Day to day transportation in a number of
Pakistani cities is about to revolutionized with the introduction of pubic
transport systems. Bus rapid transport is already operating in four cities;
Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Multan. The commuters, who rued the
experiences of private vans and buses, have started to find some peace of mind
and physique with the introduction of a better-organized transport system in
their city. Four more projects in the cities of Karachi, Peshawar, Faisalabad
and Quetta are under making. After decades of planning and contestation, a
metro train system in Lahore is also under construction. These improvements in
urban transport have been undertaken after a series of economic, social and environmental
issues caused by the poor transportation in our major urban centers such as
Lahore and Karachi.
Travelling in an organized mass transport
system is somehow a new experience for most of the current generation of
Pakistani travellers. Experiences from across the world show that commuting in
public transport system can be a pleasant and lively experience, provided that
the quality of service is kept at an acceptable level of efficiency and
consistency. There is a little local information or public awareness about how
to better use and enjoy the public transportation based commuting and non-work
journeys.
It is best to keep in mind that the urban
areas have received this mass transport system due to a great demand and
ridership availability which in times may turn to be in huge numbers
As our mega cities are utilizing public
transport day by day and most of our workforce is still reliant on public transport
t for their commute, I mention some useful points form my commuting experiences
form London and Hong kong which can be useful for Pakistani travelers.
Use
public transport
It saves you form driving fatigue,
congestion charging and parking costs, in central London. It may be more time
saving as well, even as compared to local buses due to heavy vehicle and
pedestrian traffic on the roads.
Walk,
Walk, Walk
Do not hesitate in doing some physical
activity, in terms of walking, during commute. It is good to spend some time
walking during your commute time; it may include walking to and within
transport stations; be sufficiently brisk during walk and adequately caring for
others.
Follow
pedestrian traffic signals for road crossings
Roads become busy in the office or school
timings. Drivers strictly follow traffic signals and do not expect some
jaywalker crossing in front of them. Almost all the traffic signals have a
signal for walkers as well. Green man means people can cross the road. And it
is quick.
Expect
crowd.
Megacities cities like London and Hong Kong
have a lot of jobs and so their business district areas are crowded with
workers and visitors. Do not be surprise wary of the number of people walking
around in formal and casual wears. Be courteous (do not stare at them).
Be
quick. It saves time for you and for others.
Whether it is walking along the street, road
crossing or even having breakfast at a roadside café, time is money in London.
And people are usually less wasteful for it. So be quick in navigating through
the crowdy streets or enjoying snack during commute.
Electric
mobility cannot replace physical mobility
Use Escalators but do not ignore using
stairs as well. Particularly if you are going downward. Sometimes people may
walk down or upwards on escalators. But it requires little practice.
Use
transport facilities with care and decency
Disturbing others physically or even by
staring, is not compromised. While both men and women use train without any
distinction, it becomes essential that the travelers respect each other’s space
and avoid eye contact or physical contact with others. Eating or drinking in
transport is not allowed. Not even smoking. It helps keeping the facilities
clean and healthy for use. Waster throwing is not a practice as well.
Standing
in public transport is OK.
While in train, do not hesitate to stand as
seats may be fully occupied during rush hours and you may have to stand up for your
entire journey. Be gracious to offer seats for those deserving. London
transport issues badges for needy population, such as “Please offer me a seat”.
Listen
to the announcements
Trains may be delayed; routes or stations
may have particular announcements. Keep an ear for these announcements, which
can be useful to avoid long delays. It is particular important during the
journey, as you may have accidently boarded a train which is not going towards
your destination. Train may also not be serving a particular stations or may
terminate earlier than previously shown. People often see official twitter
updates from transport authority to ensure efficient journey.
Use
your idle time for reading or listening to your favorite stuff
Your one day commute may take anywhere
between fifteen minute to an hour or more. It becomes easier and enjoyable if
you use this time to read what interests you more. London stations offer a lot
of free reading material in daily newspapers and magazines; ranging from day to
day politics to fashion and culture. I prefer reading my own material rather
than freely available print media on stations E.g. a personal book on popular science
or history. In last year, I have
completed two books in my commuting time: Travels of Ibn-e-batuta and HG Wells,
A brief history of the world. It is hard to give time to reading in office or
at home. Commuting time gives a wonderful opportunity to read something.
Acclimatize
yourself
Finally, a local scenario, which is not so
common with most of the developed world: Our climate is often dry hot for most
of the year. It is somehow similar to what we get in Hong Kong, although it can
be more hot and humid than hot and dry. It is always beneficial to use and keep
in your daily luggage, an appropriate pair of sunglasses or even a
foldable-umbrella.
