Surviving subway at rush hour

By Qian Yanfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-18 13:38

Daily journeys on the subway in a city like Beijing are - to paraphrase Charles Dickens' famous opening line written 150 years ago - the best of times and the worst of times.

As a modern amenity that makes urban life much easier, the subway has also evolved into something widely dreaded.

Commuters often feel they need the strength and aggression of soldiers as they battle frenetic crowds to board trains at rush hour and the patience of a monk to endure the trip free from anger.

The love-hate relationship may be more tolerable if commuters follow some hard-learned survival rules suggested in online postings by local veterans with years of experience riding one of the world's most crowded subway systems:

Rule 1: Well begun is half done

It is vitally important to stand in the front of the queue lining up, the rules said, which will help you get - rather than be pushed - onto the train in the first place and find a seat if possible.

If not, here are two alternatives:

Wait for the next train if you are in no hurry and make sure you stay at the head of the next line.

Or - here is where the rules drew fire from netizens - you can stand on the periphery and once the train pulls in and the doors open, cut in at the head of the line and still be first.

The last suggestion is impolite at best or even immoral, but the rules claim there is little risk of being scolded by fellow commuters since everyone is too busy pushing forward to spare a thought for the queue jumper.

Rule 2: Run for your place

If you do not want to act unethically and insist on staying in line, there is still chance that you may have a relatively comfortable trip along the way if you follow the next course of action:

A seat is a luxury if you are not boarding the train from its starting point, so look for the next best option. Run as fast as you can into the aisles between rows of seats instead of lingering near the doorway.

People tend to pack by the doors, while those in the aisle enjoy enough space.

The phenomenon is caused by boarding commuters who are usually blocked from passing further inside the compartment, so the crowd keeps piling up in the limited space near the doors.

Staying near the doors should be the last option if you do not want to be battered by a frenzied crowd hurrying off the train and then hit by a deluge of incoming commuters whenever doors open.

The junction between compartments is a welcome alternative for commuters seeking more space.

In general, the rule of thumb is walk as far as you can since most people stay in the space where they get on the train.

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