Comments on: Etiquette on public transport

By: Luis

Luis — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:31:06 +0000

Hello,

I am from Mexico and just came to Melbourne. In my country it is very common to cross sights with other people in public transport without any particular meaning or intention.
I have noticed that in Melbourne looking straight into the eyes is not common at all. Is it, somehow, considered rude?

By: David Kirba

David Kirba — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:56:28 +0000

Hehe. Enjoyed this. But you should really try public transport in India and Ethiopia. I remember once in a Mumbai train when my feet weren’t touching the ground.

Do you mind if I link to this post when I write about public transport in Addis Ababa?

Cheers,
David K

By: stephen

stephen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:26:42 +0000

I travel on public transport each morning and night. Thus I can totally relate with each issue you have mentioned. What bugs me the most is that, yes, school kids are no longer taught to stand for their elders.
Most recently I had to force my way through a throng of backpacks: Four girls with filled-backpacks blocked an aisle, their bags almost in the faces of sitting people. I wish there were signs on the interior of the bus that explained to these kids how to be courteous, respectful and quieter!

By: Joy

Joy — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:29:26 +0000

No Jen, I don’t have to contend with public transportation in any way really; but I know that etiquette ‘in general’ has definitely deteriorated. The only time I’ve recently taken public transportation was with my daughter Julie when we took the train into Chicago for the BlogHer Conference last July…and honestly, it was a very nice and uneventful trip, and I didn’t experience any problems of the kind that you mentioned. However, I am not in the least surprised by what you say about public transportation…people taking up several spaces, loud talking, not sitting next to the window, etc. I’m sorry to say, but I think there is just a more ‘thoughtless’ “me-first” attitude than there use to be…..not everyone of course, but in general.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:21:17 +0000

I’m always on public transport here in Melb.
Crowded, smelly, dirty, late/cancelled trains, peak hour commuter numbers have extended to almost throughout the whole day as the train system hasn’t kept up.
But forward planning can sometimes reap a good trip

By: helen

helen — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:59:33 +0000

Whenever I go to the city, I catch a bus. The experience is usually good. There are occasions when I’d rather not hear someone’s phone conversation and a some people don’t sit at the window. I’m fortunate that the bus is rarely full when I catch it – but when I’m in a full bus there is a tendency for standing people to populate the front. My pet peeve when catching buses is when people who get on the line for those who have a ticket and they need to buy one thus blocking the way.