One problem with riding the bus and/or subway to work is that you need to figure out how to carry your wet umbrella without soaking the people you pass as you get to your seat or the seat next to you if empty. Unless of course, if you’re an asshole, then you don’t care and get everyone and everything wet. Not too much of the latter this morning, since it wasn’t raining too hard. Plus, there were the “cool guys” who didn’t have umbrellas and looked rather silly being wet.
I have tried to be somewhat conscientious with my choice of a compact umbrella. It’s small enough that is fits in my briefcase when closed and just large enough to cover me when I’m walking in the rain. My jacket and bag will get a little wet, but that’s OK. Counter that with the assholes who carry golf umbrellas (and who most likely have never played golf). These things are enormous – they take up the entire sidewalk and could double as homeless shelters.
One thing that amazes me is that more buildings (and none I’ve been to in Philadelphia) do not have umbrella bag dispensers inside the front door. I first encountered one of these years ago at a class I was taking in D.C., at the Reagan Building & International Trade Center. I thought it was a great idea – you don’t make a mess of the place with your soaking wet umbrella. Of course, now such things are probably an environmental hazard or something, being made of plastic.