Good design for open spaces is often about defining the space for a certain purpose. The goal could be random meetings of strangers, curated strolls that seem spontaneous, yet are deliberately designed. Airports and train stations are often designed now to facilitate shopping as well as security, but rarely waiting. Occasionally an airport is designed…
The Golden Rule in Travel
Remember the Golden Rule while traveling and you’ll find others remember it too.
Train Service and the Golden Rule
Several years ago, I commuted to New York City on Metro North’s New Haven Line. This was right before the Harlem and Hudson lines received the M7 upgrades. It was also during a bitterly cold winter. And the same train breakdown problems occurred due to snow and ice. Each day on the cold platform, my…
Riding the Bus is Easier with the Golden Rule
Traveling on public transportation leaves much to be desired. Travelers must contend with indifferent staff, decaying infrastructure, and inconsistencies in service. And then there are your fellow travelers. Bus travel has a poor image in most people’s minds because of the way people conduct themselves. A few years ago, I developed basic unwritten rules for…
Cathay Pacific and the Last Mile of Service
Recently I flew Cathay Pacific on four separate flights. Overall, I would say the experience was good, but not great. Cathay did manage to surprise and delight me, yet they also managed to frustrate and irritate me. There is a complete disconnect between their messaging and service delivery. Golden Rule Service says a company should…
Facilitating the Golden Rule on Public Transit
This is part two of two on “Getting Comfortable on the Train.” On Wednesday I showed one of the common ways riders can violate the Golden Rule on a train. Is the rider always at fault though? Is public transit ever designed with the rider in mind? What if the train seats were designed to…
Getting Comfortable on the Train and the Golden Rule
This is part one of two on “Getting Comfortable on the Train.” Return on Saturday for my solutions. Riding public transportation is always encouraged, but transit designers and riders often overlook the Golden Rule. Nearly everyone values privacy and control when traveling. Car manufacturers know this so they advertise quiet, private experiences. I’d love my…
Why Quiet Commuter Rail Cars Are Not Really Quiet
Mobile phones invaded cultures around the world some time ago, yet we are still working on the culturally acceptable way to use mobile phones. In the US at least, talking on phones in close quarters seem to rile people because there is something inherently different about two people talking to each other, when one of…
7 More Ways to Use the Golden Rule on a Plane: Before and After the Ride
When I travel, I think of the Golden Rule even more than usual because I bump into (literally) so many people in tight situations. Air travel can be exciting and fun if you approach it with the right attitude and act with the Golden Rule in mind. While a Zen approach can be helpful, I…
On Stopping in Manila
My upcoming trip to Manila reminds me of a flight a friend took once from Singapore to the US. The flight was going well until an elderly lady began to complain of pain, perhaps heart trouble. After evaluating her, the flight crew and doctor decided to stop in Manila to allow her to disembark for…
