Sunday, July 31, 2011
The unspoken tips of travelling on PT
Okay, while there are a myriad of obvious benefits to utilising Melbourne's public transport system, sometimes it can be, in a word, infuriating. This is particularly true when travelling outside of peak times when an array of loud tiffs and annoying tribulations can make you want to scream.
Drunken brawls, public make-outs, excessively loud mobile phone conversations, DRUNK PEOPLE - generally un-glamourous behaviour you may have to sit through for an agonisingly long time if you travel far enough.
Should you find yourself catching the train after hours, the following tip will make your trip breeze right on by (and help you see the humour of the situation). So what is this tidbit of easy travel wisdom?
AFTER WORK DRINKS.
If you're leaving late anyway, why not? You may as well grab a work mate and pop in somewhere for a wine or two. Don't drink enough to join the vomiting masses on the late train - but enough to take the edge off. And just remember hanging out for a little while is great - but you hardly want to stick around long enough that the red-eye is the only way home.
After a post-work toast or two, suddenly the couple serenading each other become endearing, shouted mobile conversations revel comedic gems and you can see the humour of the drunk guy sitting in the corner. Bad behaviour doesn't seem all that bad.
So next time you get stuck back try a nip or do. You'll be surprised how quick your travels turn from gag-worthy into a bit of a giggle.
Drunken brawls, public make-outs, excessively loud mobile phone conversations, DRUNK PEOPLE - generally un-glamourous behaviour you may have to sit through for an agonisingly long time if you travel far enough.
Should you find yourself catching the train after hours, the following tip will make your trip breeze right on by (and help you see the humour of the situation). So what is this tidbit of easy travel wisdom?
AFTER WORK DRINKS.
If you're leaving late anyway, why not? You may as well grab a work mate and pop in somewhere for a wine or two. Don't drink enough to join the vomiting masses on the late train - but enough to take the edge off. And just remember hanging out for a little while is great - but you hardly want to stick around long enough that the red-eye is the only way home.
After a post-work toast or two, suddenly the couple serenading each other become endearing, shouted mobile conversations revel comedic gems and you can see the humour of the drunk guy sitting in the corner. Bad behaviour doesn't seem all that bad.
So next time you get stuck back try a nip or do. You'll be surprised how quick your travels turn from gag-worthy into a bit of a giggle.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Art in motion
There is a much overlooked element to particularly train travel in Melbourne, or indeed, in many cities worldwide. That is the wealth of art to be seen along the train tracks.
Graffiti, has many connotations, (public nuisance, vandalism, etc), but one that is not considered as often as it should is that it is indeed art. Melbourne's train tracks display some truly great examples of this.
Running up and down the walls and fences of either side of the tracks are some incredible (and not so incredible) pieces. Some are new, some are considered recognisable classics - some have sadly been defaced, or tagged.
They provide a source of entertainment, and beauty, for many a bored traveller staring out the window. In fact, so many change so quickly, there is often much that is new to see. Thanks to regular crews working up and down the tracks, there are new pieces appearing most weeks.
Melbourne as a city has graffiti of the highest calibre. The train tracks are a great example of this. So regardless of any personal views on graffiti as bad behaviour - next time you're on the train, sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
Graffiti, has many connotations, (public nuisance, vandalism, etc), but one that is not considered as often as it should is that it is indeed art. Melbourne's train tracks display some truly great examples of this.
Running up and down the walls and fences of either side of the tracks are some incredible (and not so incredible) pieces. Some are new, some are considered recognisable classics - some have sadly been defaced, or tagged.
They provide a source of entertainment, and beauty, for many a bored traveller staring out the window. In fact, so many change so quickly, there is often much that is new to see. Thanks to regular crews working up and down the tracks, there are new pieces appearing most weeks.
Melbourne as a city has graffiti of the highest calibre. The train tracks are a great example of this. So regardless of any personal views on graffiti as bad behaviour - next time you're on the train, sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Trams, tiffs and tribulations
It would seem the tram side of the public transport adventure has been somewhat neglected. So an impromptu random journey was in order.
Trams are a fantastic way to get across Melbourne. They make up an extensive network of interconnecting tracks reaching out to most parts of the city, and further extend out to many more suburban areas. In fact, the tram is often the mode of public transport often chosen by many inner city commuters, at least in part.
Most trips are fairly uneventful, mostly comfortable (provided you can get a seat, otherwise it's a bit snuggly), and relatively pleasant. They're usually short, sharp bursts across the main grid of the city, usually part of a travel interconnection between train, or bus, and work, or a brief trip in from the surrounding areas. They can also be longer trips, with the travel time on some running up to an hour, allowing to moments of contemplation, a bit of sight seeing, or even a quick nap.
In fact, aside from the occasional mechanical fault (or odour) they are a great way to get from A to B. The majority of your issues, if any, will come from your fellow passengers.
One such type of passenger is the teenager. On the afore mentioned impromptu journey, this traveller was swiftly reminded of the effects of the badly behaved teenager on what should have been a easy trip.
In this instance of the worst witnessed bad behaviour in recent times (this is definitely not the norm, please remember), two groups of teenagers ticked off the ultimate major points in irritating and offensive behaviour in the same trip. This included:
This was culminated by the eventual eviction of the last teenager by the tram driver (by way of grabbing him and physically throwing off the vehicle). As a social experiment, the scenario was fascinating, and a bit horrifying.
But this is a one-off incident mainly to highlight the fact that, well, teenagers can be annoying. Especially in confined space. It does not stop Melbourne trams being a great way to travel across this fair city - it just means if idiots get on, your choices are to either get off and wait for the following tram, or sit back and enjoy the show.
Trams are a fantastic way to get across Melbourne. They make up an extensive network of interconnecting tracks reaching out to most parts of the city, and further extend out to many more suburban areas. In fact, the tram is often the mode of public transport often chosen by many inner city commuters, at least in part.
Most trips are fairly uneventful, mostly comfortable (provided you can get a seat, otherwise it's a bit snuggly), and relatively pleasant. They're usually short, sharp bursts across the main grid of the city, usually part of a travel interconnection between train, or bus, and work, or a brief trip in from the surrounding areas. They can also be longer trips, with the travel time on some running up to an hour, allowing to moments of contemplation, a bit of sight seeing, or even a quick nap.
In fact, aside from the occasional mechanical fault (or odour) they are a great way to get from A to B. The majority of your issues, if any, will come from your fellow passengers.
One such type of passenger is the teenager. On the afore mentioned impromptu journey, this traveller was swiftly reminded of the effects of the badly behaved teenager on what should have been a easy trip.
In this instance of the worst witnessed bad behaviour in recent times (this is definitely not the norm, please remember), two groups of teenagers ticked off the ultimate major points in irritating and offensive behaviour in the same trip. This included:
- Public intoxication (Woodstock and coke cans and Pulse Energy the binge drinks of choice - evidenced by the open slab of each dragged onto and consumed upon the tram).
- False sense of bravado (Loud behaviour that was largely ignored by other passengers, and thus, encouraged).
- Tendency to violence (a brief conversation with an older (also possibly intoxicated) gentlemen, starting with chest beating and ended with open threats).
- Spitting (a farewell to same the older gentleman as he departed the tram, which was followed quickly by a badly aimed can of Woodstock thrown out the door after him).
- Bad tattoos (granted, not really a fair one to add, but the irony of a proudly displayed 'Death before Dishonour' tattoo really should be pointed out in this scenario).
- Yelling (irritating more than anything).
- Disregard of other passengers (most of this took place in front of a sweet little old lady old enough to be their great grandmother who was clearly horrified).
This was culminated by the eventual eviction of the last teenager by the tram driver (by way of grabbing him and physically throwing off the vehicle). As a social experiment, the scenario was fascinating, and a bit horrifying.
But this is a one-off incident mainly to highlight the fact that, well, teenagers can be annoying. Especially in confined space. It does not stop Melbourne trams being a great way to travel across this fair city - it just means if idiots get on, your choices are to either get off and wait for the following tram, or sit back and enjoy the show.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)