Thread by @amoizmalik

I was part of group who learnt mass transit has finally come their city and wanted to get on it. Although, I had been on #greenline before but went again, because why not? It's comfortable and convenient. Didn't think I'd ever use these two words for Karachi's public transport.

Watch @gulraizkhan's thread on what it was like, I just want to share my thoughts on how I felt to be on it.

I got on with a bag on my shoulder and I was surprised nobody asked me to take it off and give it to someone who's seated because my bag is eating up one person's space.

This, if you had ever travelled on a bus in Karachi, is a common practice. They want to squeeze every last person into the bus.

Then, I was getting down from terminal to platform and I could see the bus, but I didn't run to catch it. I knew the next one will come in just 5 min.

That you can do this is such a big relief in itself. For people in other countries, buses' schedule might not even be a consideration, but as a Karachi guy you can't miss the bus because you don't know when the next one will come or if you could find a seat in it.

Then, the bus came. It stopped, waited for me to get in. There was no one shouting shabaa shabba in my ears. I got on and the bus didn't move. Wait what? Did it actually stop for me? I can't believe it is happening.

The seats are wide, and comfortable. You are not cramped for room. It doesn't reek of sweat. No one is breathing in your face. There are people riding just for fun. Not only men, but women, children and families. Women aren't uncomfortable. There are no men in their compartment.

Elders are happy. They can get off and on without a fear of falling. There was a group of aunties traveling with us. One of them told how she couldn't believe she got to Hyderi from her home in just 10 min and that how green bus is a thorn in the side of chingchi walas.

There was one woman who came with four children. I am 100% sure she wouldn't have done it in local bus. For women with kids, those buses are a nightmare. Conductors throw the child inside and they have to get on hurriedly because the bus can't wait. Those children were so happy.

And watching them I was happy. Those little joys I didn't have in my childhood, they were living them.

That I went all the way to city's end and back and didn't lose my mind is the biggest reason why there should be a mass transit in every city, in any form 🚌 or 🚇.

You can't see public transport in black and white: x amount of subsidy vs y amount of revenue. There are countless other factors.

Environment being the biggest of all. Then there's productivity. I swear if I'm taking this bus everyday to my work, I won't lose all my energy in commute. I'd be even more productive. That comes with peace of my mind.

There should be no debate on whether public transport is needed or not, specially not by those who got no skin in the game. So, you can give credit to PMLN, PTI or even PPP for all I care, I'm just happy that my city and it's people have a respectable transport system.

Also, my catharsis was whizzing pass all the corollas and hondas stuck in the traffic.