Public Transport: An introvert's nightmare?

Hands up who rides public transport on a regular basis.

Great!

Hands up who avoids public transport like the plague and thinks whoever takes the bus is a loser.

Public transport, especially in a big city is an indispensable thing. It carries millions of people around the traps, getting to work, school and allowing them to do errands.

Public transport is very convenient, especially in Tokyo where the trains run like clockwork and you can get yourself around quite quickly whereas going by road may take a little longer.

What are the not so good things about public transport?

Well, first of all, if you are of the introverted nature, some of the crammed trains in the morning are not going to help your energy recharge in the morning. You might arrive at work wanting another sleep and that can't be good for productivity.

Imagine been stuck on that for five mornings a week. You are going to get up close and intimate with a few people in the course of a year or so.

Of course you have the sardine tin like trains and then being an introvert, I do find other things to be annoyed about.

Let me see:

When you are sitting down  and someone (usually a young man) will sit down at such a rate that he will rudely bump your shoulder or another part of your body. This is usually because he is so preoccupied with his smartphone that he doesn't even know that someone is sitting there. I have had a couple of young guys sit down and smack my shoulder. I told them about it too.

Another thing I find annoying about public transport is the sound of (usually a young man again) sniffing. Actually almost snorting. I know that blowing your nose in public is frowned upon in this country but surely, drawing a half a ton of snot back into your nasal passages is not good for you.

Let Shrek explain it to you:

Yep, better out than in.

Another "mode of transport" is the elevator (lift for my Commonwealth readers). I don't know about you but I get a nice sense of satisfaction by riding the elevator by myself.

For some reason, it is taboo to talk on elevators.

In fact, I was at a major Japanese company last year and they even had a sign in the elevator to basically shut up while the elevator was moving.

Here are my rules for riding the elevator:

1. If you can't see anybody coming, close the door quickly.

2. If you do see someone coming, sorry, you are out of luck and don't even think about closing it. That is not cool and makes you look like a bit of dickhead.

3. Stand as faraway from the door as possible. Preferably in the corner.

4. Always let the person go out in front of you. Insist if you have to. (Be a gentleman)

5. If you get on an elevator by yourself, treasure it. Enjoy the solitude. Make the most if it.

What does all of this crowded elevator and crowded train talk suggest to me?

Work your ass off both literally and figuratively so that maybe taxis are an option, or your own car (parking could be a hassle) or the creme de la creme of it all, a chauffeured driven car so that you don't have to worry about the sweat walking around on a summer's day. You will be cool and ready to go for every meeting in your schedule.