Indeed, during my second observation, which would occur during peak commuter hours, between 7:30 and 8:30 AM on a Thursday, I would see this process repeated 7 times. Trains would run more frequently and crowds would be thicker during this time. Where I estimated roughly 40 people at the most at any one time during my preliminary observation, the same station contained what I estimated to be 400 to 500 people at this time.

There was a sort of convergence of informal and formal behavior, with individuals tending to display pointed self-interest when descending to the train tracks and, conversely, tending to organize around the collective goal of descending in an orderly and safe manner. Indeed, all commuters appeared to know this process well and to actively engage it at their own respective paces.

I also noted that individuals all tended to carry items which pointed to their purpose. Most...
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