A frustrated Sydney train passenger highlights a growing issue: adults wearing backpacks during peak hours on busy carriages. These bags take up extra space, hinder movement, and rub against others when trains are packed.
Peak-Hour Backpack Woes
“Take your backpack off!” declares one commuter in an online forum post. The rider notes that not just students but many adults keep backpacks on their backs, complicating boarding, exiting, and navigation. “It makes it difficult to get past them, slows progress getting on and off the carriage, and when the carriage is full, I’ve got backpacks rubbing up against me,” the passenger explains. New Metro trains exacerbate the problem, according to the post, which ends with a strong plea: “Just take your damn bag off, you inconsiderate jerks!”
Fellow commuters echo the sentiment. “OMG amen,” one replies. “I almost got a black eye the other day from someone who’d apparently stuffed their backpack with bricks before standing next to me.” Others stress consideration: “It’s about making room in the limited space available, which ultimately makes it a more enjoyable trip for everyone.” Removing the bag prevents accidental bumps during jolts. “Take it off your back so you aren’t hitting everyone when the train, metro or bus jolts. Don’t have main character energy,” advises another.
NSW Transport Etiquette Campaign
This concern aligns with NSW Transport’s recent “Creatures of Transport” campaign, which promotes kindness on public transport. “Public transport is for all of us. When we are kind and thoughtful, the ride is better for everyone,” states the campaign site. It targets “The Space Hog,” who bumps passengers with backpacks. The message reinforces: “Public transport is for everyone. Being considerate is simple, but it makes a world of difference. Let’s make every journey better by offering a seat, moving to make room, and being kind to others.”
Bags on Seats and Boarding Issues
The discussion also criticizes placing bags on empty seats during crowds. “I make a point of asking them to move it so I can sit,” one rider says. Alternatives include lap placement: “If you’re seated, the backpack simply goes on your lap. I do it and it’s not hard.”
Some hesitate to floor bags due to dirt, but solutions exist: “Twist it and carry it on the front, hanging from one arm, or carry it with both hands.” “You can take your backpack off and hold it near your legs; it doesn’t need to go on the floor,” suggests another.
Boarding etiquette draws similar ire. Commuters vent about passengers not waiting for others to exit first. “Do people in Sydney not understand that you have to WAIT for people to disembark before you try to ram yourself onto the train?” one asks. The campaign addresses “The Blocker,” who obstructs doorways, and advises: “Allow people to board and exit without obstruction.”
Etiquette expert Jo Hayes states that Australians need to brush up on public transport manners. She calls failing to wait for disembarking riders “disrespectful and inconsiderate behaviour.” “It makes the whole process unpleasant, not to mention impractical,” she adds. “It simply makes sense from a smooth process perspective to wait back or step back, let commuters disembark, then proceed to board the train.”
