Public transportation may seem daunting to people who have never lived in a large city, but transportation in the city of London is no issue once you get the hang of it. Take it from a resident of York, Pennsylvania, where the closest major city is over an hour away. Between the Underground (or Tube), the buses, and the boats, there are a plethora of options for anyone trying to travel through the city efficiently. As an Eckerd student, you will be provided with an Oyster Card with enough money to get you unlimited rides for the months you’re in London. This is your lifeline while you’re there, so do your best not to lose it when walking around the city.
You will probably be using the Tube most often, so it would be wise to download the app called Tube Map. It works without WiFi, so there is no need to worry about having cellular connection if you need to utilize it. In order to use it, you just need to know the name of the station you’re leaving from and the name of the station you’re going to. Select Route Planner from the side menu, input the information, and it gives you your route options with the approximated times each one would take. In terms of actually using the Tube, it is relatively easy. Ensure you have your Oyster Card on hand when entering the Tube station so it’s ready to scan once you get to the gates. Tap your card on the circle to the right of the gate you want to enter, and the gate will let you through. Congratulations; you’re in! Once you have your bearings, check the Tube maps posted on the walls to ensure you’re going in the right direction for your intended destination. The maps are split up depending on the direction they go in. A train that is northbound will have the stations listed going in that direction, while the southbound side will have the stations going in the opposite direction listed. If you can’t find the station you’re looking for on one map, odds are you are going in the wrong direction. Once the train arrives, approach the doors that are closest to you and seem the least crowded, but be mindful of what time of day it is. If it is not peak hour, hang back slightly. In this instance, it’s like elevator etiquette: let people off first, then you get on. Blocking people’s exits is extremely annoying, so don’t be that person. However, if it is peak hour, all of that goes out the window. Once platforms are crowded and the cars are impossibly packed, be assertive. There is a very real possibility that you won’t be able to get on the train in time before it leaves the station. As soon as the train arrives, get right up to the doors. Don’t be afraid to push through the crowds but try to avoid shoving too hard; they may be obstacles in the moment, but they’re also people. There are different methods for getting on and off crowded trains, but depending on your size and shape, efficiency will vary. Try out a few different crowd-maneuvering techniques and see which works best for you. Enter the car of your choosing and do mind the gap (they aren’t kidding about that one). If you decide to stand, you should probably hold onto a rail or lean against a wall. If you think you can balance on your own, suit yourself, but I make no guarantees you won’t be knocked on your ass in front of several strangers. Now, if you’re a humanities student, this is the point in your journey in which you will pull out a book of your choosing and read. Speaking of things that might distract you, make sure you’re still paying attention to the stops you’re passing through. Nobody will know if you’ve missed your stop, but it feels as though everyone is aware of it when it happens. If you do pass your stop, though, it’s an easy fix: get off at the next station, walk across the platform, and get onto the same line that’s going in the opposite direction you were initially traveling. When you arrive at your desired destination, make your way back up to the surface. Before you leave the station, make sure you tap your Oyster Card at the gate as you exit; this is important, as it completes the transaction. If you forget to tap out or something else goes wrong with your card, keep calm and ask an attendant for help. While you’re in the city, there will be several Tube strike weeks. During these, certain lines will close or have severe delays. Sometimes the entire system is closed for a day. If this happens, don’t panic. There are several ways you can get around the city, so explore alternative options. Walking to your destination can be annoying if it’s far, but it’s doable (see Susan Krage’s “Walking in London” for tips on being a pedestrian in the city). Now that you have the basics of understanding the Tube, go out and explore! If someone who has never used public transportation before traveling can figure it out (e.g. myself), you’ll be fine. A whole city is at your fingertips, so take advantage of that.
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