Comments on: Driving expensively away

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:15:09 +0000

Hi Joanne,
For the longest time that I can remember (and men has this uncanny ability to remember about their cars), I have always used a car – big, small, fast, slow – until just over 2 years ago when I decided to use the public transportation system. I was surprised by the efficiency of the public transportation system. There is always a tendency to criticize it and talk incessantly about how to improve it, including from those who do not use it!

I think the complaints I have are not about the system but the attitude of the people using it such as don’t move inside, not giving up seat for the more needy…It is all part of a society lacking in social graces. Sadly as I was talking to a younger ex-colleague a few weeks ago, I said that we tend to compare with those have but not those who have not! That’s one of the reasons for a lacking in compassion in Singapore. Giving money is easy but an act of charity is so difficult.

The real issue is how to educate users of public transport. And a thought just struck me as I started to write. Perhaps the public transport operators should fight fire with fire. Start a program and employ a team of people who exemplifies all kinds of bad behaviour. This team goes out to use the public transport pretending to be a user and show the bad behaviour. Then at some point maybe 15 mins later exhort to those around why they should not bahave like that.

Alas, my short time with public transport has come to an end and with it my daily exercise of walking to the bus stop and sharing my carbon emission with other commuters. Sigh. Working in the boondocks necessitate owning and using a car. Well, at least I have had 2 good years with public transport!

By: joanne-leow

joanne-leow — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:13:18 +0000

Thanks for sharing your experiences on public transport! It’s nice to know that there is still hope – I will continue to keep my fingers crossed…

By: Otterman

Otterman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:29:40 +0000

Sorry for your bad (and apparently not uncommon) experiences on the MRT.

I wanted to get out at Outram MRT the other day during peak hour (not my usual route). I got on at Dover MRT and was sandwiched against the doors at the opposite end. I felt it was going to be impossible to get out. My gentle “excuse me” provoked a Red Sea parting! Simply amazing! I got out under a second; there is hope!

Glad you had so much youthful idealism. Now give yourself a break and with the time and punishment you’ve saved yourself, I am sure you will direct to imbuing your kids with some environmental ethics. That is simply going to amplify your impact! All the best.

By: Ice

Ice — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:56:08 +0000

I agreed with you on the countesy issue on public transport. Although there are people still willing to give up seats to those need it most, but, there are still lots of “black sheeps” around.

In S’pore, people still do not give way to those trying to alight from the train. Sometimes, I do find other country people far more countesy than S’porean in certain ways. For one, I dont go overseas often, but, recently trip to Hongkong I find the people there give ways for people alighting the train unlike in the past, it seems like Hongkongers are improving their countesy.

However, in Spore, I often met people standing right in front of the gate door and do not give way for people alighting the train. They can stand still in the middle and trying to get in whereas those alighting cannot get out at all.

By: Ronald

Ronald — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:19:10 +0000

You should always signal at every lane change and turn, and check and recheck my blindspots is a good habit. Please don’t forget these once you remove your probation plate!