I’m wondering if it’s a Midwest thing, and depends on the cohort, but I’ve noticed that people will spontaneously meet and chat about all sorts of things (from inane to WILD trauma dumps). Anyways just my amateur anthropology lol I typically hear transit reflected as an experience where everyone keeps to themselves
Here in Wales it’s absolutely the case that people’ll just dump their entire life story to strangers on public transport (and also at bus stops, train stations, queues in shops, and in the middle of the street if you don’t walk away fast enough).
From what I’ve experienced of England, it’s the exact opposite where strangers won’t even look you in the eye unless they’re drunk in which case they’ll suddenly become incredibly chatty.
I happened to be in London right as Brexit was popping off. I was standing in line at a restaurant outside an anti-brexit protest and started chatting with an older guy in front of me about it. He looked at me as if I was absolutely insane.