4 ms·

Having spent the past ~10 years living in London, I disagree. Rush hour Tokyo trains were a dream, people are polite and queue, but they queue so that they're

Having spent the past ~10 years living in London, I disagree. Rush hour Tokyo trains were a dream, people are polite and queue, but they queue so that they're not in the way, the carriages are surprisingly head-roomy for 6'4 me, unlike the shit show of the central line, they're cooled properly, like the circle/district and the stations were almost universally clean and spacious unlike our tube platforms which are often cramped with tiny exits through archways blocked by people filling the platforms. I'm not saying the London Tube is bad, but I would take Tokyo subway over it any day. It may be controversial to say but tourists (local or from afar) are generally the worst part about central London commuting, due to the ignorance of the etiquette, especially when tourist numbers can be overwhelming in some parts.

Stevvo 4y ago
The tube is pretty bad. Many lines have grime floating in the air that deposits on skin & clothing and turns your snot black. Often a very long walk pavement to platform. Frequent delays from suicide attempts because its old so no track doors and the designs of stations are depressing. Overworked and underpaid staff.
- dkdbejwi383 4y ago
  > the designs of stations are depressing Surely this is subjective? The station designs by Leslie Green and Charles Holden in particular are highly regarded.
- jasondozell 4y ago
  Gonna dispute pretty much all of that but in particular there are not frequent delays due to suicides.
  - Stevvo 4y ago
    So, did some research. TFL have not released hard figures in recent years, but it appears the delays due to jumpers are significantly down from their past near-daily occurance because of the installation of "suicide pits" to catch jumpers under many platforms and training staff to intervene when they spot a distressed person on the platform.
claxo 4y ago
Wait, wait- Any rule you can spell in a few words or a link?
- koyote 4y ago
  - Stand on the right of escalators - Have your ticket/oyster/card ready BEFORE getting to the gates (and move to the side and out of the way if you need to take time to find it) - Move inside the carriages - Don't start conversations with commuters (especially during morning rush hour) - Take your rucksack off and put it by your feet if it's crowded - Don't walk 3+ abreast - Don't run for the train and especially don't block the closing door (there's a train every 2-3 minutes, just wait)
  - matt-p 4y ago
    Could not possibly agree more, they are the worst. System would be massively more efficient and pleasant if everyone followed basic etiquette. Other annoyances; When you get to the bottom of the escalators don't just stop in the middle looking at phones and wondering what platform you need. Stand to the side. Observe the queues next to each door position on the platform and join them. Do not just stand in the clear space in the middle. Following on from that, let people off the train first!! Walk down the platform don't huddle at the entrance to it. Don't wait for the gates to close before tapping your card. Just tap and check for green light.
  - maxwell86 4y ago
    > Stand on the right of escalators This surprised me when visiting the UK. I actually expected people to stand on the "left" of the scalators - just like how they drive on the left and overtake on the right - but they didn't. They stood on the right. I was left puzzled ???
    - matt-p 4y ago
      Walk on the left, which is enabled by people standing on the right. Quite simple IMO, but maybe that's just because it's ever been thus!
rrwo 4y ago
> It may be controversial to say but tourists (local or from afar) are generally the worst part about central London commuting, due to the ignorance of the etiquette, especially when tourist numbers can be overwhelming in some parts. This goes for any city that is popular with tourists, who seem to forget that most of the people in a city live and work there, and have their own lives that do not revolve around hospitality or entertainment for tourists.

Stevvo 4y ago

The tube is pretty bad. Many lines have grime floating in the air that deposits on skin & clothing and turns your snot black. Often a very long walk pavement to platform. Frequent delays from suicide attempts because its old so no track doors and the designs of stations are depressing. Overworked and underpaid staff.

dkdbejwi383 4y ago
> the designs of stations are depressing Surely this is subjective? The station designs by Leslie Green and Charles Holden in particular are highly regarded.
jasondozell 4y ago
Gonna dispute pretty much all of that but in particular there are not frequent delays due to suicides.
- Stevvo 4y ago
  So, did some research. TFL have not released hard figures in recent years, but it appears the delays due to jumpers are significantly down from their past near-daily occurance because of the installation of "suicide pits" to catch jumpers under many platforms and training staff to intervene when they spot a distressed person on the platform.

claxo 4y ago

Wait, wait- Any rule you can spell in a few words or a link?

koyote 4y ago
- Stand on the right of escalators - Have your ticket/oyster/card ready BEFORE getting to the gates (and move to the side and out of the way if you need to take time to find it) - Move inside the carriages - Don't start conversations with commuters (especially during morning rush hour) - Take your rucksack off and put it by your feet if it's crowded - Don't walk 3+ abreast - Don't run for the train and especially don't block the closing door (there's a train every 2-3 minutes, just wait)
- matt-p 4y ago
  Could not possibly agree more, they are the worst. System would be massively more efficient and pleasant if everyone followed basic etiquette. Other annoyances; When you get to the bottom of the escalators don't just stop in the middle looking at phones and wondering what platform you need. Stand to the side. Observe the queues next to each door position on the platform and join them. Do not just stand in the clear space in the middle. Following on from that, let people off the train first!! Walk down the platform don't huddle at the entrance to it. Don't wait for the gates to close before tapping your card. Just tap and check for green light.
- maxwell86 4y ago
  > Stand on the right of escalators This surprised me when visiting the UK. I actually expected people to stand on the "left" of the scalators - just like how they drive on the left and overtake on the right - but they didn't. They stood on the right. I was left puzzled ???
  - matt-p 4y ago
    Walk on the left, which is enabled by people standing on the right. Quite simple IMO, but maybe that's just because it's ever been thus!

rrwo 4y ago

> It may be controversial to say but tourists (local or from afar) are generally the worst part about central London commuting, due to the ignorance of the etiquette, especially when tourist numbers can be overwhelming in some parts. This goes for any city that is popular with tourists, who seem to forget that most of the people in a city live and work there, and have their own lives that do not revolve around hospitality or entertainment for tourists.