Tram Story 2

Trams come at a couple of minutes interval, depending on the area and the time of day. Generally on morning and evening peak hours, there are more trams at shorter time intervals, especially on routes to and fro the CBD. And so naturally, it is no surprise that in some occasions there will be what I'd call a "tram jam" (imagine several trams bumper to bumper). On each stop, there will either be railings or a slightly elevated platform. These are the "safety zones", and the length of these are about the length of one and a half trams.

On the way to work one fine morning, obviously during peak hour, we were experiencing some form of a tram jam. At one major stop where people get off for connecting trams, our tram was third on queue. We had to wait for the first two or at least the first tram to keep moving before we could move forward to the proper stop zone. A few minutes into the wait, a man who is about in his mid forties hollered in a deep booming voice for the driver to open the tram door. A tram would normally have three doors - front, middle, and back. The newer, longer trams would probably have around four. This man was close to the middle door, not near the driver at all. Therefore, his voice carried its way across the whole tram. And how could the driver answer him?... with his microphone? Duh. Of course the door didn't open for him. So once again, he impatiently repeated his request but was again ignored. And for a good reason I say! Although we were near the stop, we weren't AT the stop and we weren't AT the safety zone. At this point, I was also thinking to myself, why couldn't he just walk towards the front and speak to the driver quietly instead of having his shouting spree for everyone to witness and hear? *shakes head*

Finally the trams moved, and we got to the proper stop zone and voila, the doors opened. People piled out including mr. impatient. You'd think it's the end of it eh, but no, he proceeded to the head of the tram and hurled insults at the driver. He started with angrily accosting him with why he didn't open the tram door. The tram driver explained that we weren't at the safety zone and it is regulation that the doors are kept shut until we reach the proper zone. Obviously not contented with the explanation and still seething from not having his orders heeded, he continued lambasting the driver with profanity, calling him a clown and all sorts of name. For goodness's sake, this guy just doesn't have a brain! If he was in such a hurry as his earlier manners and agitation for waiting suggested, he should have gone off quickly as soon as he got off the tram. But no, as if barking out abuses at the tram driver would do him any good and would make him right. It was pretty obvious to every witness in the tram that he is out of his mind and totally unreasonable. It was dangerous for the tram doors to open at the incorrect area as people getting off would find themselves in the middle of the road. Sad to say, some people just can't get this simple idea into their head.

Tram drivers don't have it easy too. Whilst many passengers are polite and would say thank you when they get on and off the tram, there are still those who treat them like a piece of garbage, and I'm serious. It's as if these people think that they are their personal chauffeurs to always say "aye sir!" And these drivers usually just take it, they can't get off the tram to defend themselves or fight back, right? I'm not suggesting though that all tram drivers are commendable, for there are some whom I'd like to give a piece of my mind to as well (but let's save that story for next time).

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. In this case, ignorance of the driver's responsibilities to keep passengers safe is no excuse for a passenger's bad behaviour. Name-calling is even worse. For such a petty thing, tempers flared. What more if it's something big?