Source: Straits Times
You see them trundling around campus, ferrying loads of students in between faculties and the ever-bustling U-town. They are the free shuttle buses that NUS provide so that we can travel to and fro the places we need to be, especially those residing in campus accommodation and thus for whom the public buses do not reach.
But trying to board and ride a NUS shuttle bus can be a game of survival of the fittest- especially when everyone is about to have lecture and comes out of their rooms in droves. Perhaps you’ve already experienced what happens when the waiting crowd surges forward at an arriving B1 bus and you know you won’t be able to make it on. Or, you’ve squeezed your way there, but can’t seem to find your balance on the up and down, windy roads in NUS.
Here, we share our tips on how you can strategize to make the best bus trip experience possible.
Year 3 Info Systems senior, Derpy
According to this seasoned traveler, time and determination are essential factors in securing a spot on the shuttle buses. This may be a no-brainer, but when the 8am tutorial rolls around, you might find it hard to be motivated enough to get out of bed. Remember that going to the busstop on time helps you to get a choice waiting spot without jostling with the incoming crowd of students. And who knows, you might catch an early bus that’s less packed. “40 minutes before lesson starts”, he says, is the optimal time to catch a bus.
Next is what Derpy calls the “killing intent”. No humans are harmed in the execution of this, but a strong sense of determination is required for a student to be able to board the bus. This simply means that you do not shrink back when people gather around the doors, but join the crowd and wait patiently for your turn to enter- no pushing and shoving. You are willing to be squeezed just a little in order to take advantage of the space that’s left on board, encouraging others in the bus who haven’t moved in yet to make the existing room work for everyone boarding.
And an extra tip? “Bag down for a better ride,” he intones. We may well take his words wisely.
Year 4 Arts senior, who does wish to be named
From this senior’s testimony, she advises: “Always enter by the front of the bus if possible.” The rationale for this is that most passengers alight from the back door, as that’s the normal way of exiting. Since this is the case, the back bus door most often takes a longer time to clear, which means you will be boarding the bus even later than those who take the front route- that has less people exiting out of and therefore clears faster.
Year 2 Info Systems senior, Btoh
“Wear a durian armour,” this student says. (He’s kidding). His actual tip is to not be afraid to sit down, whether it’s the mentality that you don’t really need the seat- we’re mostly all healthy young adults here- or that you might be getting off soon anyway. This matters because sitting down makes space for others who just need a spot on the bus to make it for their next class.
Source: https://theisbman.home.blog
