After a period of heavy delays, some other travellers and I were waiting at the tram stop. A fair pack of us had accumulated since no trams had come through for about half an hour. Among us was a group of about 3-4 men who looked around 40. I suspected these men of being undercover ticket inspectors. This concerned me as I currently had no money on my myki and there was nowhere to top up at this particular tram stop. Nonetheless, when the tram came, I, and all the other commuters, hopped aboard.

After we’d travelled one stop the group of men began to split up to different areas of the tram. I watched them intently. They began pulling badges out. This spurred myself, and about three or so others, to look around nervously and hop off at the next stop. This stop was about 400 metres past the one we were initially waiting at, and all of us who got off the first tram stood waiting there for the next one, so we’d all clearly left the tram to avoid having our tickets checked. It amused me that nobody really acknowledged that we’d all gotten off to fare evade, but we all must have knew it personally. I considered making a joke but I felt that it would have ruined the atmosphere.

I think there’s probably a french word for when things like this happen.