We were talking to friends from Basel about our little ZVV adventures, and they were flabbergasted to hear about our tales of woe. It got me thinking: are these tales really only Zürich original, or is this a more national thing?

So I put ask you, my fellow EF people: do you also have to wear a bullet-proof-like jacket, maybe a shield-like book, a helmet of some sorts and possibly a sword or a K-47 just to get inside/outside the bus or the train?

Or is this pushing and shoving of young and old alike, painfully back kicking of hooves and fake Louis Vuitton bags of the furious silent stampede that tries to get inside the public transportation without letting the passengers get out just a Zürich thing?

Because I got a nasty blue spot on my shoulder yesterday when a 70+ “gentleman” and a 20- “youngster” trapped me against the train door while I was trying to get out of the train, and they forcingly trying to get inside at all costs… This, unfortunately, is not the first, nor third, nor 10th occurence...

I hope you "accidentally" kicked them. Ts ts careless you...

Sounds like Switzerland is no more the laid back country it once was

I second your experience, but I feel at home with all this. I have no complains.

PS: I'm from Bombay

I was in shock and almost suffocated under the whole group pushing inside, so I was not able to use my own body correctly except for my tongue (coz that one has its own backup brain) to use the very first German word I ever learnt: "@RSCHLOCH"

I took the train between Chenai and Bengalore, and it was way more civilized that the getting on train in Rüti...

Geneva bus and tram lines can be notorius for overcrowding and pushing as well. It is not unusual for the driver to get out and push the doors shut to override the blocking function. Often necessary to wait for the 2nd or 3rd one to acutally get on the transport. On a rainy/snowy day, better to walk.

Oh oh, please do not missunderstand me! I am not talking about rush hour and overcrowding. I use stations way after the major body of the train population has been vomited already.

We suffer this kind of behaviour in Portugal only from old grannies because they want to make sure they get their seat. But here this excuse really doesn't apply since the train is half empty, so there's enough place for everybody's ass

Since I often carry a cardboard tube full of plans, I sometimes feel like going berserk and hitting the people with it...

Now that would be something to see.

But OT, I have been in Zürich for a fair bit and used the public transport a lot. There have been one or two off days when something weird happens, but usually its quite fine.

Which lines are we talking about here ?

Same happens in Bern SBB. The waiting horde need only spot a small gap in the disembarking passengers to flood onto the train. Pisses me off no end. I've yet to confront anyone, but the time will come.....

Bus 885, 870, S5, S15, S7, S16.

Worse behaviour noticed in Rüti and Oerlikon, though it is still evident in all stations between Rapperswil and the Airport (which is the lines I use).

Worse people seem to be men over 60, pre-teens and (no offence meant) unemployed women.

It goes to the point of people ramming a handicap woman who has a walking disability (and a very slow old dog) when she is trying to get out of the train in Stäfa.

I have witnessed dozens of people getting hijacked between Stäfa and Uerikon because they were not allowed to leave the train.

I frequent these train lines as well. S7, S9 and S15 almost daily to work and back. And on weekends. I have not really noticed anything that would freak me out other than one or two things here and there.

Should I be thankful ?

I actually don't mind it when it's like that ..... it gives me the opportunity to practice at being a dirty old man (for when the time comes) and get off a couple of quick, well-placed anonymous squeezes on any nubile young lady that may be passing through the crush.

Very!!!! Believe me, going home with blue spots is not nice! And now in summer that I dress a little less, it might make my colleagues believe my husband hits me!

P.S.: If you see a woman with a cardboard tube, just wave hihihihihihihi

LOOOOOOOOOOOL If I'd see some nice looking youngsters I'd do the same... But the red-bull-cigarett breed really isn't worth the hassle...

Are the Sensetaler nymphettes aware of your tendencies?

Will do.

You know, maybe they cannot resist the charms of the lady with the fine dress and the cardboard tube.

I wish that was true

On a related note, yesterday was a strange ride home.
Some of the, as you put it, "redbull-cigarette" breed, were there as usual.

But surprisingly, some people on the S15 said hello.
Which is weird since this does not happen normally.

Just stand by and let the rush sort itself out. The train isn't going to leave without you, so once it calms down, quietly step on the train, walk up to an occupied seat, cough and say "Grüezi, Hänn sie eine Reservierung?"

Works every time.

No, but the Police are.

I do have a little qualm about the ones occupying more than one seat. I mean WTF ? Why do you need to carry the whole house in your handbag ? Especially the teeny "I will be a supermodel someday" girls. For goodness sake, its a Hand-Bag. You are going to the next stop to drink red bull. Why do you need a week's supply of clothes ?

I think the problems described in this thread are about leaving the train (or trying to), not about waiting to get on.