Whatever your view might be of the recent debates over weekend parking, or the proposals for future roadpricing, surely nobody would dispute the fact that as a society, we really should make it the norm to use public transport wherever possible when commuting to work or going about our daily business.
Yes, you might say, but the trains are late, the trams are overcrowded and the buses are filthy. Where's the investment into these services that might tempt us into using them more often? Point taken, and the recent hike in the price of rail tickets certainly doesn't provide much incentive to use a public transport system that is generally considered massively inferior to those enjoyed by our continental cousins in France or Germany. And you know, we are the lucky ones; the transport infrastructure in Greater Manchester is better than many in the UK and we can expect it to be enhanced dramatically over the next few years. There may well be room for improvement, but we're definitely moving in the right direction.
But, hang on... is the unpleasantness of commuting solely the fault of the operating companies, transport executives or the increasingly beleaguered government? Might it not be the case that we, the passengers, the great commuting hordes, are in ourselves a disincentive to using public transport?
Let's admit that people can be annoying - at work, at play, at home - so why not also on the tram from Bury to Altrincham?
A survey of Marketing Manchester staff has revealed the following as being major, real life irritations to the average public transport user. In no particular order:
1) Refusal to give up a seat (on any day, ever) to an obviously heavily-pregnant woman. The same applies to the elderly or those hampered by plaster casts etc.
2) When on a crowded train, the insistence on wearing a rucksack, resulting in fellow passengers being regularly bashed in the face by the evil contraption.
3) Noise pollution. People who listen to music on their mobile phones without headphones! Or headphones that sound like little mice screaming as their owner insists on having the music on full blast. A typical journey can involve a combination of mobile phones and four or five little mice screaming different tunes!
4) Hygiene. People who smell of wee/booze/animals/garlic especially if they are pinned against you on a crowded train/tram/bus.
5) People who do not cover their mouths when coughing, sneezing and would you believe burping!
6) People who force themselves onto an already packed tram/train making it almost impossible for you to breath, let alone move to get off!
7) People who insist on getting onto tram/train before anybody has had a chance to get off.
8) Congregations of people around the doors making it very difficult for people to get on. Why don't they just move down the aisles?
So, are we our own worst enemy when it comes to using public transport? Would a little more attention to politeness, courtesy, gentlemanly and ladylike comportment and general good manners render the daily commute more agreeable for all? Or are we reduced to shamefully ill-mannered behaviour by the daily struggle against a transport system that just doesn't cut the mustard?
And (be honest, now) do you see yourself in any of the irritations listed above? If so, why not try to spread a little happiness on your next commute. You never know, the lady to whom you have offered your seat, might turn out to be chairing the panel at your next job interview - and we all know that first impressions count for a lot!