Commuting in Australia is fast, efficient, and peaceful. But sometimes it will be disrupted by blokes who will suddenly stop dead along the way (for reasons only known to them and God), blocking the traffic of people; or the ones that will read your text messages over your shoulders, seemingly (and creepily) interested on your dating life.
Here are your quick do's and don'ts of commuting etiquette, so you can make taking the bus and trains more convenient for you and other people.
Nothing is more exasperating than a person who stops in the middle of the line to dig through his/her bag for the train pass, money, or ticket. Don’t be that person. Place your commuting essentials in a more accessible pocket so you can get retrieve them quickly. That five second delay you made could make the person behind you miss the train.
Engaging random strangers in a friendly chat is a norm in Australia. Be sure you follow that when you commute here. Sure, those Facebook feeds won't be be read themselves, but they can wait. Do not shut off people when they try to talk to you. Answer an inquiry or two before going back to the digital world, or whatever it is that you’re doing.
Conversely enough, just because you are bored doesn’t mean you can engage random people in a ten-question interview. Ask no more than two questions and if they give you a quick one-word answer, that’s a sign you need to stop there. They’re probably busy or doesn’t want to be bothered, and that’s perfectly normal. Also, quit reading the book or text messages over their shoulders. That’s kind of creepy.
Conversations, whether with your mates, strangers, or someone over the phone are welcomed, as long as you keep the volume low. Nobody else in the bus or train wants to know that you finally dated the cute guy/girl from the office. Keep it toned down. Some of the people there are trying to read, get a quick nap, or just enjoy a silent commute. Be considerable.
We understand some women are asking for equality now and giving them a seat could mean a raised eye-brow from them. But chivalry should not be dead when it comes to pregnant ladies, elderly people, small children, and disable folks. DO give them your seat. You will be/have been sitting on your office desk for eight hours. Give your thighs some workout by standing for these people.
Trains and buses are sealed and tightly packed, making them the best place for a virus to spread. Be a responsible citizen and stop this from happening. If you commute with a case of sniffles, bring a handkerchief or tissues with you to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze. This way you can avoid both spreading your cold and receiving eye daggers.
The commute to and from work is challenging enough, don’t try to make this more discomforting for fellow commuters by failing to shower and/or wear deodorant. Be aware of your body odor. Be sure you always smell good. But not too good. Showering yourself on your perfume is not welcoming either. If the person ten spaces away knows you’re wearing Bulgari, time to hold back on your cologne.
Science and spirituality still have yet to discover why some people have the propensity to clog bus and train doorways. It does not offer any benefits whatsoever, only pain and possible altercations. It slows down the movement of people in/out of the train, and it puts the blockers on danger of getting injured by the wave of people rushing in/out. Get to the back of the train or bus once entered where it is less congested. Do the same thing when you are stepping into the train or bus. Let the passengers exit first. Hoping in immediately will just make the inside more crowded, slowing everything in the process.
Conversely…
Do not shove people aside when getting in or off the train or bus. We understand you are in hurry, but pushing people is just rude and may cause injury and/or altercations, which will incur longer delays in the process. If you really want to make it in time, try to leave the house 15 minutes earlier than the usual. It’s more helpful.
We’ve all been there. Putting ourselves in the most awkward and uncomfortable standing positions just because the guy behind us boarded the train with a backpack big enough to fit two people inside. When you carry oversized luggage like these, be mindful of the space you cover. Place your bags between your legs, NOT beside them, so people won’t trip on them. Also, be careful when moving around. These things can seriously hurt if they hit anybody.
You don’t want to sit on a cream-filled leftover donut or hold on to a railing greased with mayonnaise or catchups. So be sure to pick up after yourself when you board the train or bus. Trash bins are placed inside stations so there’s no reason for you to leave cups and wrappers around. Also, do not vandalize on them. When trains and buses are defaced, they get decommissioned for repairs. And you have now lesser vehicles circulating to take you to work on time.