The Reasons Behind Buying Tickets: More Than Just Lawful

Whenever we pass through the railway station or bus stands, we always see a long queue. People stand there in scorching heat, harsh rains and cold as well.

Most of the people ensure to buy a ticket before starting the journey.

I am also one of those. I have been commuting by public travel since las 12-14 years, and it has never happened that I didn’t buy a proper ticket. Even during the rush, I diligently stand and take tickets.

In these 12-14 years, I saw the ticket checking happen not more than 10 times. That is just once a year.

So, statistically, the probability of getting checked is very low. And if we calculate the penalty for travelling without a ticket, considering you get caught at all those 10 times, it is way less than the amount you spent on fares in those years.

So, knowing all this math, being a stingy middle class, why do we spend time and money buying tickets?

There may be different reasons for different people.

• A few may be buying it to avoid the humiliation of being caught.

• Some may be to avoid unnecessary legal issues.

• A few to avoid unnecessary wastage of time if caught.

• A genuine one, who really can’t afford even that small fare amount.

• Some do as everyone does.

• And many may be thinking that travelling without a ticket is illegal and unethical. Doing that gives a sense of cheating someone, the government, and, more than that, cheating oneself.

One of my friend’s relatives, a rich guy, had a strange habit. He used to go to any small cloth shop. During trials, he used to take 3-4 pairs at a time and, confusing the shopkeeper, managed to hide the shopkeeper’s clothes under his own, from which he used to come out. 2-3 times he got caught as well, but that time he paid for the clothes without bargaining and escaped. I’m not sure this fits the context of the story, but I remembered it and put it here.

One of my roommates, who told me the mathematics of buying tickets vs the penalty cost. Many times, we used to start together on a journey, most of the time within the city only. I used to buy a ticket, but he insisted on not taking one for himself.

I never saw him getting caught, and after coming out of the station, he used to give me that shrewd smile, saying, ” Didn’t I tell you!”

Whatever, but even today, I ensure to buy a ticket, the reason being a mix of all the above-mentioned and especially the last one.

What about you?