NationStates Jolt Archive

Here in Lombardy the commuters are restless, expecially the ones using the public transport network. Trains are often late, train cars are often dirty, heating doesn't function - or functions too much; Milan Metro is overcrowded; the trams and buses of Milan are often blocked in traffic jams, or because of cars parked on the tracks; it's almost impossible to find a taxi in the rush hours, etc, etc.

So, I wonder: how do you perceive the operating standards of your local public transportation network? Too many times late? Dirty cars? Traffic jams?

Poll coming, btw.

Interesting. I work for an MP who is part of the ruling Labor Party in the state of Victoria in Oz. Until recently her office was in her electorate where I also live. I walked to work.

For various reasons the electorate office lease was broken just before Christmas and we have a temporary office in the City. I now have to catch public transport.

Well, my boss is now being hammered by her staff about how unreliable, crowded and all-round shitty public transport is.

I really do believe that all politicians, my boss included, be required to use public transport to and from Parliament. Didn't Joe Biden make a name for himself by doing just that?

I'm using it on a daily basis to get to and from work.
The quality varies. On routes that are more... shall we say, exposed, such as from Cork city to the airport, you will find busses usually on time, new and comfy busses, and plenty of busses at any given time.

On less touristy routes, such as from Cork out to where I live, you get old busses, few of them and they usually aren't anywhere near on time.

I only tend to use public transport on the way to and from the hospital each day. Thankfully it's one of the more important routes in town so there's a bus every 20 minutes leaving from just outside my front door.

HK's public transport is pretty much world-class, I use it every day, it's clean, efficient and pretty cheap.

I agree with Errinundera, politicians should be using public transport.

The biggest problem with our busses up to a few weeks ago is that we were in the grip of a 51 day transit strike. Other than that they aren't bad; the route I take to work shows up every fifteen minutes.

Well, I never use mass-transit in America. I have my car and that works for me.

However, when I'm in Switzerland or Germany I literally always use the public transportation system. I have never once driven a car in Central Europe and I get around everywhere. The system is efficient, clean and always on time.

Funny story. One time in Switzerland we had ran a bit to get to our train . . . and we finally got there and the train was running literally 2 minutes late. Well there were a group of older Swiss men and women standing next to us (we are all young) and they were freaking out, like life itself was coming to a halt, simply because the train was 2 minutes late.

We were giggling but I do appreciate this attitude. . . it's what keeps everything running so on time and efficiently in Switzerland (and Germany, as well, though not quite like Switzerland).

Ris, as much as I love Italy, Italians, their food (sausage & Gnocchi, OMGIWNFFF*) and the climate, keeping buses and trains running on time doesn't sound like the sort of thing you'd all be good at.

The vehicles are always late, and while there is a published schedule, it is not adhered to. The only reason that COTA survives is because Ohio State pumps millions of dollars in (strange university-to-city) subsidies into it to keep a ready transit mechanism operating so students without cars can get around Columbus.

When I was in Washington, though, the public transit was fantastic. I didn't need my car in that city, it was on time, prices were reasonable (especially once my employer subsidized my tickets), vehicles were comfortable, clean and safe. Second best public commute I've ever taken. The single best was in Germany, but that's no shock, ja?

*Ohmygawdiwantnowfeedfeedfeed

Poll coming, btw.
Where's the "There isn't any" choice?

Where's the "There isn't any" choice?

Where I live, I can catch a train or 2 different tram routes, drive or cycle. Choice isn't a problem.

Here it's really only ok because there are three possible buses that I can take from within walking distance of my house that bring me directly to work (well, one I have to walk a little). If I go later in the day, the service sucks and if I want to go most other places in the city, the service sucks. Going into the office on weekends is also shitty.

The buses are often vandalised, sometimes dirty and I usually don't have much of an idea when the buses are actually supposed to come because few of the stops have any schedules posted.

Oh, plus the bus is really expensive. It's up to $2.75 a trip. The only reason I don't walk instead is that I'm given a bus pass.

Also: So far my favourite city for public transit is Seattle. It's free within downtown and if you're not traveling during peak hours it's $1.50. Granted, I didn't try to get too many places with it, just to and from my hostel when I stayed there and I was only there for a couple of days.

I have a bicycle. I don't need public transportation all that often.

I can deal with all the other stuff, but the fact that services basically stop around midnight, even on Saturdays, is just crap. Sydney has around the clock service even on normal weekdays.

NYC Subway or PATH depending on my mood and NJ Transit commuter train. Makes for about 1.5 hours on the train each way

The transit system in Chicago is so-so. They've done a pretty good job recently of getting the train tracks back in shape (note for future: do not have the Mafia build the train tracks) and cleaning up the buses, but they haven't figured out a way to avoid the crunch getting into and out of the CBD at peak times, and if you're not travelling to/through the CBD it's not very efficient, but it does get you most places in the city. I didn't own a car until a few months ago and I didn't miss having one. They'll need a major upgrade to handle the traffic if we get the Olympics (pleasenopleasenopleaseno).

Living in car-culture-land I do run into a lot of people who refuse to take public transit even when it's ridiculous not to -- they'd rather spend 2 hours stuck in traffic to go to the Cubs game rather than take the L which stops so close to Wrigley Field the station's practically in play. I also run into Chicagoans of a certain age who won't take public transit because think that nothing's improved since the 70s.

I'm pretty happy with mine. They don't run on time, but they do stop and wait if you if they see you running towards them, which is probably the main reason they don't run on time.

It's mostly okay, cheap(i got goldcards and freetravel on buses nationwide and free trains in west midlands.) , it's okay(to shrewes bury any way). Only problem is once it's not free it's pricey like £7.75 to telford and 51.90 to wales from brum.

I'm pretty happy with mine. They don't run on time, but they do stop and wait if you if they see you running towards them, which is probably the main reason they don't run on time.

^^ This.
It's something I've always appreciated about Irish public transport, and hated about the German public transport.

I don't use the local one(as in, near my actual home) much, but the one in Dublin works pretty well(I'm there Sunday evening to Friday afternoon). I've only ever been late for something once due to inability to get a bus, but I that was because I didn't try to get a bus very hard, because I was in no rush to get back to that particular class.

I can get anywhere using the T system around here.

The problem is it is never on time. Ever.

if i drive 45 miles i can catch the local commuter train that can take me the 100 miles-ish to santa fe.

i havent done it yet (the parking lot in belen isnt particularly secure) but i intend to. i guess i better get to it before the state runs out of money and has to shut it down.

The way my current class schedule is I can walk to all of my classes. But the campus is pretty spread out so there is a shuttle system here. It seems to work pretty well, although the busier lines can get pretty crowded. At night on campus there is also SAFE team, which is basically a bunch of security people on golf carts who patrol around and, if you call the SAFE team number, will bring you from wherever you are on campus back to your residence hall or wherever you need to go. I called it when an event I was helping with finished much later than expected, at 11 or so.

I use the public transit here almost every day, and it's fine, for the most part. The buses have a tendency to run late at certain times of the day, but not horribly so. Also, they don't run on Sunday, which really sucks.

I try to walk everywhere, because I really dislike the subways and buses. Not because there's anything particularly wrong with them per se, but because I really don't like large, noisy crowds of people in confined spaces. There are also commuter trains, which I take rarely. The trains and intercity buses take awhile, but then, getting out of the city by any means takes awhile, up to and including by airplane, so meh.

So, should cars and other private transportation be banned inside of urban areas of a given density?

So, should cars and other private transportation be banned inside of urban areas of a given density?

No. Rather, car use should be taxed, and made sufficiently difficult to manage that people have to park in government-owned parking lots which charge exorbitant prices or be required to move it twice a week and risk people breaking into it all the time. This should discourage people to own cars sufficiently to lower traffic. While it doesn't actually do that, it will make enough money for the government to fund a decent public transport system.

No. Rather, car use should be taxed, and made sufficiently difficult to manage that people have to park in government-owned parking lots which charge exorbitant prices or be required to move it twice a week and risk people breaking into it all the time. This should discourage people to own cars sufficiently to lower traffic. While it doesn't actually do that, it will make enough money for the government to fund a decent public transport system.

That sounds complicated. Why would you do that instead of just banning cars in the downtown area?

That sounds complicated. Why would you do that instead of just banning cars in the downtown area?

I dunno. But it's worked for NYC. Except the government doesn't use the money to fund the public transport system, instead choosing to use it for valuable initiatives such as delaying repair of the roads, buying the Mayor a new yacht, settling debts the city racked up under the last Mayor, and ignoring examples of police brutality. :-S Banning cars would be simpler, but I'm sure there's some kind of objection to that, although I'm not sure what it is.

That sounds complicated. Why would you do that instead of just banning cars in the downtown area?

It seems to be working for London.
It's difficult banning cars altogether, there will always be people who need to transport stuff from point A to point B, for example.
Also, more money in the public pocket is not to be sneezed at, I think. Especially if it's dedicated funds to be used for public transport.

I own a car, but in Madrid, I rather use the buses and the metro to get to places. It's better, I don't have to deal with the stress of traffic, my car suffers less and I spend less money on communting monthly. I like our public transportation system, it works pristinely.

It seems to be working for London.
It's difficult banning cars altogether, there will always be people who need to transport stuff from point A to point B, for example.
Also, more money in the public pocket is not to be sneezed at, I think. Especially if it's dedicated funds to be used for public transport.

It does seem to be working to reduce congestion, but it requires a certain amount of high technology, i.e. a forest of cameras recording everything. Ignoring privacy issues for a second, you would still have to deal with som esort of infrastructure for this surveullance. Two problems I see with it are the high cost (making it inaccessible for large cities in developing nations) and the maintenance of the cameras, which would be difficult in demanding climactic conditions like the Canadian winter.

It does seem to be working to reduce congestion, but it requires a certain amount of high technology, i.e. a forest of cameras recording everything. Ignoring privacy issues for a second, you would still have to deal with som esort of infrastructure for this surveullance. Two problems I see with it are the high cost (making it inaccessible for large cities in developing nations) and the maintenance of the cameras, which would be difficult in demanding climactic conditions like the Canadian winter.

Granted, London has a highly sophisticated system.
However, you can enforce the whole thing on a much less high-tech level, all you would need are stickers for the windscreens, the way the Swiss and Austrians make people pay to use their autobahns.

Granted, London has a highly sophisticated system.
However, you can enforce the whole thing on a much less high-tech level, all you would need are stickers for the windscreens, the way the Swiss and Austrians make people pay to use their autobahns.

How do they know who has a sticker and who doesn't?

How do they know who has a sticker and who doesn't?

They look at the windscreen... ??

The public transportation in my area consists of buses, it is disorganized and confusing and inefficient. It is also expensive and unreliable.

Downtown they have trolley type buses and they are also organized in a confusing manner but they do run on time.

I wish they would re-work them to run in a similar way as the buses when I lived in Tucson, which was easy to understand and efficient.

They look at the windscreen... ??

How do they look at the windscreen of each and every car on the autobahns?

How do they look at the windscreen of each and every car on the autobahns?

With their eyes?






I dunno. Maybe there are tollbooths where cars have to slow down to get the sticker scanned, or something. They have those on US toll highways.

How do they look at the windscreen of each and every car on the autobahns?

They don't check every single one. But they do have checkpoints, and car patrols.

So, would you then have these checkpoints around an urban core, and roving patrols inside?

Ris, as much as I love Italy, Italians, their food (sausage & Gnocchi, OMGIWNFFF*) and the climate, keeping buses and trains running on time doesn't sound like the sort of thing you'd all be good at.

Sigh. Milan's tramways and metro used to be on par with Swiss ones... until about 15 years ago. Then it's gone downhill. :(

Ahi serva Italia, di dolore ostello / nave sanza nocchiero in gran tempesta / non donna di provincie, ma bordello.

Where's the "There isn't any" choice?

Maybe the "stops too distant".

(btw, there isn't any public transportation? where do you live?)

Here in Lombardy the commuters are restless, expecially the ones using the public transport network. Trains are often late, train cars are often dirty, heating doesn't function - or functions too much; Milan Metro is overcrowded; the trams and buses of Milan are often blocked in traffic jams, or because of cars parked on the tracks; it's almost impossible to find a taxi in the rush hours, etc, etc.

So, I wonder: how do you perceive the operating standards of your local public transportation network? Too many times late? Dirty cars? Traffic jams?

Poll coming, btw.
I have to say this: I have only once taken a train in Italy. It is an experience I never, ever want to repeat, period.

Public transport in Sheffield is pretty good, both the buses and the tram are relatively inexpensive and frequent, although I don't take either that often. It's a shame the government won't expand the tram though, there was a plan to expand it to where I live a few years back, but the government said no, as usual. It would be nice if I could use return tickets from one bus company on the same route used by the other, but would be far too sensible for a government obsessed with the free market.

The trains to London used to be good, until they replaced them with ones that were 1) smaller and 2) had a higher proportion of first class seats than the old ones. The traisn from London to home are really shit and eye-wateringly expensive too. I won't talk about the buses there, because this is Middle England Suburbia. Everybody has five cars, 'cept us.

The way my current class schedule is I can walk to all of my classes. But the campus is pretty spread out so there is a shuttle system here. It seems to work pretty well, although the busier lines can get pretty crowded. At night on campus there is also SAFE team, which is basically a bunch of security people on golf carts who patrol around and, if you call the SAFE team number, will bring you from wherever you are on campus back to your residence hall or wherever you need to go. I called it when an event I was helping with finished much later than expected, at 11 or so.

I want to add that I keep my car parked on campus but I only need to use it once a week (well, twice, I guess, since I have to come back from wherever I go), for when I go grocery shopping and for when I make the hour drive back home to be with my family for a weekend (every other weekend). There really isn't any public transportation that makes that trip, so I do need to keep my car on campus until/unless some form comes up.

Back home there wasn't any public transportation and things were pretty far spread out, so you pretty much needed a car. My parents each worked half an hour away in opposite directions from each other so they couldn't really car pool either. I've heard we might get a bus line connected with the city buses in maybe 10 years. :eek:

Here in Lombardy the commuters are restless, expecially the ones using the public transport network. Trains are often late, train cars are often dirty, heating doesn't function - or functions too much; Milan Metro is overcrowded; the trams and buses of Milan are often blocked in traffic jams, or because of cars parked on the tracks; it's almost impossible to find a taxi in the rush hours, etc, etc.

So, I wonder: how do you perceive the operating standards of your local public transportation network? Too many times late? Dirty cars? Traffic jams?

Poll coming, btw.
can't answer your poll... here's why.

I like our Public transportation. my only complaint is that we're limited to one type untill recently.

We only had The Bus (http://www.thebus.org/) and it's a great way to get entertainment for a couple of bucks (if you don't have a monthly/yearly pass). a cheap tour around the island if you want. recently, they added 'the boat' which is about an hour's mini-cruise from downtown to the north (but you gotta plan it carefully, or you could end up trapped out in the 'boonies'.)

we now have the Superferry that can shuttle people from one island to another (an alternate choice from flying).

and now we will be building a rail transit system. can't wait to ride that... :D

Well, Auckland suffers from many of the problems posed in the poll question, simply because many of the items are caused by other items. Let me start with our rail system:

In the days of NZR, the Auckland suburban rail system was neglected; politicians promised massive schemes, and none of them occurred; the carriages dated to the 1930s and we were reliant on end doors which slowed boarding times and thus lengthened the trip. As a result, patronage plunged. Subsequent to privatisation in 1993, nineteen ex-Perth DMUs were purchased and they were placed on the network. It was a boon to patronage, however, there were a host of issues, not least of which was they were designed for Perth, a flat city, while Auckland is a hilly city, with rail lines of as steep as 1 in 40.

We still have those ex-Perth DMUs, and the oldest class, the ADK class DMUs, are forty years old this year, and they suffer from massive reliability issues and break down on a regular basis, causing regular lateness and cancellations. The other class of ex-Perth DMUs, the ADL class are much better and in my view are the best of the rail vehicles we have in Auckland (we also have locomotive hauled SA sets, built from ex-BR Mk II carriages and an ex-Brisbane SX set). There has been a boom in patronage in the last few years, which has made overcrowding inevitable and isn't helped by the fact that the lady in charge of the show is an ARC councillor from the Western suburbs - Western Line services are far less crowded than Southern and Eastern Line services.

The average speed of the rail system is also very slow; it takes nearly an hour to cover the 33km of the Western, and 50 minutes to cover the 35km of the Southern and Eastern.

Now on to the bus system. There has been a massive amount of investment; many buses here have air-conditioning now, and the older buses are being rapidly retired and the survivors are rarely seen outside of peak hour, which is a good thing. However, there are several problems with our bus network. The first problem is that there aren't many services, and aside from the old tram era routes, many of the routes only run to hourly frequencies. The second problem is that, while there are bus lanes, there just aren't enough here and buses get stuck in the same congestion as cars. The third problem is that the network does not completely cater for the sorts of trips that people wish to make, and there is a general lack of cross-town services.

However, the biggest problem of Auckland's system is that there is no integrated ticketing. If you wish to transfer, you need to pay a new fare, unless you pay $13 for a Discovery Pass, or $210 for a Monthly Discovery Pass. Needless to say, it discourages people from using the system.

Where's the "There isn't any" choice?

I need this option as well.

Maybe the "stops too distant".

(btw, there isn't any public transportation? where do you live?)

East Alabama, halfway between Atlanta and Birmingham. All we've got is a once a day Amtrak to Atlanta and N.O.

The DC Metro system (which also serves the suburbs) is pretty nice as subways go. The bus systems in the suburbs run better and have cleaner buses.

That said, it's only really set up to deliver people to and from the suburbs. There isn't a lot of intra-suburb transit support, so you still need a car in the suburbs (in fact, in some places inside of DC, you still need a car - the bus routes just suck).

It's also best to stay out of certain sections of the Metro network after dark.

Hamilton seems to have a pretty good Public Transportation system, not that I ever use it.

The biggest problem with Atlanta's public transportation system is that it is only really useful if you're going to a few select places, and those places don't cover anywhere that I go regularly or even come anywhere near my home.

So I really only use public transport here when I'm going specifically to somewhere with a MARTA stop and I know parking will be a pain - maybe going to a concert or something like that.

For my daily commute, I don't use public transportation, but that's mainly because the rail line into my town was built more to move tourists up into the mountains so to get to my school I'd have to go into the next city and change lines.

That said, public transportation in Japan is amazing. It's clean, fast, ALWAYS on time (Believe me, it is. If the bullet train is 2 minutes late, it makes the national news) and, depending how you're going, fairly cheap. Whenever I'm in Tokyo I always ride either Japan Rail (Yamanote for the win) or the subways. Tring to make your way by surface street in Tokyo is a good way to drive yourself insane.

Which is why I get so upset coming home and dealing with public transportation in the US. :mad:

I don't use public transportation, nor do I commute. I live close to my work, and have a car.

(unless driving for ~10 minutes is commuting)

For my daily commute, I don't use public transportation, but that's mainly because the rail line into my town was built more to move tourists up into the mountains so to get to my school I'd have to go into the next city and change lines.

That said, public transportation in Japan is amazing. It's clean, fast, ALWAYS on time (Believe me, it is. If the bullet train is 2 minutes late, it makes the national news) and, depending how you're going, fairly cheap. Whenever I'm in Tokyo I always ride either Japan Rail (Yamanote for the win) or the subways. Tring to make your way by surface street in Tokyo is a good way to drive yourself insane.

Which is why I get so upset coming home and dealing with public transportation in the US. :mad:
I've heard it's generally crowded. and that they have employees who's only job is to shove you in so the doors can close.

I do the sort of job where I'm always working in new locations. It's rare for me to work in the same place twice in one year(with a couple notable exceptions). Public Transportation would be a logistical nightmare.

I've heard it's generally crowded. and that they have employees who's only job is to shove you in so the doors can close.
Depends on where you are and when. Yes, Yamanote during the rush hour can be insanely crowded, but I've also been on it where there was no one else in the car but me.

Honestly though, that pushing people in thing has been well overblown.

I've heard it's generally crowded. and that they have employees who's only job is to shove you in so the doors can close.

I've heard that too. I also heard that companies pay for their employees' commuting on the train.

no public transportation network at my location.

In Toronto there has been an increase in morons pushing people into trains along with shootings. Take the front page of the Toronto Star today for instance...

http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/592080

Fight on bus leaves teen shot in hip
Police try to sort out sequence of events that left 17-year-old on Oakwood Ave. with serious injuries
February 24, 2009
Debra Black
STAFF REPORTER

It was sunny but bitterly cold. A young man waited at the bus stop on Oakwood Ave. near Vaughan Rd. just after lunch. The bus approached. Stopped. The doors opened. The 17-year-old stepped on the bus.

In seconds, his life changed. It was 1:19 in the afternoon yesterday.

The young man looked up as he boarded the bus at Ashbury Ave. and noticed three men he knew.

He walked to the back of the bus. Then, he returned to the front of bus. An argument began.

Then, a fight broke out. One of the men took out a handgun. A shot was fired. The 12 passengers on the bus sat frozen in their seats. Several began calling 911 using their cellphones.

What happened next is unclear.

But police putting together the scenario yesterday believe the bus then stopped.

The young man and his assailants left the bus and continued their fight outside. The victim was pistol-whipped.

More shots were fired.

The young man was shot in the hip either on the bus or during the fight on the sidewalk. The assailants fled, splitting up and disappearing into the mostly residential neighbourhood.

All that was left were shell casings and the injured young man on the sidewalk, his hip badly injured.

Within minutes, an ambulance and police were on the scene. The young man was taken to hospital where he was treated for non life-threatening injuries.

The victim was co-operating, said Const. Tony Vella. "We're doing our best to locate the three individuals as well as identify what has actually occurred on the scene and the sequence of events."

Vella said the police were looking for three men – all in their early 20s and black.

The Emergency Task Force, the forensic unit, as well as the canine unit were all on the scene yesterday.

Officers from 13 Division were also scouring the alleyways and nearby streets.

ETF vans slowly drove down the series of one-way streets.

Police dogs on their leashes sniffed the sidewalk near the bus where the shooting occurred. It remained parked by the side of the road.


At city hall, TTC chair Adam Giambrone called for calm and insisted the city's transit system is still safe.

He told the Star's Donovan Vincent that the TTC is providing police with video footage from cameras inside the bus.

Depends on where you are and when. Yes, Yamanote during the rush hour can be insanely crowded, but I've also been on it where there was no one else in the car but me.

Honestly though, that pushing people in thing has been well overblown.

What about the young women being groped on the train stories?

The DC Metro system (which also serves the suburbs) is pretty nice as subways go. The bus systems in the suburbs run better and have cleaner buses.

That said, it's only really set up to deliver people to and from the suburbs. There isn't a lot of intra-suburb transit support, so you still need a car in the suburbs (in fact, in some places inside of DC, you still need a car - the bus routes just suck).

It's also best to stay out of certain sections of the Metro network after dark.

I loved the DC metro when I lived in Maryland. Drive a car into the northern most station then ride in during the Day for tourist things.
Or come in at night and go bar hopping/clubbing. Ride the metro back north drink 2 bottles of water and a coffee in route and be sober enough to drive back to Frederick.

What about the young women being groped on the train stories?

that's mostly Japanese Porn

that's mostly Japanese Porn

So no tentacles on the train?

So no tentacles on the train?

If tentacles are involved it overrides the train status of the porn obviously.

Some of you will probably hate me for this, but we have no-fare public transit here through an appropriation for the local bus company.

Unfortunately I hardly ever use it because of the schedule the bus runs on, but it's nice to know it is there.

The public transport in Brum is ok, the bus services are usually vandalised though but there are usually enough of them to run every 15-20mins so we're not left standing at the bus stop usually too long. There are dedicated Bus Lanes but traffic jams are still a big issue, mostly when you start approaching the City Centre as they are old networks - woefully inadequate for modern usage tbh.

The trains are usually on-time although there do always seem to be trains not able to run because drivers aren't where they're meant to be.

:p

So no tentacles on the train?

Please, don't tell me that you think Japan is only about tentacles and hentai.

Please, don't tell me that you think Japan is only about tentacles and hentai.

that's what the Koreans keep telling me.

that's what the Koreans keep telling me.

Dude, Koreans make movies about poo. What did you expect?:tongue:

Dude, Koreans make movies about poo. What did you expect?:tongue:

Korean cinema still beats the daylights out of Japanese cinema.

Korean cinema still beats the daylights out of Japanese cinema.

Blasphemous... Watch "Shinobi" or any of Akira Kurosawa's films and then we talk. *facepalms*

:D

British public transport, irrespective of quality, which varies, is simply too expensive. The only remotely cheap method of transportation is the coach, and I find long coach journeys and my 2 metre tall body don't always get on well.

Blasphemous... Watch "Shinobi" or any of Akira Kurosawa's films and then we talk. *facepalms*

:D

Don't get me wrong I do love 7 samurai and several of his other works. But for recent works I don't see near the good material.
look at JSA, taeguki, May 18th (Hwaryeohan hyuga), and so on. I find far better plots and character development in the Korean Cinema then the Japanese.

that's mostly Japanese Porn

It happens regularily on Milan Metro, although one cannot tell if it's actually sexual harassment or an attempt at pickpocketing. I know this because so I'm told so by my fiancee.

Though once I have been groped, too. A lady on the tram, upon an unespected brake, failed to catch the poles provided for support, and caught my front-lower sensible parts instead. OUCH!:$

It happens regularily on Milan Metro, although one cannot tell if it's actually sexual harassment or an attempt at pickpocketing. I know this because so I'm told so by my fiancee.

Though once I have been groped, too. A lady on the tram, upon an unespected brake, failed to catch the poles provided for support, and caught my front-lower sensible parts instead. OUCH!:$

eww. cant be as bad as the time someone old enough to be my mom kilt checked me at faire.

Don't get me wrong I do love 7 samurai and several of his other works. But for recent works I don't see near the good material.
look at JSA, taeguki, May 18th (Hwaryeohan hyuga), and so on. I find far better plots and character development in the Korean Cinema then the Japanese.

I do find the Koreans, especially the karaoke shows, to be highly entertaining.:D

I do find the Koreans, especially the karaoke shows, to be highly entertaining.:D

They Call it NoRae in Korea not Karaoke.

I do find the Koreans, especially the karaoke shows, to be highly entertaining.:D

I'm Korean, and you don't find me entertaining.

I'm Korean, and you don't find me entertaining.

I hope this results in you posting a film of yourself karaokeing, or NoRaeing, as the case may be.

I hope this results in you posting a film of yourself karaokeing, or NoRaeing, as the case may be.

I am white and even i have videos of me in a noraebang

I hope this results in you posting a film of yourself karaokeing, or NoRaeing, as the case may be.

I have video of me singing at Wolf Trap - Filene Center. Does that count?

I have video of me singing at Wolf Trap - Filene Center. Does that count?

Post it and we'll see.

Post it and we'll see.

sweet i am safe no one wants to see the drunk white guy sing.

I'm Korean, and you don't find me entertaining.

There's nothing entertaining about you, is there DK? Because if there is, for the life of me I haven't been able to see it.:rolleyes:

They Call it NoRae in Korea not Karaoke.

If you say so, I have no knowledge of Korean.:wink:

There's nothing entertaining about you, is there DK? Because if there is, for the life of me I haven't been able to see it.:rolleyes:

I guess that explains why I was a baritone soloist for the entire time I was in college. Or why I was a baritone soloist two years in a row at Wolf Trap.

I guess that explains why I was a baritone soloist for the entire time I was in college. Or why I was a baritone soloist two years in a row at Wolf Trap.

There's the crux of the matter.:wink:

If you say so, I have no knowledge of Korean.:wink:

Give Koreans enough time and Karaoke will be claimed to be a Japanese knock off of NoRae.

There's the crux of the matter.:wink:

Can't help it if I can sing.

Give Koreans enough time and Karaoke will be claimed to be a Japanese knock off of NoRae.

They are certainly taking over. There's a Korean soap opera that's quite famous in Spain. Now, if I could remembere the name... Also, there's a pretty strong following of Taeyeon, a Korean singer, back home too.

Can't help it if I can sing.

Sometimes... *takes a deep breath* Bah!

Sometimes... *takes a deep breath* Bah!

My current karaoke favorite songs are anything by Frank Sinatra or Harry Connick.

My current karaoke favorite songs are anything by Frank Sinatra or Harry Connick.

I rather like some Korean songs for Karaoke, like "Romantic Cat" and "Orinalda" by Cherry Filter.

I rather like some Korean songs for Karaoke, like "Romantic Cat" and "Orinalda" by Cherry Filter.

your drunk its 6 am what else you and your friends going to do. I am half tempted to put put the brief vid on youtube now.

your drunk its 6 am what else you and your friends going to do. I am half tempted to put put the brief vid on youtube now.

Which video, Crazy Korean Girls? Because I absolutely love that vid.:D

Which video, Crazy Korean Girls? Because I absolutely love that vid.:D

which one? because i did post one of those youtube. GF's little sister and friend will do silly things on web cam when you convince them it cant be recorded.

which one? because i did post one of those youtube. GF's little sister and friend will do silly things on web cam when you convince them it cant be recorded.

It's the video from a Korean karaoke show where artists go and these girls challenge them to a song. And then, the audience and a judge panel pick who did best. The craziest one is of these girls singing "Emotion", by Yu Chae Young.

It's the video from a Korean karaoke show where artists go and these girls challenge them to a song. And then, the audience and a judge panel pick who did best. The craziest one is of these girls singing "Emotion", by Yu Chae Young.

ok. a show. cause Youtube has like 1k+ results for crazy Korean girl. I swear you put them on Camera Koreans do funny things.
though dog poop girl is the funniest.

Where I live, I can catch a train or 2 different tram routes, drive or cycle. Choice isn't a problem.

Ditto, plus 2 bus routes.

I catch the train to work everyday. My biggest gripes are lateness & overcrowding. The trains are chronically late in Melbourne, most trains I get are running late. I think part of the problem is because a service doesn't get officially recorded as not being on time unless it's 5 or more minutes late. Overcrowding's a big problem too. I often find if a train arrives more than 3 minutes late at my station (I live pretty close to the city) I often can't get on it, because it's so full. I've had mornings were 3 trains in a row were too full for me to get on.

I think Melbourne actually has a pretty good PT infrastructure base, but because so little money has been spent on it in the last 10-15 years it has become really run down and even fairly small problems can send it into crisis. It's a real shame & very frustrating, because potentially we could have an excellent PT service, with interlinked trains, trams & buses.

ok. a show. cause Youtube has like 1k+ results for crazy Korean girl. I swear you put them on Camera Koreans do funny things.

The one I'm talking about it's a show too. I knew the name. Let me see if I can find it for you.

though dog poop girl is the funniest.

WTF? Poop girls?!:eek2:

The one I'm talking about it's a show too. I knew the name. Let me see if I can find it for you.



WTF? Poop girls?!:eek2:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_poop_girl

Let's see...

I use it and it's mostly OK.

It is very convenient, for the most part. There are 3 train lines and a spur of one of those within a 20 minute walk of my place.

Overcrowding or lack of seats can be a problem, but isn't as bad as oft portrayed, except on one certain subway line. Said subway line is supposedly the single busiest line in the world. Bad planning, as it's the only subway line that goes through all the major downtown areas. (Said line is one of those mentioned above as being near my house.)

But, since you specified local, compared to most of Japanese transport, my local line is somewhat famous for running "late" - 2-3 minutes once a week, 20-30 minutes once a month, and over an hour several times a year. Longest delay I've had was year before last, when a 50 minute train ended up taking 2 1/2 hours. It's a local line, and not in Tokyo, so the delays never make the news.

Also, re excessive cost of fares, the spur lines I mentioned above is supposed to be one of, if not the, most expensive lines in Japan. On the main line, to downtown Osaka, 13 local stops, is about $US3. On the spur, 7 stops is about $US 4.50...

I can deal with all the other stuff, but the fact that services basically stop around midnight, even on Saturdays, is just crap. Sydney has around the clock service even on normal weekdays.

This is a common complaint about Japan's public transport. Last train can be a bitch...

That said, public transportation in Japan is amazing. It's clean, fast, ALWAYS on time (Believe me, it is. If the bullet train is 2 minutes late, it makes the national news) and, depending how you're going, fairly cheap.

YMMV, but Osaka's public trans seems to be about on par with what I remember of SF's BART and the DC Metro.

Whenever I'm in Tokyo I always ride either Japan Rail (Yamanote for the win) or the subways. Tring to make your way by surface street in Tokyo is a good way to drive yourself insane.

Indeed, indeed.

Which is why I get so upset coming home and dealing with public transportation in the US. :mad:

LOL
We both grew up in areas where there was no public transport, right? My family, who've relocated to Iowa tell me there's OK public trans in the cities, but

I've heard it's generally crowded. and that they have employees who's only job is to shove you in so the doors can close.

Maybe in Tokyo. Never seen it here in Osaka.

Depends on where you are and when. Yes, Yamanote during the rush hour can be insanely crowded, but I've also been on it where there was no one else in the car but me.

Honestly though, that pushing people in thing has been well overblown.

I've heard that too. I also heard that companies pay for their employees' commuting on the train.

Yes indeed! :D

What about the young women being groped on the train stories?

While I do think it's over exagerated, it certainly happens, as I've seen it happen on one occassion, and know many ladies it's happened to.

It's enough of a problem that many train lines in the major cities have a ladies only car at rush hour.

It is hard to be aware of, but the one time I did see it was a right shocker - less than crowded train, guy tried to touch a girl, and she DECKED HIS ASS! (I clapped.)

False accusations have become a problem - enough that men have started asking for a guys only car...

that's mostly Japanese Porn

Not at all.

Korean cinema still beats the daylights out of Japanese cinema.

Ain't touching that with a 50' pole...

I'm Korean, and you don't find me entertaining.

On occassion, on occassion...

My current karaoke favorite songs are anything by Frank Sinatra or Harry Connick.

Heh.. I generally switch hit between old school metal, punk, and "oldies"... If I ever find a place that has the Pistols version of My Way, I'll be in hog heaven...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_poop_girl

Nasty case that was... Not as nasty as the Chinese cyber vigilantism, but still nasty.

I love cities with a good public transportation system. That's one of my favorite features of cities like New York and Montreal. If I lived in such a city I probably wouldn't even bother buying a car. Unfortunately, where I live, public transportation is nearly non-existent.

Heh.. I generally switch hit between old school metal, punk, and "oldies"... If I ever find a place that has the Pistols version of My Way, I'll be in hog heaven...
It's probably miles away from where you are, but there's a karaoke bar somewhere in Shimokitazawa where I've sung young Mr. Vicious' cover.

Helpfully, I can't remember it's name (too much shochu...), though I think it's about 2 mins from the station.

Needle in a bloody haystack...

Yes indeed! :D

That's something that Spain should do too.

It's probably miles away from where you are, but there's a karaoke bar somewhere in Shimokitazawa where I've sung young Mr. Vicious' cover.

Helpfully, I can't remember it's name (too much shochu...), though I think it's about 2 mins from the station.

Needle in a bloody haystack...

:eek: You've just given me the first really good reason to visit Tokyo I've had in 18 years... :eek:

That's something that Spain should do too.

It's a very common practice. I'm not sure, but it may well be included in the labor law... Will get back to you on that...

It's a very common practice. I'm not sure, but it may well be included in the labor law... Will get back to you on that...

Cool, I'll check about this also in labor laws in Spain. Perhaps it would be a good legislation.