Relieve subway's growing pains

Improved bus services could remedy passenger crush and the worsening behavior

Ihave long been accustomed to rude behavior on the Beijing subway, especially when using Line 1. However, things hit a new low during the recent Labor Day weekend on a trip back from the International Sculpture Park.

As usual, the train became jam-packed at Xidan, and since it was May 1 a crowd was waiting to board at Tian'anmen West. Even though we were already crammed like sardines, a group of a dozen people forced their way into the carriage. These people had a leader, a burley fellow in his 20s, who as the train pulled into Tian'anmen East shouted: "Nobody gets off." His friends then locked arms to ensure none of them got pushed off the train. Although passengers attempted to get off at Tian'anmen East, Wangfujing and Dongdan, none were successful.