On or In?

[wikiwiki]

I'm off to pick up a new(ish) bike tomorrow, to the despair of my wife and am getting the train there, This raised a question in my little brain,

The question i have that has bugged me for a while is.........
You can be ON a train
or
ON a bus
but when you are IN a car you are IN a car,
You are never IN a bus or train and never ON a car.

Understandably, you can be ON a bike.

I know it seems trivial but does anyone know why this is?

Before anyone says "it's because you are a passenger" what about being IN a cab.

Sad i know,
Any comments are welcome including, "you must be bored" and "STFU"
Also, constructive and less predictable answers may help too

[J0Al1]

How very true - highlight the bizzarness of our language.

Even as a passanger in a car your IN a car.

[Annabella]

Because trains and buses used to be open or flat-bed style?
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[-Savage-]

well when you on a bus or train, you would normally say...
im on the 730 from london, or im on the glasgow bus now
might be because its a bus service your on that route, and it just evolved from that?
____________________
My Bikes - - - Royal Enfield 500 with sidecar, VFR800, CBR600FX,
Peugeot Speedfight 100, Kymco Hipster 125, GSXR750K5, Jawa TS 350

[Mr.Everready]

[Annabella]

[Ste]

[_Will_]

Coincidentally can't you be both on and in a plane?
Oddnesseseseseses
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Annabella]

All he needs is a cape...
____________________
Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[SoulRider]

Because you can stand up on a bus, train or bike, whereas in a car your sitting down, and have to stay that way untill you get out.

Dont quote me on it though, just my idea.
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My Bike Pics

[wikiwiki]

[Bishbash]

[tokarev]

I would say that it is probably because with a bus/coach/train/plane you have to board the vehicle. You walk onto it (up any little stair wells) and then walk to your seat, whereas with a car you just immediately sit down. As for a bike...well you are not "contained" within it, you are actually sitting on top of it.

[lozzypop1]

Ok what about:

ON the blob/ON your period/ just plain old ON
or
IN season


____________________
Funny, I used to hate being spanked as a child!
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.

[Drew]

because you can walk onto a train plane etc while standing up, but you cant walk standing up into a car, so anything you can walk standing up is on, and anything other, is in

walk on
train
plane
bus
coach
tram

get in
car
van
lorry

etc

someone is bound to name something you walk onto but is in

[veeeffarr]

https://www.dropline.net/cats/images/puzzled-kitty.jpg

[Visitor Q]

[Pte1643]

Along the same lines as...

You step ONTO a Ship, but INTO a Boat.

[McGee]