The dos and don'ts of the UK commute

[00:00.40] The average worldwide commute is around 40 minutes.

[00:03.59] But UK workers are travelling 54 minutes and Londoners commute approximately 80 minutes by car and over two hours by train every day, according to the UK Department of Transport.

[00:15.81] Drawing on all that travelling experience, what can these commuters teach us about how best to behave during all that time spent in cars, trains, and buses?

[00:26.70] First of all, travel etiquette is important.

[00:30.16] A recent BBC article asked its readers to describe which of their fellow commuters' actions constituted bad manners.

[00:37.33] Top answers included taking too loudly, eating stinky food and putting feet up on the seats.

[00:44.23] Several respondents even mentioned a fellow train passenger clipping their toenails in the carriage.

[00:49.55] Their reactions on this boorish behaviour included feeling disgusted, perplexed and appalled.

[00:56.98] A more controversial activity is doing make-up. Opinions varied on whether this was impolite or inconsiderate.

[01:04.69] One reader said he was so offended by this conduct, he had to change carriages.

[01:08.94] However, the idea that make-up should be applied in private is an outdated concept, says professional make-up artist Nic Chapman and one half of beauty brand, Pixiwoo.

[01:19.83] "We are not ashamed of wearing make-up," she told the BBC.

[01:23.81] Dilruba Khanom told the BBC "I do admire a woman's confidence to not give two hoots and slap on the face."

[01:33.11] But a long commute isn't just about negative experiences. Many UK commuters turned to innovative activities to better make use of their time on transport.

[01:42.40] 37-year-old Ben Yallop, who manages international judicial relations at the Royal Courts of Justice, used his daily three-hour trip to write and self-publish two novels.

[01:54.36] He started "jotting down ideas" for a series of them. "I've done almost all my research, plotting and writing on the train," he tells the BBC.

[02:03.39] Alternatively, 24-year-old Amy Dickett uses her 90-minute trip to photograph fellow commuters for her Commute Blog.

[02:10.30] She snaps a picture and asks them to tell her something surprising about themselves.

[02:14.55] "Usually they are surprised but glad to have some entertainment on an otherwise boring journey.

[02:20.92] Often the people around us join in and will ask their own questions," she told the BBC.

[02:26.76] So, no matter where or how long your journey is, take a leaf from the UK commuter's book.

[02:32.61] Don't antagonise your fellow passengers and rather than staring into space – use your time creatively.