The Strange Old Swiss - #1 Sitting on a Train

Even in rush hour you can still find the odd seat on a train to Basel with people standing up in the aisle. On a packed tram many stand with seats to spare. Why is this? It certainly seems that the swiss (even more so than us Brits) like to keep their personal space personal. The rucksack over hee is not designed to carry stuff but is your personal seat keeper. You place next to you in a gesture saying, "don't sit here". Of course, when it gets busy they will be polite and remove the bag to allow someone to sit there but you have to ask or make it obvious you're going to sit down anyway.