We Talk Friday
(WTF)
This is a semi-regular series that I will run on Fridays to hold discussions on a current topic from the week gone. The aim is to keep them light and conversational, though some might be heavier - regardless of the content topic itself though, just have some fun engaging and discussing with whoever happens to put in the effort in the comments section below.
We Talk Friday Ep. 34: Scent of a Tram
I was on the tram into the city today, and something stood out to me. It was a smell. And for a change, it was pleasant. A girl sitting across from me smelled good, which seems to be a pretty rare occurrence on public transport these days.
Finnish public transport is heaps better than what I was accustomed to in Australia, as it runs on time (for the most part), is clean (for the most part), and is used by all kind of people (for the most part). However, it is changing a bit over the last decade or so, because there has been an uptake in people driving, which means in a country where cars are expensive to buy, maintain, and insure - those on public transport tend to be the poorer now.
Same everywhere I guess (for the most part).
When I have travelled, I have generally taken public transport around the cities, because it is not only cheaper, but it is also a better way to get a feel for a location. All in all, it has been a pretty good experience, and I have had some unexpected good and funny conversations with strangers. It is a far better way to get a feel for a city than travelling by taxi to location to location, even though it can sometimes be quite daunting to try and workout how the system functions, what goes where, and where to get off - in foreign languages. But once practiced in a location or two, they are nearly all the same (for the most part).
In some countries though, according to the movies and the news, public transport seems to be pretty dangerous, filled with the dregs of society - drug addicts and people off their meds, muggers and pickpockets, and murderers - if in New York city. Public transport is something to fear.
Is that the case in your country?
I reckon it would be interesting to hear from people around the world about the state of the public transport in regard to timing, cleanliness, safety, overall experiences and maybe some example stories, to make some comparisons.
Tell me about it.
Taraz
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In my country of residence - Netherlands - public transport is top notch. Plenty of people use it, from the poor to the rich. Pensioned people do get free transport in the larger cities, as kids do, up to a certain age. Most trains, trams and buses run on time, are clean, and modern. In busy hour they may get a bit overcrowded, but many of us can choose to travel outside busy hours. Recently, we added payment methods to any public transport. Just use a bank card or a credit card to check in and out. In this way, no special cards are needed, no special machines are required. Everybody in the whole wide world can now easily take public transport, including all the tourist and other visitors. This is a major upgrade I believe, and love it. Next up is a system that simply recognises when we enter or exit a bus, tram, train or whatever. Not sure how such system will work, but already waiting for such next level upgrade. Owwww, our public transport is darn safe, as much of the country is quite safe. Not many areas and districts we shall avoid going at night, not even for women.
Here, the buses usually use apps for locals, but proximity pay for everyone else. No cash or tickets anymore.
I like the public transport in Netherlands and have used it several times over the years. I also like how in central Europe you can go from country to country by train, skipping all the nonsense of airports. We went from Amsterdam to Brussels, then from there to Paris a long time ago :)
Funny you should say. On that same trip, we were robbed (suitcase stolen from the hotel security room) in Amsterdam. Spent an extra night there, at the police station. :D
Public transportation is typically just in the real big cities here in the U.S. and is a pot luck of what you will experience. What I can tell you is that you better be on your toes because there are some whack-a-doodles that use it. As far as the smell you refer to, I can sympathize with that as well. I rode a bus once for a long period of time across country and I swear someone on that bus didn't know what a shower or deodarant was.
There are occasionally some whackos here too, buy I feel the US is another level.
The tram system in this city is only a few years old, so it doesn't have the stench. The trains are really comfortable though. Nothing like I have been on in sone places.
Do you ever wonder how sone seemingly normal people, don't shower enough?
I would imagine most people who dont shower enough, who aren't homeless, have some mental helath challenges of some sort. Depression I am sure plays a major role in it most likely. Then there are the real few who were never taught to properly care for themselves because their parents were twats. Then there are those that are just nasty and dont care.
I would agree. There seems to be quite a few of them here. I think it isn't necessarily health challenges for some, but rather some lack of social awareness too. Depression definitely here.
I completely agree with this, if you are at a new place , there is nothing better than public transport. In Delhi public transport is good. Earlier it was Busses but with Metro train it get much better. But they remain too crowded during rush hours. Otherwise it is perfect mode of transport. You cant get away with pickpockets from a crowded sceme...in smaller town or village, I find the public transport like buses or small jeeps very friendly and supportive. There are no "pickpockters' and if you ask drivers to drop you at a specific point, they make sure to do. They wre good, trustworthy and friendly human being.
I have seen images of people riding on every part of the train in India. Does that still happen?
In local trains from one city to other neighbouring city it is happens sometimes, during student exams or interview..also during festival season ..due to lack of seats long distance train may get crowded....but otherwise it has improved a lot and doing fairly...the metro trains within the city is good mode if you can avoid rush hours....I.e 8-10 morning time and 5-8 evening
In some way, that spoils my view! :)
It is good that it is improving.
My wife and I were on a plane one time with her sister and brother in law on the way to Vegas. Her and her sister were next to each other and I swear the lady in their row pulled out a full blown chicken dinner from her bag. Bones and all. Needless to say everyone could smell it.
Damn! That is crazy. It sounds like something you would see in a movie on a flight where people also took goats :)
Right, like something out of Airplane! or one of those shows!
The stories of NYC trains being dangerous are propaganda, perpetuated mostly by Murdoch's Fox News, etc. It sucks that we have to now think about the biases and motivations behind the news that we see... we all desperately need more digital media literacy education... so that people will realize that the New York Subway is statistically safer than driving, and obviously can be much faster and produces way less pollution and emissions.
I've been loving public transport in Australia, they opened a few new train stations in Melbourne which I think will make it all even better, which is really exciting. I've mentioned it before, but I genuinely think I won't need a car for a few years.
A few of my friends have been on some sketchy trains in NYC. But they are also white Finns, so in comparison to Finnish public transport - it would definitely seem sketchy.
I think this will get more common here again in coming years, as people will look to short-term rent instead of own for the longer trips. The costs are pretty insane here to own a car in comparison to most places. If we both worked in the city, we could likely do without a car for 90% of the time.
NYC transit is super safe. Used it many times with no issues. Seattle is the same, the worst thing that usually happens is a bum gets on and smells bad 😀
But in the movies, everyone gets killed in the subway!!
Our public transportation is clean and quiet. A drunk man might ride in the evening, but he'll be quiet (there are several video cameras on the trams). The last time I heard of a theft on the metro was 25 years ago, when a friend of mine had his wallet stolen.
I recently watched on YouTube how thieves in London were snatching smartphones from people's hands. It's strange that the police can't restore order.
I think English speaking countries are the unsafest now :)
England has brought so much to different countries, including its language, that it is difficult to figure out which English-speaking countries are safe and which are unsafe for tourists.
Public transport really reflects society as a whole. It is chaotic at times, but also can be really eye opening. I have seen both the bad moments and those nice surprises that make it all worth it.
What is it like around your area?
It is true that traveling in the public transport is quite enjoyable because you can meet different types of people and talk to them, which gives you a lot of extra pleasure. However, it is also true that traveling in the public transport is much riskier here compared to yours because many things can happen here, starting from pickpockets.
Is it relatively safe where you are?
It's easy to be mugged in public transport in my place or for a total stranger sitting next to you to pick a quarrel with you for the most flimsy reasons. And sometimes you have to contend the unpleasant odours of unwashed bodies. Still, encountering these depends on which vehicles you enter. But most of the times you're alright if you get a window side seat.
It was interesting in Barcelona, where pickpockets wouldn't target me, because I looked local enough. They go after the tourists. :)
From my experience public transport here is great. I just wish that there would be more busses because 1. sometimes it can be quite crowded. and 2. at night the bus that I need is rare so if I would go to watch euroleague game I would return home only around 23.00.
is 2300 too late? ;D
for me that is quite late.
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