Case in point?
The Underground. It's the capital city's version of the subway, the mass-rapid transit, the train that travels below the city. This form of public transport is as uncomfortable as a Tardis in Doctor Who, only less awesome and much more crowded.
Let me explain why. If you've been on the MRT in Singapore, imagine a train that's shorter in internal height (beneath the train, I think it's taller than the Singapore MRT), narrower sideways, and with sofas instead of plastic seats. Oh, and take out the air conditioning, leave behind some holes for ventilation. Welcome to the London Underground. We get nice seats. Oh yes, lovely seats. But in the first place, not many will get to sit. And most people will be squashed like sardines, standing around and smelling each other's sweat. Mind you, this is summer, and the underground isn't exactly well-ventilated - it's under the ground, and air can't move around as much underground as it does on a rooftop.
To make things worse, there is no such thing as cellphone reception underground. You may be taking things for granted in Singapore, with your 100% coverage even on the MRT while going from Expo to Changi over that 6-minute stretch. But when you come to London (as far as I know, correct me if I'm wrong) there's no cellphone reception in the tube and on the platforms. So you can't check your emails, do some productive work, etc. And if you're like me - a newbie with an iPhone as a navigator, well, all the best. Hope you took that paper map, and hope you have a spare battery. Because:
a) you can't check the service status of the trains unless you have internet, which you don't, and
b) your phone drains more battery trying to find signal.
Now, maybe there's a reason for this no-cellphone-reception thing. It could be an anti-terror measure, just to be safe. fair enough. If that is the case, I will not complain, the same way I will not complain about the lack of rubbish bins in an MRT station in Singapore, or the lack of seats at the Esplanade Library, or the lack of good public transport in Jakarta. Fair enough. There are limitations, hopefully with rational reasons to back the moves.
So, with what I just said in mind, here are some tips from me when travelling on the London Underground...
1) switch your phone to airplane mode when you're on the escalator, especially if you know your phone isn't the type that lasts long on a single charge.
2) don't just know where you're going, but also, know the status of the lines which you plan to use. ESPECIALLY ON BANK HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS. You may always assume the shortest route will get you there the fastest, but sometimes, the shortest route has been cut short to become a dead end, so you'll have to re-route. Maintenance works and repairs never end - something is always going on.
3) don't take the train if you don't feel well. I'm not saying this because of the whole "social responsibility" thing. No. It's to take care of yourself. The Underground is not the most comfortable mode of public transport, and it can be a bit unbearable if you're not well. BoJo (short for Boris Johnson, the wacky-haired Tory London Mayor) agrees with me on this one, which is why he put up posters reminding people to have water with them and avoid the tube if unwell.
4) Just get a freaking Oyster card. At least you pay by zones, so you won't have a ticket that goes bad. It's just £3 for a card, plus whatever amount you put in.
5) if all else fails, try hop on a bus. They can be a bit more unpredictable and possibly slower due to the congestions, but they're more comfortable and much cheaper than the underground. And if you followed point 4, your oyster card can be used on the buses, too. Isn't that awesome?
So, that's my opinion on London's underground system.
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