People's peculiar behavior in public transportation can be a point of observation. One of which is the tendency to flock towards the entry/exit points even if they do not plan on getting off the vehicle anytime soon.
People in the trains or the bus would rather suffer the heat, the sardine like press against each other to be able to stand by the door, even if there is standing room available at the back. However in defense of those who keep on standing in front I shall argue for them on the basis of the following:
- Air-conditioning is better at the doors. Really, notice that they even dedicate a vent just upon the entrance to shower you with cold air? During long trips the conditioning at the back wanes or totally becomes lost when the vehicle is stuck in traffic.
- Thieves may corner you at the back. I was the unfortunate victim of one. I used to prefer window seats at the back because I have the place to myself with a clear view. Until one day a guy sat next to me (I was in the two-seater chair) and started eating into my space. When I was about to tell him off, he asked me to read his celphone and it contained commands to give him my bag and not to make a sound. I do not know what came over me but I suddenly stood up and said "Mama! Wag ka na nga magulo bababa na ako! (Mister stop fooling around this is my stop already. Stop the bus) Para!" I was able to get off and for the first time in my life I was actually glad to see an MMDA personnel and run towards him.
- Aside from thieves there are perverts rampant there. One time our group was flashed with a penis by a guy standing, another time my classmate was groped. Being in the far back conditions your mind that you are isolated and cannot yell for help or something might happen to you first before help comes.
- When people start crowding towards the exit point of the Jeepney - everyone is trying to avoid to be seated next to the driver (not because he might smell bad) because he/she does not want to be the one passing the fare all the way to the front throughout the ride. Though it is very annoying when you have a lot of packages with you and people just wont give way. Or when youngsters sit on the edge and expect you to sit-walk to the driver to hand it for them when they wouldn't do it themselves (chalk it up to being mataray, I give these students a stern talking to, it is just so disrespectful! )
That being said I do not think of people's behavior on public transport as conscious actions, so most of the time I try not to mind the inconvenience it brings. It just fuels my desire to buy my own car after I graduate.
