Ten Tips for Public Transport

Hey!

After a short one-and-a-bit hour train trip yesterday, I'm pleased to say that I survived yet another public transport expedition. And yes - even though it's convenient and good for the the environment, there's no denying the interesting, awkward and quite often hilarious things that happen on public transport. To help you through, or just help you laugh at your own horror stories, here are my ten tips for taking trains, buses, monorails... you name it.

1. Just because someone has a newspaper, bag, hat, phone, or (as I saw yesterday) small ugly animal, on the seat next to them, doesn't mean that the seat is taken. If the train or bus is busy, and you need a seat, don't hesitate to ask them to move their things. I saw this happen yesterday. A girl with a bun the size of jupiter (I'm not kidding, it looked like it's own planet!) had her things strewn across the seat beside her and a lady said, 'excuse me, is this seat available?' She rudely said, 'no' and the lady stood there for a moment before picking up the newspaper and taking a seat. I felt like doing a victory dance for her until the girl snatched her paper back and stormed off the train. Whoops...

2. Just because the council or local government says that they're putting in wheelchair access (a.k.a 'lifts'), doesn't mean they are. Never, ever rely on them to have the lifts operating, or have the lifts at all. Here's a short something I wrote on the train to remember for my journalism class after having watched a situation like this play out. It may not be funny or enjoyable to read, but it's true:

Today, as I was stepping on a train at the station, I watched a man in a wheelchair push himself out of the train, his young daughter on his lap. He moved towards an officer to ask for help up the long stairs. There's no lift, and no ramp there. I was moved by his determination as I watched him push himself out of the chair and drag himself up, stair by stair. The officer had to hold the wheelchair and watch the little girl. Not only did this compromise his independence as a member of society, but also compromised his independence as a father. Nobody should have to endure such an easily fixed occurrence in an age of technology where it would be relatively easy and inexpensive to add some form of access... 


Long story short guys? Not cool.

3. Buy a ticket. This might sound like the most basic advice ever - yet some people still don't catch on! Hear this... as a student, a ticket will cost you a couple of dollars. If you're not a student it will cost you a couple more. If you're a senior, it will cost you even less than a student. A fine will cost you over $200. Police get on and off at every second stop or so. You do the maths!

4. If you're catching the train with a group of friends, remember that other people exist on public transport. It is after all public. And so too is the information you've just shared with the whole world because you're laughing and talking so loudly that everyone around you can hear what you're saying. Now this can be annoying... but personally, I kind of like overhearing. Some of my favourite twelvie one-liners would have to include:
'You're so last week to him. Boys are like ice-cream. They melt away and stick to your feet when you step on them.' Wise words.
'I think green hair is hot. I'm getting green hair tomorrow. How do I get green hair?'
'Why did you buy that? It wouldn't even look good on me...'

5. Fights on public transport happen - laugh it off and be careful. I recently witnessed a relatively harmless one between 2 women who were fighting because lady #1 was putting on nail polish. It then escalated to lady #2 blaming lady #1 for international poverty because she bought fake nails and nail polish instead of supporting charity organisations. Police did eventually have to get involved... luckily it was pretty harmless. If a physical fight breaks out, move carriages for safety's sake - but if the police are there, people watching can be pretty interesting! Lady #2 ended up leaving, and the guy sitting across from lady #1 ended up asking her out. What a weird situation...?

6. Public transport is going to be unhygienic. Brace yourselves. Yes, you will likely be pushed against people you don't even know during peak hour on connecting trains and buses. Yes, they might smell disgusting. Yes, white clothes will likely be ruined in less than an hour. They're still people, and they're still in the same situation as you. Don't look at the floor, don't look at the ceiling. Don't try and think about who sat in your chair before you (although now you probably will). It's really not a big deal. Buy some hand sanitiser and you're good to go.

7. Always anticipate a different weather climate to the outside world. For some bizarre and unknown reason, people who run trains and buses like to make the temperate in their transport the polar opposite of what you dressed for. So if it's sunny outside, grab your coat.

8. I've said or implied it a bit - but watch people! You have no idea how interesting they are until you actually do. Trust me. It's not creepy... just be subtle. It passes the time.

9. If you're travelling, and you're using public transport, don't watch the pretty view out the window through the viewfinder in your camera. If that's the only thing you're seeing, you might as well have just looked at someone else's travel photos. Enjoy yourself! Take a couple of pictures and just watch.

10. It might be an obvious one to close with - but always leave on time. If you can't leave on time then don't wear heels, or you won't be able to run for the train in classic 'movie style'. Besides, the women who run in heels in movies are doubled and edited to look good. I promise, it won't be graceful or glamorous.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and tricks for transport. As always, feel free to comment, question and email-subscribe.

Written for you by TenTipsToday :)