An Appeal of a Commuter

Been watching American TV Series and Koreanovelas and i noticed how their bus stop rules were implemented in such a way that a commuter will have to walk a few kilometers from home to get to the stop and wait for his/her bus.

It's a nice thought, especially that it gives a person a chance to stretch and take a short hike. They say walking is good for the heart. It's a refreshing physical activity that doesn't require too much effort or muscle exertion, and compared to jogging in place, walking actually gets you somewhere.

If we have "real" bus stops like those in other countries, we would be disciplined to wake up early and avoid being the buzzer beaters we sometimes are. Why? Because the trips are scheduled and we must be at the stop before it arrives so we won't miss it. Aside from that, you don't have to worry about getting accidentally hit by jeepneys and buses racing to catch passengers. Waiting sheds would also make you feel a little comfortable than plain, bold sidewalks. And hopefully MMDA will take smoke-belching vehicles out of our roads! They're slowly putting people to death. Arg.

I also wish there are officers who check conditions of drivers and conductors. There had been numerous times when i encountered suspicious bus crews. Drivers make buses fly as if the air actually has invisible road extensions, and conductors forget to give you your ticket. Sometimes they reek of cigarette smoke, and the smell suffuses inside the airconditioned bus. You'd probably want to hop down, only, you've already paid your bus fare and it would be difficult to get a bus with a good seat. So you put up with the stench and smother yourself with your fabric-conditioner-smelling handkerchief.

Instead of paying the bus driver cash for your bus fare, it's also more convenient to just swipe or tap a bar-code machine using a commuter card. You don't have to wait for the bus conductor to get your money and give you your ticket. You can avoid having a disagreement with conductors once they keep asking you for a smaller bill or loose change, or when they insist they've already given you your change or your ticket even if they really haven't.

What'd be nicer is to be able to listen to feel-good music. Instead of FM stations which play annoying pseudo-music, and worse, DJs who cackle and prattle like mentally ill patients who just got out of "Mandaluyong", it's nice to listen to CDs spinning real music that allow you to have a relaxed state while commuting. They can take away the TV as it's distracting and would just go staticky as soon as you go into a tunnel or underpass.

Wouldn't we be happier if this is the kind of commuter-life we have?

Or am i asking for too much?