Free rides foster free-for-all
0 
Day 2: Tuesday, November 2
News of the crammed subway dominates today's news coverage, suggesting the Guangzhou subway system is about to explode.
Most reports end with a warning: "Guangzhou Metro Corporation suggests people choose public transport wisely and try to avoid overcrowded trains."
Notices and warning signs are set up in the stations.
"Dear passengers: We're now implementing peak hour passenger control due to excess numbers of passengers.
"Please listen to station staff members. Be patient, enter the station in groups. Thank you for your cooperation."
Internet users start making jokes about the chaos.
"If you love someone, ask him to take the subway because it's free. If you hate someone, also ask him to take the subway because it may kill him," an Internet user posts on sohu.com.
In response to the situation on the first day, Xian Weixiong, director of the Guangzhou Transportation Committee tells media he hoped the subway system would return back to normal soon as people lost their passion for a freebie.
Day 3: Wednesday, November 3
Passion does not fade. If anything, quite the reverse. For the office worker's rush-hour nightmare is now the elderly's dream trip.
They all cram together onto the trains: the elderly just for the fun of it.
Lin Niu, 60, a retired worker, enjoys his free subway ride to the Guangdong Museum.
Considering he's less likely to "survive" in the overcrowded subways during peak hours, Lin sets off in the afternoon.
His plan: Take the free subway to the free museum; take the free subway to the airport to watch the planes; take the free subway to go shopping. "The subway was as crowded as Spring Festival," he says. "But I don't mind waiting in a long line.
"I've got time to kill anyway."
Many like Li take advantage of the opportunity for free travel around the city.
A self-organized one-day Metro tour becomes de rigeur among seniors and tourists.
Young people are supposed to give up seats to seniors on the subway. Not anymore. Now it's every man, woman and undecided for himself/herself.
"There's an old Cantonese saying that 'I eat salt more than you eat rice,' meaning we're more experienced," Li says.
Knowing he's less likely to be pushed around out of Confucian respect for the elderly, Lin marks out his turf by laying his arms and feet out wider and larger. "You have to look serious to scare the young people," he laughs.
Guangzhou Metro Corporation says they have improved the internal air circulation and have first-aid kits ready for the influx of elderly.
About 6.5 million people take the subway. Guangzhou Metro Corporation announces that some trains will skip stations without stopping in the hope of bringing passenger numbers down to 6 million.
Go to Forum >>0 Comments