Crowding around doors in public transport

[Tan_CJ]

In Singapore, it is commonplace to not be able to get on a bus, only to find out later on that the rear of the bus is empty. It is also not unusual to not be able to get onto a train where the space in between doors are empty. Sometimes, it seems that the people crowding around the doors just have to move in a little, and everyone can get onto the vehicle. But why aren't they moving? Below are a few possible reasons.

The "If I move in, I will not be able to get out" mindset
Everyone will know that, if you are too far inside the vehicle, you will find it hard to get out of the vehicle, mostly because it is simply too crowded. This is why if the next stop is the stop where one alights, he/she will usually stand near the doors. This will not be a problem if he/she is the only one alighting, but it will be when everyone is alighting at the next stop. In this case, most will simply stand near the doors of the vehicle, and hence people trying to board the vehicle will have to wait for the next vehicle (or a few more in some cases).

Low-entry bus, need 2 steps to reach rear of bus
This is why the transport operators are buying low-floor buses, to encourage commuters to move to the rear. In a low-entry bus (e.g. Scania K230UB), people are generally reluctant to go up 2 steps to stand at that narrow walkway. This results in the bus being super crowded at the front half, and relatively empty (sometimes with seats) at the rear half. However, even in a low-floor bus (like the Citaro), people will prefer to stand at the standing area, and not to go to the rear half of the bus, resulting in the situation described in the introduction. This is where the third reason comes in, elaborated below.

Walkway is too narrow
The walkway is very narrow at the rear half of the bus. Hence, to solve this, newer buses have some seats removed to widen this walkway, encouraging commuters to move in. However, from observation, this removal of seats only have a limited effect on commuters. It seems apparent that the first reason above is too important for them to move in.

Unaware of the situation
While standing from far, one can easily spot the root of the problem - unaware commuters. Usually, they will be using their devices and focused on it such that, they aren't aware of the people trying to board the vehicle. Hence, behind them is a very big space, while in front of them is where people all squeezed like packed sardines in a can. These people will only gain awareness after someone informs them (usually by shouting), and even so, they might not move in all the way, but only move in enough for others to pass by them.

The above reasons only point to one aspect of being human - selfishness. People are generally selfish and hence, will not spare a thought for others unless bring asked to, or when it affects themselves. If people just spare some thoughts for others boarding the vehicle, this post will be non-existent. But, being in a nation where free things are taken for granted (see the many cases of vandalism on the bike-sharing bikes?), and where people come with itchy hands (see this post), I don't think I will see that happening, at least in the near future.

[SG1201T Citaro]

Saw this phenomenon happening from afar while on duty -an OC500LE operating on 172 was extremely full at the front, but at the back only the seats were occupied, the aisle was free of people and it could fit even more. In this scenario some bus drivers might open the rear door and allow passengers to board from there while reprogramming the EZ link units at the back of the bus - happened to me on 975 before. However, as the bus driver from SMB8019E on 190 told me, this was prohibited by the PTOs as it can lead to fare-evasion, which is a crime, although with the new NOBEs the driver can reprogram the EZ link units at the rear doors to allow passengers to board from there.
(Coincidentially, if one were to observe Services 179 or 241 departing from Boon Lay Interchange during the morning peak, or Service 902 departing from Woodlands when it is operating, the staff managing traffic flow actually actively encourages passengers to board from the rear to speed up the boarding process and to ensure the space in the bus is fully utilized).

However, this problem is not limited only to SD buses; it has been noted that at times DDs face a similar situation as well, with the lower deck being fully occupied while the upper deck still has plenty of seats. One possible reason is that some passengers, taking for only one or two stops, find it inconvinient to have to climb up and down for that short duration; in addition, they fear that the crowd at the lower deck will prevent them from getting to the exit doors in time (something which the second set of staircases on SG5999Z helps to alleviate), therefore, they prefer to stay on the lower deck out of convinience. Of course, if anyone has another opinion on this, feel free to share

[SG1201T Citaro]

although with the new NOBEs the driver can reprogram the EZ link units at the rear doors to allow passengers to board from there.
(Coincidentially, if one were to observe Services 179 or 241 departing from Boon Lay Interchange during the morning peak, or Service 902 departing from Woodlands when it is operating, the staff managing traffic flow actually actively encourages passengers to board from the rear to speed up the boarding process and to ensure the space in the bus is fully utilized).

In fact, this is most likely done routinely on routes with high demand - this was observed when hunting for TIB1215Z to return to Boon Lay on 172, the preceding buses(all of which were MAN A95 Batch 3s) had their rear doors open at boarding and the SMRT staff was actively encouraging passengers to board from the rear to speed up passenger flow.

[Tan_CJ]

In fact, this is most likely done routinely on routes with high demand - this was observed when hunting for TIB1215Z to return to Boon Lay on 172, the preceding buses(all of which were MAN A95 Batch 3s) had their rear doors open at boarding and the SMRT staff was actively encouraging passengers to board from the rear to speed up passenger flow.

Back in 2015 while taking 975 back to camp on Sunday nights, the captain will open the rear doors sometimes for passengers to board. If I recall, it only occurred on the relatively new A22s. It didn't occur on the step-entry DAF SB220.

Even further back in 2013, on weekday mornings on service 168, the driver will sometimes open the rear doors to allow the students to board the bus. I remember seeing it on a Volvo Olympian (probably SBS9522C). Because at that time the system probably wasn't configured, I presume they got a free 20km ride

[SG1201T Citaro]

Low-entry bus, need 2 steps to reach rear of bus
This is why the transport operators are buying low-floor buses, to encourage commuters to move to the rear. In a low-entry bus (e.g. Scania K230UB), people are generally reluctant to go up 2 steps to stand at that narrow walkway. This results in the bus being super crowded at the front half, and relatively empty (sometimes with seats) at the rear half. However, even in a low-floor bus (like the Citaro), people will prefer to stand at the standing area, and not to go to the rear half of the bus, resulting in the situation described in the introduction. This is where the third reason comes in, elaborated below.

Walkway is too narrow
The walkway is very narrow at the rear half of the bus. Hence, to solve this, newer buses have some seats removed to widen this walkway, encouraging commuters to move in. However, from observation, this removal of seats only have a limited effect on commuters. It seems apparent that the first reason above is too important for them to move in.

MAN A22 Batch 2 buses have 2 seats removed(1 at the front on the right side, 1 at the back, also on the right) for this very reason; however, as the rear seats require a step up, it has been observed that many commuters still find this inconvinient and therefore will tend to crowd in the aisle, negating this change.

[Class234]

Singaporeans what do you expect?No1 complain kings/Queens in Asia,Pay meaning others are slave to them..Ungrateful,arrogant and self-entitled.Its our damm stupid laws that what we become today.


The three doors DDs wont help much either trust me cause its only 12.5M instead of usual 13m..Feeders and airport better use a mix of bendy buses