Bus Woes

Taking public transport has it’s ups and downs. Recently been taking a lot of buses during the peak hours between 8 to 9 and I have to say that certain things just irks me.

1) As the super packed bus reaches a stop near an mrt station, this means that a lot of people will be getting down. And with kiasuism at work, some people start squeezing their way towards the exit when the bus is at the stop before the mrt station stop. Sometimes it really bothers me a lot especially when the bus is moving and you have to make way to let these people pass. I’m sure these people are the regular commuters and they know that at that stop almost everyone in the bus will be getting down so if I were them, I see no point in being the 1st to get off the bus. I don’t mind it if the person is the only one getting down in the crowded bus, hence you have to make your way near the exit so that you don’t get trapped inside. But seriously, when 80% of the commuters are getting down, just wait for your turn! It’s definitely not going to shave off a lot of time being the 1st commuter to get down and the last to get down.

2) During the peak hours, the bus is packed like a can of sardines but sometimes when some of the ‘full’ buses drive by the bus stop I can see clearly that at the back of the bus, there is at least standing room for another 3-4 persons! This really pisses me off, especially when 7 almost 100% full buses can stop and try to allow commuters to squeeze their way into the bus and this definitely not full bus can just non-chalantly drive past. Totally makes my mood of the day when I’m the only one that cannot squeeze into the previous 7 buses and having see the ’spacious’ bus drive by.

3) In the sardine can buses, from time to time, there will be 1 or 2 empty seats and I really don’t know why people don’t want to sit down to make space for more people to squeeze up the bus. It’s rush hour and I’m sure everyone wants to go to work on time so help others by helping yourself to a seat. If it happens to be you who ends up a ‘rejected’ commuter stranded at the bus stop, how would you feel if you knew that there is 1 empty seat in the bus? Remember: Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you.

Other comments with no regards to the rush hour
4) Can people just take out their EZ-link card before they board the bus? If you think that it’s only a few minutes for the driver to wait for you to search for your card, think again. You are making the whole bus wait for you. So just take out your card when you are at the bus stop, if not how you intend to take the bus?

5) Besides taking the rush hour bus, I also take the 10,11am bus to school for lunch before my lesson starts at 2pm. I find it really funny that TV Mobile likes to show food search programs during that time slot. It makes me so so hungry just looking at all the good food flashing on the screen. And it really whets up a heavy appetite by the time I reach school.