Common Commuter Etiquette

Below are some funny situations that commuters often find themselves in. It'll definitely make everyone's lives easier if people practiced some common commuter etiquette...that are unfortunately all too uncommon!

1. Jeepney Patintero

Source: automobile19.blogspot.com

Scenario: You see a passenger getting on (or off) the jeep, but there's this carpet of feet and he/she is doing a form of patintero to avoid stepping on someone's toes or tripping over someone.

Solution: I'm sure you've experienced this and you know it's even more difficult when you're carrying a bag. So when you see a passenger exiting or entering the jeep, tuck your feet under the seat to give the passenger space to pass. Even with jeeps that don't have space underneath the seats, you can still adjust your feet to make things easier for entering/exiting passenger.

2. Bungi sa upuan

Source: ilovetansyong.com

Scenario: You get on the jeep and you know there's still space for one more if someone just moved a few inches or that guy didn't splay his legs so wide.

Solution: Some people just refuse to budge even if they only need to move a few inches to help make more space. Please, just move those few inches and make space.

3. The Romeo & Juliet

Source: roammanila.blogspot.com

Scenario: You get on the bus with your girlfriend/boyfriend. There's space but you can't sit side by side because all the double seats are occupied by one person sitting by themselves so you need to get separate seats.

Solution: If you see a couple and you're in a double seat by yourself, just move to another unoccupied seat so that the two can sit together. I'm sure you'd want the same consideration to be shown to you, so be the one to do it first.

4. The acrophobic (acrophobia: fear of heights)

Source: thepoc.net

Scenario: Someone jaywalks on the road. There's a pedestrian overpass beside that person. Common in....Commonwealth Ave.

Solution: Follow the rules! More often than not you need the exercise anyway, so use those little things called pedestrian crossings and pedestrian overpasses. You paid for those things with your taxes anyway, so might as well use them.

5. The Ghost Rider (not the superhero)

Source: getrealphilippines.com

Scenario: The bus or jeep you're riding screeches to a sudden halt. Turns out there's a passenger that flagged the vehicle down at the corner because that guy wanted to avoid the line at the designated loading/unloading area. I often see this at the foot of the Magallanes flyover (just outside San Lorenzo Village) where they flag down Alabang-bound buses.

Solution: As mentioned earlier, just follow the rules. That's why there are terminals and loading/unloading zones, so you avoid accidents and don't cause unnecessary traffic.

6. The Tidal Wave

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Scenario: You're riding the MRT/LRT and it's jampacked. You try to get off at your destination but you're pushed back further into the train by the wave of people rushing to get in.

Solution: Please, allow passengers to get off before trying to get in the train. I know we're all in a rush, but if the poor guy trying to get out gets carried off to the next station, that's more difficult for him than just you allowing him to get off and simply waiting for the next train to arrive if you can't board in time.

7. The Air Pocket

Source: danielbowen.com

Scenario: You're trying to get in through the train doors but it's packed with people. You look at the middle of the train and there's a lot of space.

Solution: More often than not, passengers stay by the doors because they're trying to avoid the Tidal Wave (see above). Just move inward and only try to inch towards the doors when you're already near your destination.

8. The Bulldozer

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Scenario: You're waiting in line to get into the train/jeep/bus when someone just sneaks in front of you to board first. Naman, o.

Solution: Simple, really. Just follow common courtesy!

9. Playing Snake on the Escalator

Source: attracttour.com

Scenario: No, this is not the venerable Nokia game. You need to move up quickly on the escalator but people are scattered about here and there so you need to zigzag through the mass of people or wait in frustration for the slow escalator to move up (or down).

Solution: In other countries, the common practice is that if you just want to stand still on the escalator, you stay on the RIGHT. The LEFT lane should be clear so that people who want to rush up have a clear line to move. They're starting to implement it here, but a lot of people are still clueless about it.

10. Naglalakad sa Luneta

Source: 8list.ph

Scenario: You're walking fast to the next bus stop but your way is blocked by someone walking very slowly or is standing still talking on the phone, as if he/she were casually walking by in Luneta Park.

Solution: Please, if you're in a busy walkway, door or escalator and you need to talk to someone or do something else, please move out of the way so that you don't block other people who are trying to move fast.