Admittedly, it’s not a new problem I’m writing about here. But it’s one that hasn’t improved. On the contrary! I mean it’s even gotten worse.
Perhaps, like me, you are one of the 13 percent of commuters who regularly take the bus, tram, train, underground or suburban train to work and also use it to return home. It also has advantages: you don’t get stuck in traffic, you don’t get annoyed about high fuel prices and with the 49-euro ticket you don’t pay a fortune to the transport company anymore.
It could actually be that beautiful. But the behavior of many people who use the bus or train makes me seriously consider whether I shouldn’t buy a car after all.
Commuting by train and bus during rush hour is not picking strawberries anyway, you and I can certainly agree on that. Getting up close and personal with some of your fellow human beings in the vertical in the morning, feeling the other person’s breath on your neck and your elbows in your ribs – that’s how a day starts really well!
But there are people who obviously think: Come on, there’s more!
For example those who leave their bags on the next seat despite a full bus or train. On your lap or on the floor with it? Probably doesn’t make sense to many.
Then there are those who still have to squeeze into the train or bus when it already looks like the Tokyo subway. Even more cuddly? Yes of course!
Even better are those who then want to squeeze their large trolley case into the vehicle, which is full to the bursting point.
Or by bike! If I got one euro for everyone who got on a well-filled train with their (obviously intact) bicycle and only drove two or three stations with it – I could easily afford a car!
Sometimes I want to go up to these people and say to their faces: don’t you have eyes in your head? Can’t you think for a moment? Can’t you even be considerate?
When the train driver announces that the next subway is coming in a few minutes, you can simply wait for it instead of squeezing into the overcrowded train on the platform.
When people are already standing nose to nose, you can – no, you have to! – then take his handbag on his lap and free up a place.
You can also cycle the few hundred meters by bike – if it is roadworthy – instead of heaving it onto the subway and blocking the doors. After all, that’s what it’s for!
You don’t have to dive into the closing doors either, because you absolutely have to go with them.
And you don’t have to make video calls with your cell phone at full volume and be heard by everyone. Or listen to music.
The Ö in ÖPNV stands for public. I know we are all selfish and closest to ourselves. But we are not alone in this world – or on the train. Or the bus. Where many people are together, we have to be careful not to make life more difficult for others than it already is.
As I said: open your eyes, be considerate. Then commuting will be a little more comfortable for all of us.
And so that I’m not labeled as a choleric complainer, finally a constructive suggestion: how would it be if there were separate areas in the S-Bahn and U-Bahn where bicycles could be parked? Like in Copenhagen? At least one could think about it.
