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Q: Do you think the queuing situation in China has improved of late?
Ok, second potential "he's an Wumao!" question of the day, so jaded expats: feel free to have a moan.
I'd like to the use the subway as an example. I came to Beijing 2 years ago and I noticed there was just simply no order at all with the queuing. Recently, they've assigned platform guards (mostly during rush hour) to make sure people stay in line, and I must say that I've noticed a difference in the queuing habits of the locals. It's not perfect by all means, but it does seem there's more of a conscious effort these days not to cut the line, with line cutters generally being frowned upon.
Of course I can't give a balanced opinion as I take the same subway route to work everyday and other lines may be different, not to mention ATM queues, shops, restaurants etc (only yesterday did I get pushed in standing by the ATM) but what are you're feelings on the matter?
I live in a 2nd tier city, and I haven't noticed much difference in the past three years.
At my university, second year students are organised to teach first year students how to queue (in the dining halls, etc.).
In Starbucks, the staff maintain an orderly line of customers. 1 out of 2 Chinese people who enter will walk straight to the front of the queue, like they didn't even see it. And get told to move to the end.
My blood pressure is seriously effected by the queuing situation in cinemas. I wait for half an hour in a long long line, which moves forwards at an agonisingly slow pace. Then when I've progressed half way to the counter, a group of 20-something boys walks in and crowds around the counter. The staff start serving them, and everyone rushes to the front. It makes me feel homicidal.
And getting on a bus at peak hour is still like the press at the front of a live concert. Except that... it's just a bus.
