Running off, trying to hide in the toilet when the ticket inspector appears
I thought it was a heads on a swivel.
To clear this one up, all of these definitions would probably be considered correct. The general definition of a meekater is anyone on high alert who keeps track of the locations of ticket checking and revenue staff on a train, in an attempt to avoid them through various means and successfully reach their destination for free. Some cannot afford to pay, whilst others choose not to pay for their journey. In both cases, a short ticket is sometimes purchased to be used to get through the barriers if needed and/or cover part of their journey should an immediate ticket check place on leaving their origin. Meerkating can occur on any train for a journey of any length.
By meerkating I was referring to those fare evaders who practise the above who, on the face of it, behave normally like any other passenger to avoid drawing attention to themselves. It takes a watchful eye to spot one. Although strictly invisible, you may notice they will occasionally pop their head up to keep an eye on the conductors whereabouts. Any sign of them and a meekater will typically:
- Intentionally board the busiest and most short formed trains
- Sit near and wait by the barriers to seize an opportunity to walk through before they are closed
- Travel at times the barriers at their origin or destination station are likely to be open
- Hide under seats on quiet and empty trains outside the peak when a staff member is coming
- Look up and down the train before boarding to see which carriages contain staff
- Pretend to be asleep
- Stare into space and stay completely still to avoid attention
- Wear one headphone to hear when the coast is clear
- Hide under a table or in the toilet, sometimes with a friend too
- Get off the train at the next station and walk back onto to the carriage behind which has just been checked
- Walk down to and sit in the last carriage, if the above will not be possible before a member of staff appears
- Hide in the luggage rack if not full, usually behind a suitcase then get out after the carriage has been checked
- Swivel their head whilst arriving into their destination station to see if either side has barriers open to leave through
- Stay on to and get off at the next, usually small and unattended station upon noticing the above is not possible
- Jump over fences or under gates during revenue blockades at places they are unlikely to be seen