Tram Riding Etiquette Tip #1

I love riding Melbourne’s Trams. It is just so convenient. Ok, it is not as cool as driving one’s personal wheels from point A to point B but I am just a nanny and do not need to constantly prove anything at my age. I am happy to continue using the trams or catch bus #11.

There used to be conductors on each tram. Their job was to sell tickets, give basic directions and to check passengers’ tickets. Hardworking conductors used to remind overexcited passengers to let people off the tram first before boarding. Those days are now history. We are now in the 21st century. We have been without conductors for yonks now. I am not complaining. I can live without them as long as I can buy a proper ticket from the machine when I need to. This is not applicable to many other public transport users. In an increasingly human eats human world, without ‘authority figures’ around to manage the masses, many never learn or pretend to not have heard of what is appropriate and more and more are returning to bad habits. It is sad to see that many of us humans are only capable of what is appropriate when there are ‘authority figures’ around. I thought we were all capable of logical thinking or are we just lazy, opportunistic and selfish? We humans are one of the 5 great apes in this world. We see ourselves as very different from the other four great apes. We pride ourselves for being able to think and invent. We look at the world and admit that the Bonobos, the Chimps, the Orang-Utans and the Gorillas, can never achieve our intelligence. And yet, we almost immediately behaved like uncivilized beings ever since the conductors were sacked for the sake of progress all those years ago.

Tip #1: When boarding a tram, look to see if they are passengers getting off. Let them off first before boarding.

· Trust me; the tram is unlikely to leave if there are passengers waiting to get on, unless it is already jam-packed or it is already about to move on when you reach the door.
· For those asking, “What’s in it for me if I do what you suggest?” Think! If those passengers are getting off then there will be more space for you when it is your turn to hop on. You are less likely to bump onto people that you are likely to deem as uncool or germy. Pure logic!
· So if you are anywhere near the door when the tram arrives, step to either side of the door and wait for the passengers to hop off. Avoid standing in the middle of the entrance and this is applicable also to those who are a delicate size 0.

To all readers who catch Melbourne trams, let’s give this idea another go. This used to be the way. It is lo-tech but if you have a hi-tech idea to solve this problem, do share it. There probably is a gadget (requiring batteries) on a drawing board somewhere that may ‘encourage’ people to get on and off the tram in a civilized manner.