Basic Public Transport Tips for Singles (LRT Only) Part 2/2

I apologize for the late update. I've been so busy slacking around lately... haha.

As promised, tips on packing for public transport.

The idea is to pack light, but not miss out any essentials for public transport. What are the essentials? Basically, you need to keep yourself comfortable and protected from the following:
1. Weather
2. Animals.
3. People (Yes!)
4. Terrain.
5. Bacteria.

We know mother nature can be a bitch sometimes when she floods roads, causes massive traffic jams, stalls LRTs and just generally pisses on everyone. What can we do to stop her? Not much, but we can prepare ourselves...

Bring an umbrella (1), your foremost defense against the elements. If you want to keep the bulk down for fashion or convenience, get a sturdy foldable one, something like the following:

This baby has kept me safe and dry from strong winds and rain. Well, at least from the knee up. Don't stinge and get a sissy umbrella... you'll be wishing you paid a few extra ringgit WHEN (that's right, not IF) you get caught in a storm and your unbrella folds up and dies. Depending on the type of umbrella you choose, it could also be used as defense against animals and people. Something come too close for comfort? Whack it or poke it. If you're really into a premium one and know how to use a good stick to defend yourself, consider getting an unbreakable umbrella. If you're using a foldable type, remember to bring a plastic bag (2) to store it in your bag when you enter a shaded area.






Get a pair of waterproof shoes (3) and pack a plastic bag (4). This goes a long way in helping you navigate through puddles and keeping your feet dry. Remember to wear good cotton socks as this soaks up most of the moisture before it reaches your feet. Make sure it has a good grip, and you're set to handle slippery slopes and Malaysian roads (think potholes!). Bring your good pair of shoes for your destination if your waterproof shoes aren't stylish enough.

Bring an instant hand sanitizer (5) (alcohol based, ask for one in the pharmacy or outlets like Watsons) and a packet of tissues (which can be used if you need to potty ;-) ). God knows but you don't know what you'll be picking up on the train when you hold the handles. Make it a habit to sanitize after you get off. Note that this probably only protects you from bacteria, not viruses. To clear viruses from your hand, you'll probably need to rub your hands as if washing them.

The rest is really up to you. Bring a bottle of water if you'll be out long, and bring some entertainment, preferably something non-bulky. It may help to bring a spare think fabric change of clothes (including socks, underwear optional) wrapped in a plastic bag in case you get wet.

A couple more things about adjusting your backpack. Don't leave the straps loose so much so that your backpack dangles off your back when you move around. Doing so saps your energy as you have to compensate for the up and down movements of the bag. Not only that, it's less stable (feels like falling off all the time) and prevents you from moving and reacting quickly to the environment you're in, potentially putting your safety at risk.




So pull up your straps until your backpack is nice and firm against your back, and the bag + load moves with your body instead of swings towards it when you move. Best to keep both straps on your shoulders as you move, but in the interest of managing heat exchange, you may at times want to use just 1 strap on 1 shoulder as that will open up airflow to your back.


So, pack your 5 essentials and have fun travelling on public transport!
It helps to keep fit, btw...

Basic Public Transport Tips for Singles (LRT Only) Part 1/2

Colleague: Hey pohpiah, how do you get to work everyday?

pohpiah: I take the LRT.

Colleague: Do you drive at all?

pohpiah: Nope. It's too expensive to own, maintain and operate one here in KL. I would nearly just break even with my present salary. I might as well work in my hometown.

Colleague:Quite difficult to get around in KL without a car, right?

pohpiah: Not if you do it right :).

Repeat this conversation 10 times and I have my motivation for posting this blog. Why public transport? It's green, it's cheap, it's convenient. All it takes is a little planning. Here are some basic tips on how to improve your public transport experience. Note that these tips may not work for everyone... but it will help those is similar situations that i'm in.

Tip #1 - The Job: You'll be spending 20days x 8 hours at least on your job, per month. Hence, you'll be making about 20 trips per month TO your office. I'm sure that you don't want to end up a sweaty pig when you arrive at your workplace. If at all possible, get a job at a workplace within 15 minutes walking distance to the LRT station. Make sure you factor in the time for taking detours to walk along main streets or safe areas. Most importantly, make sure your walk isn't uphill.

Tip #2 - The Home: This is even more important than the job. You're likely to make about 28 trips to and from your home combined. Again, no one really wants to end up a sweaty pig when they've just reached home, so pick a place within 20 minutes walk. If you're a health buff with no time to exercise, pick one that's uphill. Can't afford a home near an LRT station?

Tip #3 - Peak or off-peak: Definitely travel off-peak whenever you can. Start early in the mornings. The trains tend to be tolerable before 7.20am. If you can't hit that window of opportunity, look out for the timing of the empty trains that the good folks at Rapid KL sometimes send out to clear out the crowds. At my station, they come at about 7.30am and 8am each. In the evenings, if you can, go home past 8.30pm. If you can't, go back as early as possible. Again, there are options if you absolutely must join the crowd.

Tip #4 - If you need to travel peak: Take comfort in the fact that the legions of drivers and bus riders outside are in no better shape than you. In fact, you're in a better position as you can do other things, unless of course you like sitting in your car and swearing at the traffic jams.

Ticketing options are the first important step to save time. I use the monthly travel ticket option to save time. Imagine the long queue at the counter, then later at the turnstiles. Takes about 15 minutes to get through, right? Imagine doing that for every trip. 15minutesX2X20 = 10 hours per month in queue. That's a lot of time! Instead, spend RM100 and wave your ticket at the guard and walk right through, and use your time for something else. Chances are you'll be using close to a RM100 each month anyway.

Choosing a queue is the next step. Typically queues closest to the stairs for stations you walk up to (typically the outdoor ones) have the shortest queues as most people are too lazy to use the stairs. The same tend to find it unreasonable to walk from the escalators or lifts to the other end to queue. For walk down stations, queues blocked by walls are your best bet as they limit the size of the queue. It might be worth waiting in the neighbouring queue to pounce through the shorter queue if you have the chance. Above all, don't let the queue size fool you. Choose the queue with the most aggressive/impatient/pressed for time looking people in front who will tend to squeeze into a crowded train. I was blocked once for 4 trains by a lady in front of my who was too timid to squeeze in and too clueless to step aside. This resulted in many people from the next (and a longer one!) queue getting ahead of me! Grrr...
One more thing, stand with the queue that does the exiting crowd does not turn towards. It's more difficult to get into the train that way.

Tip #5 - Packing: I'll leave this one for the next post :).

If you ever need privacy... ;)

I passed by the Old KTM station along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin this morning. It was unsurprisingly empty since most of the old traffic has been taken over by KL Sentral. And when I said empty, I really meant empty, as even the guy who's usually watching the turnstiles wasn't there! As I walked down the along the platform, it occured to me that I probably had 15 minutes to do whatever I wanted in open space and no one would notice.

Lower in the tunnels there's more privacy. I estimate that I would have had the tunnels all to myself for at least 15 minutes if I really wanted it. ;)

Point of the post, if you can't find a room in the morning in KL, use the Old KTM station. You can do most things there in 15 ;). Use the platform if you're more adventurous. I promise I won't look.

Lol!