Top 10 tips for the Tube
Posted on | July 13, 2010 | 3 Comments
This is a rehash of a post from an earlier incarnation of my blog. I wrote it in November 2009, four months after I started working in London and using the Tube for part of my journey. Eight months later, and in fact, exactly 1 year after I started my job, I found myself nodding and agreeing – yes, with myself – when re-reading through my tips for the Tube.
After another fun-filled morning of people who are clearly oblivious to how much grief just one person on the wrong side of an escalator can cause, it’s high time for me to trot out 10 of my best tips for the Tube. Ignore them at your peril.
1. If the ticket barrier says “Seek assistance” – do it. If you try and use a ticket or an Oyster card that flashes up a message, “Seek assistance”, this isn’t the machine telling you to keep feeding it the same ticket until it croaks. Occasionally, you may have better luck on one of the other ticket barriers, but your best bet is probably to hunt down the nearest member of staff as soon as you can, so any problems with your ticket or card can be quickly addressed.
There’s a small caveat, though. Some ticket barriers will attempt to stop people from trying to quickly run through after the person in front of them, and therefore avoid swiping their Oyster card. I believe this is why at some Tube stations (notably the Circle / Hammersmith & City branch of Hammersmith Tube station), if you get a red light, you need to step back off the metal flooring and try your card again. Strange, but true.
2. Be careful when it’s wet. When it’s been raining, the Tube is slippery. Shiny floors and shoes that don’t grip are a bad combination, particularly in wet weather. Escalators are potentially lethal. Watch your step!
3. Stand on the right. That’s the right. Not the left. When there’s a long line of people standing on the right of an escalator, it’s nice to have a clear path so you can walk on the left. I sometimes walk on the left to get a bit of exercise, and to get around the Tube that little bit faster. It is infuriating to walk partway up or down an escalator only to find you can’t get any further because someone or something is blocking the way. Especially if the right-hand side of the escalator is free, but not quite free enough for you to get around! That brings me nicely to the next point…
4. One pushchair can create an enormous queue. I certainly wouldn’t want to try and use a wheelchair on the Tube, as a lot of the stations just aren’t equipped for it. But you’d think that people with a pushchair would understand this too. Nope, instead they just plough on regardless. Some of the escalators are long, and taking a pushchair with you can create a massive queue. It can’t be easy for you to get around the Tube with a pushchair – wouldn’t it be easier to take the bus? (Thoughts welcome; I’m not sure of the best option here, but I’m not sure the Tube is the best way.)
5. Let people off before you get on. Really, it’s just common courtesy, although sometimes there are so many people getting off it’s hard to know when you’ll be able to get on. But it’s going to be a lot slower if everyone gets on before everyone else gets off. Especially on the Victoria line.
6. Don’t try and pull the doors open. If the doors are closing or they have just closed, don’t try and get on or off the train. I’ve actually seen someone trying to pull the doors open from outside. They succeeded, but didn’t get on because one of the Tube staff was quite patiently asking them to stop. It’s for your own safety really.
7. If loads of people get on but there’s another train in 1 minute, wait for the next one. I’ve seen this a lot – a huge crowd of people swarm onto an already-busy train. The result: a very crowded train. Check when the next train is coming – if it’ll be there in 1 or 2 minutes, it may be quieter. You do have to get on at some point, and they might all be pretty busy, but this tip has worked for me on a number of occasions – it’s worth a shot.
8. Once you get on, don’t just stop immediately in front of the doors. With so many people getting on, it’s important to make use of the available space. Don’t just get on and stand by the door if there’s room in front of the seats and other people are getting on behind you. I’ve seen people who block the empty walkways and force everyone to stand in a big crowd just to get on. A bit silly if you ask me.
9. The driver won’t wait for you to sit down. If you get a seat, sit down right away – don’t mess around with your coat, bag or hair. I’ve seen plenty of people who end up sitting on the person next to them because the train set off just as they were sitting down.
10. And if you’re standing – hold on! The Tube can be a jerky ride, particularly when it starts and stops, but there can be plenty of bumps along the way. If you can, hold on. There are people who seem to be able to stand without holding on, but if you’re not sure you can do it, don’t take the risk.
Do you have any tips for the Tube? Is there anything that you find particularly annoying?
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July 15th, 2010 @ 10:50 am
I loved your post
Coming from central London where i have lived all my life i totally agree with all your tips.
It’s all common sense really but as you are now aware this doesn’t exist on the London Underground.
Thankfully over the last few years conditions on the tube have greatly improved but not common sense it’s still a free for all a majority of the time and always will be.
The tube is the best way to get around especially if the journey is an awkward routed one, my tip is if possible getting a bus (as long as you are not going through Oxford Street on it)can be much quicker so check before you set out.
July 17th, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
Thanks steve – unfortunately, I work near to Oxford Street, so the bus isn’t much help for getting in!
July 18th, 2010 @ 8:40 am
Ahh! i live just up the road Marylebone/Edgware Rd so i understand.