Queue Second part

Every day whenever I have to wait for busway to reach my destination, I always get agitated. Why? Most of the time, there are too many passengers inside the busway so I was unable to enter inside.

From far away, I could see that there are a bit of empty space near the driver. 1 -2 passengers should be able to stand there near the driver. So, the middle area would be emptier and other passengers will be able to enter. However, most passengers inside the busway prefer to stand in the middle area and therefore other people will not be able to enter.

While I was cramped inside the bus I thought why in the heck these passengers don’t want to enter to the other part of busway which actually a bit emptier.  And since I have all the time in the world I finally try to analyze the situation.

Get in Line!

Queuing is something that I always find something to talk about. Want to know why? Because there are still people who try to avoid of getting in line.

So, that afternoon there was this long queuing at the busway stop. A bit odd considering that was not rush hour and yet not uncommon. So, the official in charge start to arrange the queuing. In order to avoid too many people inside the busway stop, the incoming passenger were asked to line up on the corridor.

Behind me there were two high school girls. One of them was not patient enough to stand in line. She then just walk with an air of confident to the temporary forbidden area. She then called out her hesitantly friend to join her. At first her friend were reluctant but then she gave in and join her friend. It turn out, the official in charge has already watched them. He then told those two girls to step out from the area and back to the corridor. Her friends grumbling, told her friend if only they were stay in line. The one who asked her friend to join her, put a mask on her face not revealing any emotion. As if she was not care that because of her act, she and her friend becoming the center of attention from sniggering passengers. I suppose she remembered the quote: everything is fair in war and love. But on our term become: everything is fair as long as I get to my destination sooner.

Seeing this got me think, if she able to do that in such a young age...wondering if she reach my age? Probably worst? Or she just copying how we older people do in our daily life while standing in line.

Ask the passing busway...

Everything is not right...

Friday on 29 July 2011 I was about to go home from Senayan City area and Plaza Senayan. Approximately on 8 PM. I was about to take a cab when I saw the traffic jam around the area. Oh, dear. This would mean I have to take regular buses or busway. Again.

So I went to bus stop for busway and bought the ticket. On that time, I just realized that there were so many people standing on the line. They are still waiting for the busway.

How long can we wait?

How much time that we willing to spend for waiting regular buses or busway? 15 minutes? Half an hour? An hour? Or 2 hours? Or perhaps forever?

Waiting is the most annoying thing to do ever. Especially when we are in a hurry to go to our destination but have no extra money to take a cab. That and added to unfriendly weather but then again, what’s the point of getting a cab during rainy day around peak hour? It will be only wasting money because you are going to get stuck on the road anyway. So, yeah…public transportation is the only way.

But, they can take forever during peak hours and it is really testing your patience to wait for the public transportations. The problem is for how long? And how much can we stand to wait? We really have to depend on our feet for a long time. It is even worst when the rain pouring down hard. Even inside the bus stop there will be no picnic either.

Now push back!

How to get back to people who push you around on the bus…

Hahahahah…. No, no, no… It is not my intention to teach you how to get enemy on the bus or hurt someone else that makes them end up in a hospital…

But you know what… Some people really need to be hit in the head … SOMETIMES…

One thing that you have to realize and know: this is a public place and not some private place belonging to you.
You will meet people who do not hesitate to push people around so she or he could make ways to get into the first line. If you try to be angry with this people, trust me… YOU WILL ONLY DEGRADE yourself. People would not mind to push, step on other people but get furious when other people did the same thing to them.

Once a girl pushed me from behind because she probably thought she was the only one who wants to get on the bus. So, I waited my chance and I pushed her back but keep my face straight. As if I did not realize what I has done to her. You know what, she got angry and told her mates that she was being pushed by me. She keep pointing, whispering and even try to glare just to catch my attention. I suppose she was so ready to drop everything with her and said,”BRING IT ON!” But I keep a straight face and pretending I did not listen. And after a while her trash mouth probably tired and she just stop. Do not mess up with a 37 year old tired lady…

There was a time I was not in the mood and when I did not want to move myself to the back of the bus (why should I? I was about to get off within minutes) there was a girl got angry and said something unpleasant. When I retorted back she fired back… I back off because to be honest…I was embarrassed. I should be able to control my emotion. Am I afraid to get into cat fight on the bus? Hell, yeah! What if everyone on the bus took out their cellphone and started to record everything then upload it to internet? It would be a humiliation. So, I just stay quiet and when I was about to get off I throw her a dirty look.

When people refused to slightly move over from where they are standing then it means they are about to get off at the nearest bus stop or simply not want to. Relax… Don’t get angry. Just remember when you are late entering classes or courses. The best seat already taken. In this case the best place to sit (usually near the door so it would be easier to get off the bus) already being occupied by someone else earlier than you. Suck it up. If not, then go ahead try to push that person as he or she will not just give in.

If someone step on you well try to think positive as she or he might not doing that on purpose. They just stumble upon something and you get to be stepped over. But if they push you then I can assure you they do it INTENTIONLY. They wants you to just move aside and give them the way. ARE THEY NUTS? Nope. It is just what happens daily on the bus. People loose their common sense.
Sometimes, they push other people due for being pushed by people standing behind them. A woman once scolded me because I sort of push her aside. I ignored her because if she did not move and I have to stand behind her obediently then someone will take my place and make ways to the bus… Sighed.

Anyway, just remember… If other passenger pushes you, don’t get mad. Just get it over with. Let it go if you want to practice healthy living. But if not, then go ahead… Do the same thing. But make sure you did not glare to that person and make a face saying,”HAH! You push me then I push you too!”… Just keep a straight face and look ahead. And please, please…do not push them to the ground… You will feel sorry afterwards!

Oh and by the way, just think this…if other people push you…then perhaps they just return the favor… (LOL)

Frequency

Long ago, when I was still idiot when it comes to use regular buses, I went from home a lot earlier just to go to the bus terminal... What for? For me to get an available seat... And for me to ensure that I do get a bus to go to campus. Rather than standing wondering to the wonderland on the street...better I just go to the terminal as the centre of all buses... That's how considerate it... As the street at that time (meaning long time ago) not as jam as current traffic.

However for busway, even if we wait at the terminal does not mean we will get the bus less than half an hour. My experience has been proofing that.

Busway terminal that has attraction (for my standard) so far in Blok M and Pusat GROSIR CIKINI (shorten as PGC). Nothing unusual at terminal Blok M actually. But since we have to pass the mall that is why so fun for me. It's just that I am not sure if I was there at night and nobody around me. Last time I was there around 08.00 PM and still many people around. I have never been there after 08.00 PM. While terminal

Back to the story about terminal, one day I decide to use terminal busway atKampung Melayu. The reason? Well, I thought that if I wait from the terminal surely there would be many buses to pick us the passangers. Just like regular buses crowded inside the terminal. It turn out...I am SO WRONG. From few passangers starting to escalate into many. Finally after half an hour I can stand no longer and decide to get out from the terminal and loose the money that I paid for the busway's fare. Rather than I spend my time up to an hour... Sighed... So sad

Ah, same thing happenned at PGC... But down there I was mesmerized with the terminal... Well, it is so close to the mall if not to say perhaps located inside the mall. Can you imagine if it was hot out there or even raining. We can relax waiting the busway inside the cozy terminal with air conditioner and there lots seats... But since the waited busway seems forget to pass at the terminal, most of the passangers started to line up near the sliding door... Yeap, doors at the terminal use sliding door...but mostly already broken while here at PGC's terminal the condition still good. But well, not as beautiful as I imagine...as again I have to loose my money for the bus fare as I walked out from the terminal. I was tired to wait more than half an hour. I prefer going home with another public transportation.

Pity actually... The terminal look nice, clean, comfy...but the frequencies of buses were not the same...

However, not all busway's terminal like that. Busway's terminal at Blok M and Kota so far for me have not been so bad with the availabilty of the busways. So I think, though there are special road for busways but not automatically free from traffic jam. And if the busway passing the traffic jam areas, then no wonder the frequency becoming less and less.