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Singapore is a first-world “urban marvel”, but our behaviour on public transport leaves much to be desired, said one Stomper.
Stomper David Pang said that despite boasting a world-class Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network, our peak-hour commutes “routinely expose a distinct breakdown in civic courtesy”.
He shared: “Despite decades of government-led campaigns featuring characters like ‘Stand-Up Stacey’ and ‘Move-In Martin’, public transport etiquette remains a battleground of passive-aggressive friction, spatial ignorance, and a hyper-competitive sprint for individual comfort.”
A common gripe, according to him, is the “spatial obliviousness” of commuters.
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Commuters who block doors, occupy more seats than they need and blast music
David said: “A foundational law of global transit, letting people exit before boarding, frequently fails at major interchanges like Jurong East and Serangoon, prompting frustrated commuters to drop standard pleasantries and physically barge through oncoming crowds.
“Once inside, ‘door guardians’ anchor themselves at the exits for entire journeys, freezing the empty centre of the carriage and forcing everyone else to squeeze past.”
This “entitlement” begins long before boarding, noted David.
“At bus shelters, lines of standing commuters routinely form a human wall directly in front of the benches, blocking the view of seated passengers as if they were made of see-through glass,” said the Stomper, adding that elderly and less mobile commuters are left constantly craning their necks just to spot their bus.
Calling public transport etiquette a “failed discipline” in Singapore, David also described inconsiderate behaviours that he often observes on buses and trains.
“Inside the vehicles, digital noise pollution thrives, with passengers blasting short-form videos on full volume without headphones, while others operate high-pitched portable turbo fans that add a persistent background drone to the cabin,” he said.
“Meanwhile, manspreaders take over adjacent seating, commuters leave bags on empty chairs, and unremoved large backpacks strike unsuspecting passengers with every turn.”
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