I suppose it depends on the city and the time of day, but generally I wouldn't assume that time would be available for study. You're assuming you'd have a seat and enough personal space to juggle a textbook and/or notebook.
Yes, I guess it would depend on where you live and are traveling. Were I at a starting point for a subway or bus line in my area I'd be sure I'd get a seat
Sometimes taking a train slightly earlier or slightly later can make all the difference in how packed the train is. I've found that most people want to get in just before 9am, so they all pack themselves in like sardines on a few trains that will get them into work between 1-20 minutes ahead of time. A few times I had to get in earlier to class to talk to the professor and when I took a train that got me in about half an hour before class, those trains were only a third full in comparison.
Definitely lots of seats to choose from that one could then snooze on the way in.
Also, I've found by being accidentally late, that the trains that get one in right after 9am are also less full. I remember some fellow students would always arrive to class late, quietly slip in & sit in the back, and look over at their neighbors book to see what page we were on and flip their book open. It's rare that the teacher says extremely crucial stuff right at the start of class, or that someone can't catch someone up that's a little late. Maybe those students realized being on a train way slightly late is way more civilized?
How much space does one need to open a textbook? People just open & read them in their laps. Same with a laptop. People don't spread their stuff out like on a plane.
You're also assuming that level of distraction wouldn't make you a target for theft.
as a native NYCer I'm pretty aware of my surroundings on many levels [. . .] Knock on wood, I've never been robbed but have been burglarized twice in 6 decades).
People snooze or read on their expensive Kindles or iPhones all the time here. None are an uncommon occurrence. I have even seen a few people working or opening up their laptops right on the trains. I also see people a the ends of a car sitting right on the floor to sit or read. When on a really packed train, it's actually hard to rob people and quickly sneak away. It's not the same as being on a packed subway platform where people can brush by and pickpocket someone. On a train, the robber HAS to come up right next to you in order to rob you or be sitting next to you. It's more obvious if they are acting suspiciously.
Even being distracted or focused on something, as NYCgrrl said, one has to be aware of one's surroundings. If someone is moving their hand right by your side, you look to see what their hand is doing. Are they reaching for your phone or wallet? Usually they are reaching for their own phone. One should be
lightly snoozing, not be dead to the world. And one should always put their stuff, especially laptops in a nondescript, cheap looking bag, (not a "laptop bag") that is zipped closed and place it in between one's feet, where you can feel someone reaching for it. Not next to you, where someone can reach inside or snag it. I gave up on buying nice, expensive looking handbags or luggage long ago. I don't want to look like an expensive target.
