Defending and Insulting in the same breath

My day to day life always involves the London tube. It's how I get to work, it's how I get home from work and it's often taken at one point on the weekend. I've recently noticed that it's gotten quite a bad reputation amongst people who go on it everyday and people who haven't been on it either recently or never had the pleasure. I understand the everyday people's frustrations. I have my day to day frustration with the tube. I once waited 17 tubes before I squeezed myself like a mouse into a small crack between two people's legs. However, I've noticed that people really don't value this system like they should.

The tube is fantastic mode of public transport. You can live 45 minutes away from the city and still never have to own a car because the tube will always be quicker. It's a complex system that is eons old. You wouldn't expect your refrigerator to still run even half as smoothly as one tube line does. At the end of the day, the tube will always be there. It may be late - but it will come.

Finally, if you travel with regular Londoners, you'll notice there are common courtesies. On my recent escapade with my huge luggage - I never had to carry both of my luggage. Someone always helped me man or woman. People will get up and let a pregnant woman sit down and not grumble. There's a good chance that if you look faint - someone will offer you their seat before you go down like a tonne of bricks. And sometimes, men notice that women's heels aren't great for long-term standing and will also offer their seat. It's politeness and it happens daily on the tube.
So once and a while I grumble and insult the tube and the lack of air conditioning. But the commuters always renew my faith that there are good people in London.