marie&roxie: Make It Right For A Better Ride

Do these scenarios sound familiar?

Getting pushed, elbowed and shoved by the crowd around you whenever you are trying to board the train.

Having to miss your stop because the endless stream of people came flooding in before you could alight.

How about waiting half an hour for a bus that appears to be full, only to discover that the back half of it was empty after the bus starts driving off?

These are examples of what public commuters face every day, and are actually situations that can be easily avoided if people are more gracious and considerate towards each other. Simple acts like boarding the train in an orderly fashion could prevent accidents and a few bruises. Allowing others to alight before you board is a form of basic courtesy that every commuter should practice, as it would be a chaotic situation if people were to all try to board and alight at the same time.

Giving up your seat to someone who needs it more is commonly practiced, and the person who needs it is often grateful for the gesture. However, there are still commuters who feel that they are entitled to this privilege and do not seem appreciative when someone offers them a seat. We have to remember that graciousness works both way and a simple "Thank you" from the receiver will definitely bring a smile to the giver. It will also encourage people to continue to be gracious as their kind acts are being acknowledged.

My personal pet peeve while taking the train is people leaning against the poles instead of holding onto it, which is what its purpose is. The train ride can be rather jerky at times, and I am not exactly the person with the best sense of balance. The first thing I do when I board the train is to grab the pole so there will be no chance of me taking a fall during the journey. So it really annoys me when people lean against the pole because then I would have to look for something else to hold onto which is not easy when you can hardly move around in a sardine-packed train! So here is one more tip on how to be a gracious commuter, do not be a pole-hogger!

A good example of a country full of gracious commuters would be Japan. While I was there, I was amazed at how they queued up to take the train, gave way to those alighting, and boarded orderly in straight lines. There was no pushing, shoving or queue-cutting involved! The Japanese were very considerate and respectful towards each other, and that left a very deep and heartwarming impression. Being gracious is part of their culture, and I hope that it will one day be part of Singapore’s as well.