So...based on my reading of the article, am I to understand that the occasional train rider will get sick more often, but as your riding frequency increases, so does your exposure to various viruses, and therefore, your immunity in the future? So we should see a downward slope in sickness as one rides more often?

Here is food for thought: when the decrepit bums come through the car, what do you think they hold onto to keep their balance? It is especially fun when you see one of them with a hospital bracelet on and, after moving onto the next car, someone goes right up to the pole and holds on. I always shudder to think what they are coming into contact with.

I'm sick of the awful smells.

I wish they had people scrubbing the subways daily like they have in Tokyo.

I've been biking for decades.

i don't have these problems.

I hope you hit a pothole.

super. you win a cookie.

Does anyone know if the MTA disinfects the seats on a regular basis, like when the homeless pee and defecate on them?

Not a chance-if anything they use urine soaked mops to clean up the bodily fluids left behind by the human vermin...

LOL. Yes, *of course* those seats are cleaned regularly and are super hygenic! Enjoy!

Maybe the respiratory issues stem from passengers standing near stalactites of mold on the ceilings of many platforms. Or could it be the oozing rust of the support beams? There is at least an inch worth of soot on many walls of the stations as well. Factor in the people who trudge to work sick out of fear of being fired during shitty economic times and voila you have a slew of potential maladies awaiting you.

bingo

Paper masks seem like a good idea this time of year, but they're so uncommon they tend to freak me out when I do actually see them. Like I did this morning.

In Asia (particularly in Hong Kong) people wear those paper masks when they're sick in order to protect other people from contracting their germs. It's a little off-putting when you first see them, but they're so common that after a while you get used to them. I don't think it would fly here in the States though.

Oh, it's a courtesy thing? I thought those were in the minority that was still scared of catching something.. That's nice. I agree though - it looks weird. Wouldn't fly here. People would look at you like you're some weirdo. I personally couldn't deal with the peer pressure.

To quote George Carlin:

"What are you going to do when some super virus comes along that turns your vital organs into liquid shit? I'll tell you what you're gonna do. You're gonna get sick and you're gonna die and you're gonna deserve it because you're fuckin' weak and you have a fuckin' weak immune system."

I wonder if weather is a factor as well - insomuch as in good weather more people walk or bike and in poor weather more people ride the subway and are more likely to be sick, etc.

It isnt only about touching the poles but people who cough and sneeze all over the train car. In my perfect world, anyone caught doing this would be thrown off of the train while in motion.

Years ago I had to commute into the city from Brooklyn every day, I got a cold or flu every month! It was driving me nuts, so I started wearing {washable} cotton gloves on the subway, never touching the pole. I now rarely get sick, maybe once every two years I'll get a mild cold. Try it, it works, don't touch the pole or anything else down there with bare hands!

I ride mass transit pretty much every day and I rarely get sick. I sit down whenever I can and the rest of the time, I'm probably grabbing a pole because I'm not going to risk falling down.

Like FU Boy said, washing your hands frequently is a start. Other things to do is: always keep hand sanitizer with you, avoid touching your face and don't ever sneeze in your hands, use elbow or forearm.

But of course, not everyone's immune system is the same. Take vitamins, it won't hurt!