The Courteous Ride

Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of me to cheer up my woes, and yeah, I do feel much better. Moments like these, it's good to know there are family members and close friends to count on. Anyhow, I don't wanna blog too much, but I just wanna showcase the article I did for R.AGE @ The Star newspaper online website. I just hope it gets printed.

Title: Courteous Ride

Commuter train has been proved to be convenient to people and one of the ways to help reduce traffic on the road. For those who often take this public transport, here’s something to be on the lookout: impatient and selfish passengers.

Ever notice when the doors are about to open, both people waiting outside and inside are ready to rush through? This is mostly seen as people have the tendency to quicken their time spent on the journey. In effect, people then fight for the space inside the train and to exit the station quickly. Sadly as in seems, not many people practice the habit of patience as one of their virtues.

Other than being generous, passengers should be considerate among themselves that most people are in a rush to reach their destination. In having to do so, by letting those waiting inside the train to exit first, people on both sides would not treat each other as hassle. This is mainly because of the fact that letting passengers to come out first would prove to be more efficient and time-saving as compared to having people rushing to leave and enter the train at the same time.

Other than the trouble with the doors, is it often to see people giving up their seats to those who are in more in need? Or even for a kind gentleman to let a lady to take his seat? Doubtful as it may seem, a selfish passenger would not think for a moment to do so. To avoid this, the person would go into slumber and pretend not to wake up until they are about to reach their destination.

Take a ride in any train, definitely there will be a displayed message insisting others to give up their seats to the following people: an elderly, a handicapped, and a pregnant mother. Then younger generation should show respects to their elders and remember that an elderly person have a weaker body especially for women. As for those who are handicapped, both mentally and physically, should have the benefit of having the seat as they are less fortunate with their state of body. Obviously, a mother who is pregnant with her baby should have the priority to have the seat since it is quite stressful to their body when standing. Lastly, men should behave kindly to the ladies that by giving their seats to them would show a sign of respect to one another.

There etiquettes in everything we do, and this include when taking the commuter train. Be patient when boarding onto the train, and be considerate to others who deserve to have the seat. The year 2007 is special to Malaysia for the unique celebration of 50 years of independence, which the government has urged their people to be more courteous and friendly. Passengers ought to remember this as soon they step into the train station.