<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Bad manners make commuters see red
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Transport operators, Stomp get complaints about ugly behaviour </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Maria Almenoar
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PEDICURE: A man, oblivious to common courtesy, clipping his toenails on board the bus. -- PHOTOS: WWW.STOMP.COM
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->UGLY commuter behaviour has gone beyond failing to give up seats to the elderly or letting passengers alight first.
Some commuters have been seen using the handrails on buses and trains as their personal laundry lines, hanging their wet shirts or smelly socks there.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Oh, for shame...
WHAT are the top three pet peeves among commuters?
Failure by their fellow commuters to stand on the left side of escalators going into or leaving train stations;
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Others think nothing of wolfing down an entire meal or even clipping their toenails on board the bus or train.
And if you think students sitting in groups on the floor of the train is inconsiderate behaviour, you would be appalled by the sight of commuters sleeping - and stretched out - across the train doors during peak hours.
SMRT, which runs the North-South and East-West train lines, said it receives between 50 and 100 complaints every year from commuters aggrieved enough to call or write in.
Among last year's complaints, 26 were about commuters not giving up reserved seats to the elderly, disabled or pregnant, making this the top complaint.
Commuters eating and drinking on the train became fodder for the second most common complaint.
Others include not standing on the left side of the escalator when entering or leaving the train station and playing loud music on the train.
SBS Transit, which runs the North-East Line, said it only occasionally receives complaints from commuters.
The Straits Times' online interactive portal Stomp gets about 20 posts from readers each month, complete with photographs taken by annoyed passengers.
Photos that have gone on display on the website mostly show passengers slumped across more seats than they need, putting their feet up on facing bus seats or refusing to give up their seat to pregnant women in plain sight.
Ms Khadijah Bamadhaj, a 24-year-old chef and frequent user of public transport, said: 'People never give way even when they see me pushing my son's pram, let alone offer me a seat. It's just outrageous.'
Photographs sent to Stomp included those of commuters eating instant noodles, hanging a packet of food on the train handrail and squatting in the middle of the train.
The Public Transport Council launched a month-long graciousness campaign last Thursday, when the first five Circle Line stations opened.
The campaign includes giving out prizes to well-behaved passengers.
About 300 'service ambassadors' from the LTA, SBS Transit and SMRT have also swung into action during the evening and morning peak periods.
However, some Singaporeans say the nation should not beat itself up over this kind of behaviour because commuters here are no worse than those in most other cities.
Ms Kai Wong, a 29-year-old Singaporean who has lived in Australia and now lives in Hong Kong, said Singaporeans do not give themselves enough credit for being generally gracious commuters.
The well-travelled designer, who goes to China for work frequently and to Europe and South-east Asia for her holidays, said: 'We are definitely much better than commuters in China, who have no concept of queuing and basically push and shove to get up the bus or train.
'We're definitely on par with commuters in most other countries, including Hong Kong and Australia. I don't think people visiting Singapore and taking public transport will go: 'Oh my, what a bunch of crude commuters!'.' [email protected]
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Transport operators, Stomp get complaints about ugly behaviour </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Maria Almenoar
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
PEDICURE: A man, oblivious to common courtesy, clipping his toenails on board the bus. -- PHOTOS: WWW.STOMP.COM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->UGLY commuter behaviour has gone beyond failing to give up seats to the elderly or letting passengers alight first.
Some commuters have been seen using the handrails on buses and trains as their personal laundry lines, hanging their wet shirts or smelly socks there.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Oh, for shame...
WHAT are the top three pet peeves among commuters?
Failure by their fellow commuters to stand on the left side of escalators going into or leaving train stations;
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Others think nothing of wolfing down an entire meal or even clipping their toenails on board the bus or train.
And if you think students sitting in groups on the floor of the train is inconsiderate behaviour, you would be appalled by the sight of commuters sleeping - and stretched out - across the train doors during peak hours.
SMRT, which runs the North-South and East-West train lines, said it receives between 50 and 100 complaints every year from commuters aggrieved enough to call or write in.
Among last year's complaints, 26 were about commuters not giving up reserved seats to the elderly, disabled or pregnant, making this the top complaint.
Commuters eating and drinking on the train became fodder for the second most common complaint.
Others include not standing on the left side of the escalator when entering or leaving the train station and playing loud music on the train.
SBS Transit, which runs the North-East Line, said it only occasionally receives complaints from commuters.
The Straits Times' online interactive portal Stomp gets about 20 posts from readers each month, complete with photographs taken by annoyed passengers.
Photos that have gone on display on the website mostly show passengers slumped across more seats than they need, putting their feet up on facing bus seats or refusing to give up their seat to pregnant women in plain sight.
Ms Khadijah Bamadhaj, a 24-year-old chef and frequent user of public transport, said: 'People never give way even when they see me pushing my son's pram, let alone offer me a seat. It's just outrageous.'
Photographs sent to Stomp included those of commuters eating instant noodles, hanging a packet of food on the train handrail and squatting in the middle of the train.
The Public Transport Council launched a month-long graciousness campaign last Thursday, when the first five Circle Line stations opened.
The campaign includes giving out prizes to well-behaved passengers.
About 300 'service ambassadors' from the LTA, SBS Transit and SMRT have also swung into action during the evening and morning peak periods.
However, some Singaporeans say the nation should not beat itself up over this kind of behaviour because commuters here are no worse than those in most other cities.
Ms Kai Wong, a 29-year-old Singaporean who has lived in Australia and now lives in Hong Kong, said Singaporeans do not give themselves enough credit for being generally gracious commuters.
The well-travelled designer, who goes to China for work frequently and to Europe and South-east Asia for her holidays, said: 'We are definitely much better than commuters in China, who have no concept of queuing and basically push and shove to get up the bus or train.
'We're definitely on par with commuters in most other countries, including Hong Kong and Australia. I don't think people visiting Singapore and taking public transport will go: 'Oh my, what a bunch of crude commuters!'.' [email protected]
