A survivor’s guide to public transportation

1. Use the most reliable public transportation system when you can. New Yorkers, for example, take the subway to work when they can, not the slower and less reliable busses.

2. Use the route with the fewest possible transfers, even if it adds some time to your trip. Transfers where you have to wait are the number one way to add time to your trip. The fewer the transfers, the fewer chances for wasted time.

3. Use the cheaper route only if it is reasonably fast and stress-free. You can take nine hours by train to go from Edinburgh to London, or you can take 30 hours by bus. The bus is cheaper, but you'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it.

4. Make a plan. Have your route mapped out beforehand. It's easier and less stressful to change a prearranged plan than to fly blind from the beginning. Use trip planners for your particular public transportation network online. Be careful about relying on them too much, as they don't always give you the fastest or most straightforward route.

5. Be productive. Lots of people bring music along for the ride, which helps pass the time. But it doesn't help with that nasty feeling of wasted time. To combat this, try bringing along a book or educational application that you've been meaning to read or listen to but haven't had the time. If you feel that you're doing something productive, you can make your commuting time feel more positive. Standing around waiting, feeling that time is slipping through your fingers, is one of the most stressful parts of using public transportation.

6. Be nice. Everybody that uses the public transportation system is in the same boat. "Excuse me", "Please" and "Thank you" go a long way, even when you're shouting them at people who seem absolutely determined not to move out of the way when you're trying to get out the door of the subway train or bus at your stop. It also wouldn't kill you to give up your seat for the very young, the very old, the very pregnant and the handicapped.

7. Speaking of stress, nothing in this modern world quite illustrates Jean Paul Sartre's famous quote, "Hell is other people", like public transportation. Overcrowded busses and trains, complainers, drunks and bullies rate high on the stress meter for commuters. But you can use this to your advantage. Look at these distractions as opportunities to practice your patience, tolerance and conflict management skills, or at the very least, your ability to count silently to ten.

8. Finally, walk when you can. It's good for you and can help you make a short cut between transport options. How far and long you're willing to walk is up to you, but if you work it into your plan, you can get some needed exercise and fresh air while still arriving where you need to go in a reasonable amount of time.

Dialogue area

Read and translate the following dialogues.

***I***

A: Would you mind giving me some directions?

B: What are you looking for?

A: The Central Exhibition. Do you know where it is?

B: The Central Exhibition? Well, it's pretty far from here. You'd better take a bus.

A: Is it a long ride?

B: About ten minutes by bus.

A: Which bus do I take to get there?

B: Let me think. It's probably best of all to take Bus 5 on Second Street.

A: And where is Second Street, please?

B: Walk down this street to the next intersection and turn right.

A: You will be on Second Street.

B: The bus stop will be near a small park on your right.

A: Thank you.

B: Anytime. Have a nice day.