As I ride commuter trains almost daily, I always prefer to share a three-seater or two-seater with a woman as opposed to another man.
I've never had any negative experiences. I don't "mansprawl" or lay my baggage at the women's feet like described in the article. I just prefer the way that they smell, the way they contain themselves in their seat and their general politeness.
I don't abuse that. I stay in my space and mind my own business.
Sitting next to other guys on a train or airplane is usually not aa good of an experience. So I get why women feel this way in general.
Most men can be jerks. Loudly yapping on their cellphones, sprawling their feet, having bad smells. I get it.
That's why I hate sitting next to other men.
Assuming she's not lying...
I can't speak for all guys, but starting from my early days of commuting to NYC along the NE Corridor to today, I retain my early preference for my "commute neighbor."
Absolutely nobody.
When I commute, I will walk great distances to either get a window seat (which almost guarantees nobody sitting next to me, especially nowadays).
I either work or read the news or pray or doze. I'm almost always listening to music, almost always at a loud volume (on the subways...fuggetaboudit, it's at 11).
I don't want anyone next to me, man, woman or vegetable. Usually, the public abides (the music is a great deterrent, and I'm no GQ model).
When some person DOES sit next to me, I assiduously ignore them. Often, they're yacking on the phone (in which case I will crank Zappa or The Who or Hendrix to 11) or wearing a mask and petrified (and I may lower my volume because they need all the help they can get).
As a side note, if the person next to me is a nosy Karen or Brandon, I'll pull up FR and read the most over the top Red Meat article possible.