Our ‘local’ tube station was the one at Russell Square - which is small compared to a lot of the other stations we passed through or got on or off at. Nevertheless, you still get a good feel of the Underground system of ticket buying while you are there. Our usual starting time was around half past nine. This is also when the morning peak time ends, so it didn’t come as a surprise that when we arrived at 20 past the station was crammed - not with people buying their tickets, but mostly with people waiting or queuing up outside to take advantage of the cheaper fare which would be available a few minutes later. As half past 9 came, everyone slowly started shuffling their way forward into a queue for the machines. A large group of foreign students were inside spilling onto the street, clearly confused by the whole system which to them was not only new but in a different language. A few people - obviously tourists like myself - had booklets out open at the page with all the different lines and zones of the underground system, trying to work out where they were going, what line they needed to take and what zone they were travelling to before they got to the ticket machine. This however did not seem to speed up the queue. As people got to the machine, they stared at it blankly, confused as to what they were doing. It didn’t help that there seemed to be a different machine for everything - one took only cards, one only cash, one gave no change - so innocent newcomers arrived at the ticket machine only to discover they needed to be at a different one. On the second day buying our tickets, there was a member of staff at the machines, there to help those lost and confused. On approach to the screen, he asked where you were going and pressed the buttons himself so all you had to do was put the money in. Needless to say this sped up the ticket purchasing process a bit - but didn’t cut down the queues.
After purchasing a ticket the next stage was to get to the right platform and wait for the train. People started to make their way from the ticket machines to the barriers, which you would think was a simple step but with masses of people in one small space - some going one way, some going another and some just standing - it was a task just to do that. People looked at you angrily if you so much as nudged them, despite the fact that you had said excuse me to them several times quite loudly, and a few people looked disapprovingly at you, obviously sticking to the stereotype that young people are rude and not for a minute considering that you were being pushed yourself! After getting through the barriers - which sometimes was a job considering that your ticket occasionally wouldn’t work - everyone made their way to the lifts to get down to platform level. Despite the lifts coming regularly (every couple of minutes) when one arrived everyone rushed to it, barging past others to get to the front and then cramming themselves in as if it was the only lift that would come that day. As you arrived on the lower levels, it was again clear as to who did this every day and who was a newcomer to the situation. Those who knew the system well and knew where they were going simply strode out the lift in whichever direction they needed to, without any worry or stress. Others milled around a little once out of the lift, looking a the signs whilst walking and trying to figure out where they were going.
Once on the platform, the screens suspended from the roof informed you as to when the next train would be arriving and where it would be headed to. This was usually 1 or 2 minutes and never longer than 5. Being a fairly regular user of trains in Scotland, this was a pleasant change compared to waiting for ages in the freezing cold while the waiting room is shut for your train which is delayed one minute, then 5, then 20! Despite the fact that trains were regular and rarely delayed, the same rule seemed to apply to getting on the train as to getting in the lift - rush for it as though it was the only one coming. The minute the noise of a train is heard, people move forward from their waiting space at the edge of the platform, and over the yellow line so that they are standing as close to the platform as possible. People rush in after running down the stairs, desperate to catch that very train and not to have to wait for the next one even though it is only a couple of minutes away. As the train slows down, people walk fast alongside it, trying to guess where the doors will stop so they can be first onto the train. Speakers overhead reminded everyone to ‘mind the gap between the train and the platform’ and to ‘allow passengers off the train before boarding’. I found that most people did generally stick to this, although when the train stopped people crowded forward to the doors, so although they may not have been boarding the train before other passengers got off, they weren’t leaving them much room to get off! Once on the train, there was more often than not one last person running to get on and almost getting crushed between the closing doors. After narrowly missing a very sore arm, they would cling to a pole or often another passenger for a second before catching their breath and glancing around to check for spare seats. Finding a seat is a tricky process - it is obviously the first ones on the train who manage to grab a seat first, but again the difference between regular users and newcomers is highlighted, as the regulars will get on and sit down as quickly as possible, whereas those who aren’t sure of the system hover uncertainly, unsure as to whether to take the seat which is in between two people they don’t know, or whether to remain standing. The decision, however, is quickly made for them, as if you do not move into that spare seat quickly someone else will! When standing, I noticed everyone else who was standing all seemed to gather in the same area around the doors so as not to invade the people who were sitting downs space by falling on them whilst going round a corner or braking, or treading on their feet. If sitting down, people kept themselves to themselves, businessmen and women usually reading a paper, others reading books or looking at magazines. Others merely gazed at a point above the windows or on the floor, trying to avoid eye contact with other passengers. Nobody made conversation with others. Safety being an obvious issue, women clutched their handbags to their bodies and men held their briefcases tightly on their knees to prevent the pickpockets and thieves the underground is well known for having. If older people got on at a stop and the seats were full, they looked expectantly at each person in turn until someone gave up their seats for them. Sometimes I felt they used being a little older to their advantage, as quite a few looked as though they would be perfectly able to stand for the duration of a few minutes. As I was travelling in a group, if we managed to get seats they were usually a few apart, and it seemed as though talking over people would be rude. The strange thing was that even if you were sitting together, talking still seemed to be rude, and if you did talk to each other it was quietly, as the thought of everyone listening to you was a bit strange. As me and a couple of friends found out, something that would usually send you into fits of giggles was hard to keep under wraps, especially when you are sitting opposite each other and making eye contact. But again, having your own private communication just didn’t seem like the right thing to do.
After purchasing a ticket the next stage was to get to the right platform and wait for the train. People started to make their way from the ticket machines to the barriers, which you would think was a simple step but with masses of people in one small space - some going one way, some going another and some just standing - it was a task just to do that. People looked at you angrily if you so much as nudged them, despite the fact that you had said excuse me to them several times quite loudly, and a few people looked disapprovingly at you, obviously sticking to the stereotype that young people are rude and not for a minute considering that you were being pushed yourself! After getting through the barriers - which sometimes was a job considering that your ticket occasionally wouldn’t work - everyone made their way to the lifts to get down to platform level. Despite the lifts coming regularly (every couple of minutes) when one arrived everyone rushed to it, barging past others to get to the front and then cramming themselves in as if it was the only lift that would come that day. As you arrived on the lower levels, it was again clear as to who did this every day and who was a newcomer to the situation. Those who knew the system well and knew where they were going simply strode out the lift in whichever direction they needed to, without any worry or stress. Others milled around a little once out of the lift, looking a the signs whilst walking and trying to figure out where they were going.
Once on the platform, the screens suspended from the roof informed you as to when the next train would be arriving and where it would be headed to. This was usually 1 or 2 minutes and never longer than 5. Being a fairly regular user of trains in Scotland, this was a pleasant change compared to waiting for ages in the freezing cold while the waiting room is shut for your train which is delayed one minute, then 5, then 20! Despite the fact that trains were regular and rarely delayed, the same rule seemed to apply to getting on the train as to getting in the lift - rush for it as though it was the only one coming. The minute the noise of a train is heard, people move forward from their waiting space at the edge of the platform, and over the yellow line so that they are standing as close to the platform as possible. People rush in after running down the stairs, desperate to catch that very train and not to have to wait for the next one even though it is only a couple of minutes away. As the train slows down, people walk fast alongside it, trying to guess where the doors will stop so they can be first onto the train. Speakers overhead reminded everyone to ‘mind the gap between the train and the platform’ and to ‘allow passengers off the train before boarding’. I found that most people did generally stick to this, although when the train stopped people crowded forward to the doors, so although they may not have been boarding the train before other passengers got off, they weren’t leaving them much room to get off! Once on the train, there was more often than not one last person running to get on and almost getting crushed between the closing doors. After narrowly missing a very sore arm, they would cling to a pole or often another passenger for a second before catching their breath and glancing around to check for spare seats. Finding a seat is a tricky process - it is obviously the first ones on the train who manage to grab a seat first, but again the difference between regular users and newcomers is highlighted, as the regulars will get on and sit down as quickly as possible, whereas those who aren’t sure of the system hover uncertainly, unsure as to whether to take the seat which is in between two people they don’t know, or whether to remain standing. The decision, however, is quickly made for them, as if you do not move into that spare seat quickly someone else will! When standing, I noticed everyone else who was standing all seemed to gather in the same area around the doors so as not to invade the people who were sitting downs space by falling on them whilst going round a corner or braking, or treading on their feet. If sitting down, people kept themselves to themselves, businessmen and women usually reading a paper, others reading books or looking at magazines. Others merely gazed at a point above the windows or on the floor, trying to avoid eye contact with other passengers. Nobody made conversation with others. Safety being an obvious issue, women clutched their handbags to their bodies and men held their briefcases tightly on their knees to prevent the pickpockets and thieves the underground is well known for having. If older people got on at a stop and the seats were full, they looked expectantly at each person in turn until someone gave up their seats for them. Sometimes I felt they used being a little older to their advantage, as quite a few looked as though they would be perfectly able to stand for the duration of a few minutes. As I was travelling in a group, if we managed to get seats they were usually a few apart, and it seemed as though talking over people would be rude. The strange thing was that even if you were sitting together, talking still seemed to be rude, and if you did talk to each other it was quietly, as the thought of everyone listening to you was a bit strange. As me and a couple of friends found out, something that would usually send you into fits of giggles was hard to keep under wraps, especially when you are sitting opposite each other and making eye contact. But again, having your own private communication just didn’t seem like the right thing to do.
Getting off the train was the same rush as getting on, everyone cramming to the doors and shoving to get off first, and then of course having to push past the eagerly awaiting passengers ready to get on as soon as they saw a space. As you proceeded up the huge escalators to the upper levels, the rules were clearly marked with a ‘please stand on the right’ sign every few metres. Those in a hurry rushed past you on the left hand side and were clearly irritated at anyone not obeying the rules. As you reached ground level again and proceeded through the barriers to the station, everyone rushed forward to the exit and out, their experience over at least for that moment.
After the 7/7 London Underground bombings in 2005, safety is obviously a big issue. After being at a few stations, the change in not only the structure and design of the Westminster station, but the atmosphere in it was very apparent. Compared to other stations, the feeling of being safe was very much there. Between the platform and the tracks was a sort of glass barrier, which I assumed to be very tough and bombproof. This encased the train so that if anything happened to it the Houses of Parliament would be safe. Going through the station the whole place seemed a lot safer, mainly due to the design and the strong structure of the building, as well as the fact that nobody was rushing and there was no bustle and pushing and shoving, although this could have been due to the fact that we were there just after rush hour. After discovering that one of the bombings of 7/7 happened on the very line that we were travelling on daily, this was a strange feeling. If you didn’t know about the bombings you probably wouldn’t have found out, as the only thing to tell about it was a plaque outside the station.
Doing this assignment, I feel that I have learnt more about how important gaining experience in different situations is to design. By putting yourself in the shoes of the person or people you are designing for, this puts you in a better place to improve your designs and make them more effective as you yourself have an insight to what is needed. By researching in this way and trying to fully understand the needs of your client this will consequently make your designs better.
After the 7/7 London Underground bombings in 2005, safety is obviously a big issue. After being at a few stations, the change in not only the structure and design of the Westminster station, but the atmosphere in it was very apparent. Compared to other stations, the feeling of being safe was very much there. Between the platform and the tracks was a sort of glass barrier, which I assumed to be very tough and bombproof. This encased the train so that if anything happened to it the Houses of Parliament would be safe. Going through the station the whole place seemed a lot safer, mainly due to the design and the strong structure of the building, as well as the fact that nobody was rushing and there was no bustle and pushing and shoving, although this could have been due to the fact that we were there just after rush hour. After discovering that one of the bombings of 7/7 happened on the very line that we were travelling on daily, this was a strange feeling. If you didn’t know about the bombings you probably wouldn’t have found out, as the only thing to tell about it was a plaque outside the station.
Doing this assignment, I feel that I have learnt more about how important gaining experience in different situations is to design. By putting yourself in the shoes of the person or people you are designing for, this puts you in a better place to improve your designs and make them more effective as you yourself have an insight to what is needed. By researching in this way and trying to fully understand the needs of your client this will consequently make your designs better.
No comments:
Post a Comment