I don’t know what it is but I feel like there is something especially enjoyable about reading on a train or bus. Like I would be fine with making my commute longer because it dosen’t feel like wasted time since I am reading. Also its just nice to be stuck somewhere for a bit with nothing to do but wait and be forced to read.
Riding on the train or bus is boring. Book helps. Plus all those people coming in and out, potholes, etc make real thinking difficult. Reading something non-technical doesn’t require much concentration but still distracts from boredom.
Books aren’t “special”, they just provide optimal distraction/awareness proportion for transport.