Backpacks, Blame, and Bureaucracy: Why the MTA’s “Put It Between Your Legs” Logic Is Deeply Broken

Public transit is supposed to be a shared social contract. You give up some comfort, some space, some control, and in return you get mobility, access, and a system that—at least in theory—works for everyone. The moment that contract starts shifting responsibility downward, away from institutions and onto individuals, things start to rot. And that’s exactly what’s happening with the MTA’s increasingly smug, finger-wagging guidance telling riders to take off their backpacks and put […]

https://jaimedavid.blog/2026/01/31/19/43/27/analysis/jaimedavid327/9561/backpacks-blame-and-bureaucracy-why-the-mtas-put-it-between-your-legs-logic-is-deeply-broken/