Getting Into a Car

[James MacMillan]

How about those of us who are traveling on public transportation systems? Has anyone figured out how to keep the pleats flat while squeezing into a row of seats barely 6" from the row in front of it???

For long airline flights and/or train rides I have found the USA PV kilt to work very well and also be very forgiving. I have heard others brag about the UK also, but I don't own a UK, so I wouldn't know.

[Galician]

Thanks, James. I have a UK and don't worry about the pleats on it. I guess that I was wondering about a more traditional style kilt. Good point about the USAK. I don't have their semi-trad, but maybe some day.

[James MacMillan]

Now that we have the pleat thing down to a science, let's discuss how we hold on to the car keys during this process. I hold the key fob in mouth or lay them down on the arm rest before entering.

Never gave the keys much thought....Hmmmmm

When casual, they are hooked on the belt. When dressy and above, they are in sporran or sometimes coat pocket. Current vehicles have electronic door openers, so I don't need keys until I am ready to put them into the ignition.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Now that we have the pleat thing down to a science, let's discuss how we hold on to the car keys during this process. I hold the key fob in mouth or lay them down on the arm rest before entering.

Excellent !

[Kilted_John]

As what has been said above, the sweep, then sit and swivel method works well. With cloth or velour seats, you must jam your rear end against the inside rear corner of the cushion, then swivel, otherwise, the pleats WILL wind up hanging off the side of the seat. Leather is much more forgiving in that respect.

Usually put the keys on the dash, then climb in. Did that even before I was kilted...

-J

[Alaskan Kilted Guy]

I am driving a Toyota 4Runner right now. (Well not at this exact moment!) I climb in and raise my hips, reach down and sweep the pleats. It seems to work fairly well, though I don't know how it would work out for a long drive.

[Standard]

I am driving a Toyota 4Runner right now. (Well not at this exact moment!) I climb in and raise my hips, reach down and sweep the pleats. It seems to work fairly well, though I don't know how it would work out for a long drive.

Doesn't look very graceful, but it is the method that I have tried too. Not sure if there is a better method, but climbing into my pickup truck this seems to be the easiest way to get things straightened out.

[Abax]

I am driving a Toyota 4Runner right now. (Well not at this exact moment!) I climb in and raise my hips, reach down and sweep the pleats. It seems to work fairly well, though I don't know how it would work out for a long drive.

All kilted guys in Alaska drive 4Runners (but I'm not driving mine right now either). The 4Runner is a lot harder to get into than my sports cars - I usually end up with a big hank of pleats hanging off the outside edge of the cloth-covered seat. On the plus side, the pleats don't wrinkle there though.

Abax

[threebanger]

I usually end up with a big hank of pleats hanging off the outside edge of the cloth-covered seat.

That's how mine usually end up, too, after I climb up into my truck.
Fortunately, I don't usually have to drive all that far to get where I'm going.

[SteveB]

Like Andrew, I tend to stand on the subway. I usually don't have much choice during the major commuting time. The rest of the time, I try to sit near one of the doorways. On the new low rider buses I try to avoid the back "deck", as the stairs up are narrow and the kilt tends to get caught on the pull rail. I have no problem with the Green Line trolleys, or the Purple line heavy rail trains. Also tried out the new Blue line cars - they are very kilt friendly -(wider seats) The Orange Line (the one that comes down my part of town) just plain ( equation with vacuum cleaner).
Steve in Hyde Park, Boston, Massachusetts.

For the motorcar- its in, raise, sweep, sit, buckle.
For the truck - its stand on fuel tank, move seat back, climb up to jamb, turn facing out, sweep and sit, slide, swivel and sweep again, close door, move seat forward, reach battery switch, start engine, raise up re-sweep, sit and drive.
I think I'll take the subway....
Steve