Sunday, July 13, 2008

Typical Singaporean Annoyance

This is one of the issues that have been bugging me for a long time, our world-class public transport system.

Mr Brown's latest post prompted me to make this post as well, because I share the same experience everyday, which also makes me want to swear.

On a good day, it takes me 50 minutes to get from home to office, from the time I leave the house, to when I get to the office. Sometimes, it can take up to 1 hour. The journey is a typical walk->bus->train->bus->walk routine. In particular, getting from home to the MRT station is a 'short' 3 bus stop affair. But let me break this journey into the timings of the respective segments.

The train journey takes a very reliable 20 minutes. The following wait for the bus, and the bus journey (2 stops) itself, takes on average 5 minutes, and the walk to office takes another 5 minutes.

Doing the math, this implies that the bus journey (plus waiting time) takes from 20 to 30 minutes JUST for 3 bus stops! It is easily as long as the entire train segment!

The problem is, as you would have guessed, that the bus just takes soooo loooooong to arrive. During peak hours, there is still a 15 minute interval between arrivals.

Compounding the problem is the overwhelming graciousness of Singaporean commuters. At this point, I cannot be sure whether the offenders are Singaporeans or foreigners, but this definitely is a national phenomenon - people simply refuse to move to the rear of the bus.

Countless times, the front of the bus is tuna-packed. It is amazing that 3 to 4 people can squeeze into 1 meter length of the bus aisle at the front of the bus, and 6 people can cram onto the area in front of the driver, including the steps. The back of the bus, however, from the exit to the rear, has a grand total of 5 standing persons.

Some (able-bodied) people simply like to board the bus, and stop RIGHT at the exit even when there is tons of space at the rear. Alright, you are in a hurry, you want to get off the bus FIRST, fine. But more often than not, these people take up almost the entire width of the aisle, meaning that people boarding the bus after them are not even able to squeeze past to get to the rear of the bus. Yes, you can say 'excuse me' to get past them, but come on, who is in the wrong? So not only are these people being selfish by standing at the exit, they are also being inconsiderate by not allowing more gracious people to pass.

If it was an old person who has problems walking, or if he or she had a trolley, luggage in tow, then it makes more sense to stay at the exit. But sometimes, the offender can be a well-made up, nicely dressed lady with nice hair and a pretty face, or a smartly dressed executive. You'd wonder what's the point.

Everybody wants to get to work, or school on time. I do not blame the people who keep wanting to squeeze onto the bus even though there is obviously no more room. How can I, when the next bus will come in another 15 minutes, which would also likely be jam-packed (well, at least at the entrance anyway)? Why should I, when the back of the bus is so spacious, with the passengers there oblivious to the plight of their fellow passengers.

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