Ever got onto a train and get annoyed because someone else is breaking the rules and don't seem to care about others?
Yesterday I got on to the Geelong train and returned to Melbourne. It's actually quite a pleasant trip and the country train is more comfortable than the city trains. Across the way were two youngish guys (they all look young to me now) that were quite pleasant and chatting to each other. One however had their feet (with thongs) on the opposite seat so that the soles of his thongs were on the seat. Now of course that means the dirt from his thongs gets on to the seat and that can dirty the clothes of others. I consider that to be inappropriate and the rules are there for people to see.
It was a bit annoying for us to see inconsiderate behaviour. Should we say something or not. I'm sure others have been in the same situation. But then I got the answer I needed.
The ticket inspector came along asking for tickets. VicRails and the government love the revenue they make from fare evaders. With all the advertising we're almost led to believe fare evaders are the scum of the earth. They avoid paying their fair share. Of course we all pay between 60-90% through our taxes since public transport is run at a loss and requires taxpayers dollars and the fare evaders will be paying taxes at some point.
So I watched the ticket inspector who checked our Myki cards were all OK. Not a word to the passenger with their feet on the seat. OK. Perhaps I didn't pay enough attention. So I watched as the ticket inspector passed by the passenger as they returned and yes he glanced sideways at the passenger with his feet on the seat but simply ignored it.
So why do we care when VicRail's own ticket inspectors don't care. VicRail's marketing has made us care but if they don't bother enforcing their own rules they're making us the rule enforcers and that's just plain crazy. VicRail needs to lead through example and the example I got was they care about fines because it's all about the money. Who cares about how much those high and inappropriate fines are for a largely taxpayer funded system. Revenue is all that matters. Let's not enforce the rules which actually avoids the situation where others end up with soiled clothes. There's only angst in that and no money to be had.
Time to rethink how much I care and follow the lead of the government. We as citizens should only care as much as our leaders do. They lead and we follow. If it doesn't really concern them it's just revenue or marketing. If it really matters then they'll do what is right.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au
Yesterday I got on to the Geelong train and returned to Melbourne. It's actually quite a pleasant trip and the country train is more comfortable than the city trains. Across the way were two youngish guys (they all look young to me now) that were quite pleasant and chatting to each other. One however had their feet (with thongs) on the opposite seat so that the soles of his thongs were on the seat. Now of course that means the dirt from his thongs gets on to the seat and that can dirty the clothes of others. I consider that to be inappropriate and the rules are there for people to see.
It was a bit annoying for us to see inconsiderate behaviour. Should we say something or not. I'm sure others have been in the same situation. But then I got the answer I needed.
The ticket inspector came along asking for tickets. VicRails and the government love the revenue they make from fare evaders. With all the advertising we're almost led to believe fare evaders are the scum of the earth. They avoid paying their fair share. Of course we all pay between 60-90% through our taxes since public transport is run at a loss and requires taxpayers dollars and the fare evaders will be paying taxes at some point.
So I watched the ticket inspector who checked our Myki cards were all OK. Not a word to the passenger with their feet on the seat. OK. Perhaps I didn't pay enough attention. So I watched as the ticket inspector passed by the passenger as they returned and yes he glanced sideways at the passenger with his feet on the seat but simply ignored it.
So why do we care when VicRail's own ticket inspectors don't care. VicRail's marketing has made us care but if they don't bother enforcing their own rules they're making us the rule enforcers and that's just plain crazy. VicRail needs to lead through example and the example I got was they care about fines because it's all about the money. Who cares about how much those high and inappropriate fines are for a largely taxpayer funded system. Revenue is all that matters. Let's not enforce the rules which actually avoids the situation where others end up with soiled clothes. There's only angst in that and no money to be had.
Time to rethink how much I care and follow the lead of the government. We as citizens should only care as much as our leaders do. They lead and we follow. If it doesn't really concern them it's just revenue or marketing. If it really matters then they'll do what is right.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.JustLocal.com.au
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