Public transport works best when everyone shares the space with respect. Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new campaign highlighting the benefits of using headphones on public transport to keep journeys calm and comfortable for all.
New research shows that 70 per cent of surveyed customers find loud music or phone conversations without headphones disruptive. For some, this is more than an irritation, as sudden or constant noise can be overwhelming for passengers with heightened sensitivities.
Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, says most people already understand the importance of being considerate.
“The vast majority of Londoners use headphones when travelling on public transport in the capital,” he says.
But he notes that a small number continue to play music or videos out loud.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australasia’s bus and coach industry
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly ABC magazine
“This can be a real nuisance to other passengers and directly disturb their journeys,” Dance says.
The new campaign aims to reinforce community values.
“TfL will remind and encourage Londoners to always be considerate of other passengers,” he says.
“However people spend their journey, we want everyone to have a pleasant experience.”
The initiative builds on TfL’s #TravelKind program, which promotes courtesy across the network. Posters encouraging the use of headphones on public transport have been placed across the Elizabeth line and will appear on buses, the Tube, Overground, trams and Docklands Light Railway services later this year.
Emma Strain, TfL’s Customer Director, says the campaign recognises how much connectivity has changed the way people travel.
“Better mobile coverage on our network means we’re more connected than ever, and while that means we can stream music and shows and make calls on the go, we must be considerate of others,” she says.
She adds that even a few passengers ignoring the practice can affect everyone else.
“Most people use headphones, but just a small number not doing so can create an unpleasant or stressful environment,” Strain says.
That is why TfL is using the campaign to restate a simple principle.
“We’re reminding people to put their headphones on if they don’t already,” Strain says. “It gives others the stress-free journey they’d expect for themselves.”
Read more:
- Victorian driver strikes: One operator reaches agreement while one prepares for more strikes after unsuccessful negotiations
- Western suburbs in Melbourne score major transport boost
- Victorian veteran to exit bus industry following storied career
- WA government slashes bus fares with $152 million investment
- Major bus reforms coming for the NT
