Crowd Control

Travelling on London underground can be daunting, they have carried out studies in Crowd Control, they spend a considerable amount of time and money on ensuring that passengers are safe whilst travelling on the underground.  When you purchase a ticket you are not just paying for a journey from point A - B you are investing in a safe service from the point of entry to when you leave the transport system.  I occasionally interchange at Holborn Station which can get very busy during the rush hour.  It can be quite worrying when you first arrive on the platform you end up in what seems like a bottle neck, it takes you a time to get your bearings.  You have arrived  in the middle of the platform with everyone else in close proximity to you, all doing the same thing.  Everyone is trying to read the matrix board to see what time the next train is.  How can this be improved. On average everyone stands there for about 30 seconds motionless, of course people are still streaming in behind you, before you know it you are standing 5 people deep feeling quite claustrophobic.

This is where London Underground’s money and research come into play, Crowd Control (Sounds like a Football Crowd).  They have deployed a member of staff to stand on the platform with a loud haile, his role is to say ‘Move to the right’ he explains that if we moved to the right there would be more space towards that part of the train, I believed him.  Two trains later I was able to board the train, was there more space for me at the position on the platform? I can’t say, what I did know is I didn’t want to be here anymore, after all I am on my way home and this is just meant to be an interchange, the walk from the Piccadilly line to Central was long enough now my estimated 4 minutes change is now looking like 10 minutes.  I don’t have 10 minutes spare in my day, so despite the amount of people already packed on the train I will get on.

Posted FB 07/04/13

#65 Move to the Right

I arrived at the platform

I wasn't alone

It was like everyone had left home

They stood congregated at the station

Move to the right Said the voice

Instructions firm yet polite

I felt I had no choice

I obediently complied

When the train arrived I wanted to ask why

This was requested of me I felt cheated

My initial thoughts cannot be repeated

I should of stood where I stand

Not listen to the Man

After all am I my own wo-man

My people have spent years being transported

From land to sea to land

Here was me doing it freely

Where is the fighting spirit in me?

I can’t respond to every voice

They all can’t all be right

So next time I am commanded

I will be demanding

An explanation at least

Before I listen to this headless beast