People reading books...

Yes, it's usual that people read books and/or magazines here. I've always seen Italian people reading Italian things and foreign people reading things in their own languages, but consider that I've not taken public transports anymore since I graduated, so the habits could have changed now

It's about the same where I live. It's usual to see people reading in public transports. But not that frequent though.

I'm one of those people who reads in foreign language generally... helps to keep the language active. Although, since I don't have the usual turkish look, people usually take me for a tourist.

When using public transport, I always read something, though usually it's not a beletry, rather things from work. And what is worse, recently I often open my laptop instead of reading papers

Well, it's a sort of old practice here in Saint-Petersburg. People don't have enought time to read but in metro. But as days flow I witness more and more of them using Pocket PCs for reading books. English's getting more wide-spoken , no surprise that more people around tend to read in English. I myself prefer reading in English when going by metro.

Finns have always been avid readers and we often read a book, a newspaper or a magazine on the underground, bus or train.
CB