Commutation

Every work-day I am spending about 1.30 hour commuting. With two buses, from home to Xinzhuang Subway-Station and on with another bus going all the way to the terminal stop, Ji Wang. The duration is quite regular for Shanghai, and, in fact, not even that spectacular for Berlin. However, 1.30 hours in a chinese bus is different from Berlin, because it may entail: finding no seat the entire way, reckless driving (and thus flying all over the place), and masses of people pushing and shoving each other around.

There is no mercy in public transportation here. It's a daily battle. Passengers entering do not wait for those exiting the vehicle. They simply charge in, no matter what. This often creates hilarious situations, where some become stuck at the door, not being able to get off in time. They have to try again at the next station. The pushing and pulling are almost like actual fighting, very physical situations, but also in a strange way very calm - there is no mercy, but also no hysteria.

The struggle for seats is most fierce. People always run for empty seats, screw the dignity. I have seen some throwing their bags on seats, when suddenly vacant, to minimize their disadvantage in distance. But then, a seat means peace, some sleep, and certainly no being pushed around.

My strategies to survive the time in my buses, when not getting a seat:

1. I am learning to sleep in all possible positions, even when standing (hanging on the upper handle).

2. I try to catch how much those having a seat pay fare. If it is less, they will get off sooner, so I am positioning myself close to them.

3. I am trying to get in the back of the bus. Here I am able to "cover" about 6 seats, which stastically raises the chance of snatching one. However, people getting off earlier rarely sit in the back, so this, on the other hand, works statistically against me.

4. Once a seat is located, my position is taken and the occupant appears to be leaving soon, I try not to stand directly next to the seat. Because if the person then gets up, I will have to step back and at that moment another person may slip into seat, from the side. So the best spot is slightly to the left.

Tricky stuff. I am getting better though.