Mumbai man's observation about elderly metro passengers hits home for many

The post was shared on X by a Mumbai man, who said many elderly passengers struggle with navigating modern metro systems and may feel overwhelmed by smartphone-based ticketing, QR code scanners, electronic gates and platform navigation.

In Short

• Mumbai resident urges helping elderly at metro stations
• Elderly struggle with QR codes, gates and platform navigation
• Helping seniors takes seconds but boosts their confidence

A resident of Mumbai has shared a heartfelt post urging people to help elderly commuters at metro stations, saying even a few seconds of assistance can make public transport less intimidating for senior citizens.

The post was shared on X by Hardik Rajgor, who said many elderly passengers struggle with navigating modern metro systems and may feel overwhelmed by smartphone-based ticketing, QR code scanners, electronic gates and platform navigation.

“If you see elderly folks struggling at a metro station, please take five seconds to help them out,” he said.

Since senior citizens are not part of the “smartphone generation,” they may often find the metro environment unfamiliar and intimidating, Rajgor said.

“They are already overwhelmed by the idea of travelling in a metro. They are not a smartphone generation. The QR code tickets, the electronic gates, language barriers, figuring out which platform to get on. It is a very different and intimidating world from the one they grew up in,” he added.

Rajgor also said that many elderly people travel alone because they do not want to depend on others, and feel proud when they manage to navigate the system independently.

“You have no idea the enthusiasm and pride with which they will tell their children (and grandchildren), that they ‘travelled alone’ in a metro from X to Y. All by their self, figuring out everything,” he said.

He said helping someone scan a QR code, guiding them to the right platform or explaining how the gates work takes very little effort but can mean a lot to elderly commuters.

“Most of all, it gives them that confidence that they can do it all over again. And navigate this new world like the rest of us,” he added.

Take a look at the post here:

The post resonated with several social media users, many of whom agreed with the sentiment and shared similar experiences.

“Thanks for saying this,” one user commented.

Another wrote, “Kindness like that doesn’t take much time, but it can change how someone experiences the world that day. That’s a really thoughtful reminder.”

“Fully agree. The metro is great for youngsters, but it is definitely not senior citizen friendly. Escalators, security check, scanner entry. Too much for them,” another user said.

Such a thoughtful post!

- Ends