomfortable shoes…so I never had to change them. This was 2 years ago at least when I was traveling by public transportation. I do however miss it a little…I always got in so much reading and writing.

  4. I’m glad you’re off public transportation, Robin. You’re right you can get a lot of thinking done by zoning out on a train. Driving takes too much attention! 🙂

  5. I’m glad I’m off it too. It took an extra 1/2 hour out of my day at least if not more just waiting for the train. I would leave at 7am and get home after 7pm.

  6. I’m glad I’m off it too. It took an extra 1/2 hour out of my day at least if not more just waiting for the train. I would leave at 7am and get home after 7pm.

  9. Well that was when I worked in South Boston. I would listen to an MP3 player, write and read books mainly. I swear I’d read 1-2 books a week with all my time. Now I just sit in traffic for 2-3 hours a day. I really need to hit the library for books on tape.

  10. Well that was when I worked in South Boston. I would listen to an MP3 player, write and read books mainly. I swear I’d read 1-2 books a week with all my time. Now I just sit in traffic for 2-3 hours a day. I really need to hit the library for books on tape.

  11. I don’t know if I could sit still long enough to do time in 3 hours of traffic a day. I’ll sit on a plane for 3 hours because I can completely zone out but in a car you need to pay a modicum of attention to those around you.

  12. I don’t know if I could sit still long enough to do time in 3 hours of traffic a day. I’ll sit on a plane for 3 hours because I can completely zone out but in a car you need to pay a modicum of attention to those around you.

  13. 😆
    I have a real problem sitting still for too long. Over an hour on a plane and I get agitated. I don’t know how my boyfriend did 16 hours on a plane to China…I’d have jumped out I think after 5 hours.

  14. 😆
    I have a real problem sitting still for too long. Over an hour on a plane and I get agitated. I don’t know how my boyfriend did 16 hours on a plane to China…I’d have jumped out I think after 5 hours.

  17. I couldn’t do more than 6 hours on a plane or a train. I’d be wondering about blood clots and such. If you’re flying First Class, though, the long trips would be more bearable because you are treated so well and time flies when you’re constantly eating and mopping yourself with steaming hot towels!

  18. I couldn’t do more than 6 hours on a plane or a train. I’d be wondering about blood clots and such. If you’re flying First Class, though, the long trips would be more bearable because you are treated so well and time flies when you’re constantly eating and mopping yourself with steaming hot towels!

  19. Yeah, Carla, I miss having a car. It is great freedom to go where you want to go when you want to go. Walking offers the same freedom — it just takes much longer!

  20. Yeah, Carla, I miss having a car. It is great freedom to go where you want to go when you want to go. Walking offers the same freedom — it just takes much longer!

  21. Actually he brought certain kinds of socks or pants or something for blood clots. Can you believe his company didn’t send him first class the 1st time he went…I was pissed.

  22. Actually he brought certain kinds of socks or pants or something for blood clots. Can you believe his company didn’t send him first class the 1st time he went…I was pissed.

  23. Oh, that’s good to have some sort of protection from DVT. I would have paid to upgrade to First Class even if the company didn’t pay. Sometimes, though, all the First Class seats are taken early on the long haul flights because the regulars know the benefits of pampering and lots o’ leg room!

  24. Oh, that’s good to have some sort of protection from DVT. I would have paid to upgrade to First Class even if the company didn’t pay. Sometimes, though, all the First Class seats are taken early on the long haul flights because the regulars know the benefits of pampering and lots o’ leg room!

  25. I haven’t been on a public transit train or bus in a couple of years, at least not since they’ve changed from the hard plastic seats to the new fabric.
    I bring along extra clothing even when I’ve gone on day business trips during the winter. My big fear was sliding off the road, pushing the car out, and not having clean, dry clothes to change into.
    I knew my plan was good when I heard the story of a coworker who slipped on ice (he wasn’t hurt) and split his pants going to a business meeting.
    An extra pair of pants is always a good thing.

  26. I haven’t been on a public transit train or bus in a couple of years, at least not since they’ve changed from the hard plastic seats to the new fabric.
    I bring along extra clothing even when I’ve gone on day business trips during the winter. My big fear was sliding off the road, pushing the car out, and not having clean, dry clothes to change into.
    I knew my plan was good when I heard the story of a coworker who slipped on ice (he wasn’t hurt) and split his pants going to a business meeting.
    An extra pair of pants is always a good thing.

  29. There are lots of goodies awaiting you on the East Coast, dementia! Be sure to bring a knife and fork with your napkin when you take a seat on your next train!
    :mrgreen:

  30. There are lots of goodies awaiting you on the East Coast, dementia! Be sure to bring a knife and fork with your napkin when you take a seat on your next train!
    :mrgreen:

  31. Chris!
    You’re smart to bring extra clothing. I’ve seen people on the trains and busses plop down a towel or even the New York Times to sit on while they ride, but do you take the towel with you afterward? Do you get ink on your pants after you get up to leave? It’s a hidden conundrum of living life in the big city!

  32. I saw some crazy stuff by taking public transportation…come to think of it that would have made a very interesting blog. If only my sitting in traffic were that interesting.

  33. Yeah, there’s one guy who used to write a blog about taking the train every day through Greenwich and he’d take photos of the inconsiderate slobs who took up two seats or who did yoga in the middle of the aisles. It was hilarious! He stopped writing it because he moved to a new house and was able to take a better train with nicer people.
    Our friend Paula used to write a blog about her experiences every day on the Omnibus — it was good and touching stuff.

  34. Yeah, there’s one guy who used to write a blog about taking the train every day through Greenwich and he’d take photos of the inconsiderate slobs who took up two seats or who did yoga in the middle of the aisles. It was hilarious! He stopped writing it because he moved to a new house and was able to take a better train with nicer people.
    Our friend Paula used to write a blog about her experiences every day on the Omnibus — it was good and touching stuff.

  37. I don’t miss it yet. Here’s the pecking order in NY/NJ from best to worst experience for Vomit Panting:
    LIRR (similar transit trains)
    PATH
    Subways
    Bus

  38. I don’t miss it yet. Here’s the pecking order in NY/NJ from best to worst experience for Vomit Panting:
    LIRR (similar transit trains)
    PATH
    Subways
    Bus

  39. It’s been quite a while since I’ve even been on the T so I think I’ve blocked out the worst parts. Sometimes sitting in my car I really wish I could just curl up with a book and watch the world go by.

  40. It’s been quite a while since I’ve even been on the T so I think I’ve blocked out the worst parts. Sometimes sitting in my car I really wish I could just curl up with a book and watch the world go by.

  51. Pingback: Why Do You Wear Pajamas in Public? | Memeingful

Comments are closed.