Political Editor Liam Thorp has had enough of people blasting music from their phones on public transport. On a recent commuter train, he finally snapped and confronted a passenger playing heavy metal on loudspeaker.
The Confrontation
Thorp, recovering from a morning fall, asked the man if he didn't have headphones. The man replied he did not. Thorp then asked if that meant everyone had to hear his music. The man repeated that he had no headphones. Thorp called the behaviour anti-social and moved to another part of the carriage, after which the volume seemed to drop.
Thorp said he received knowing nods from fellow passengers. He acknowledged that his size made him feel able to speak up, understanding that many others would not.
A Widespread Problem
Polling shows that 54% of Brits would not feel comfortable asking someone to turn down their music on public transport. The issue has become so prevalent that some have proposed legislation. The Liberal Democrats called for fines of up to £1,000 for playing loud music on trains and buses, labelling offenders 'headphone dodgers'. London mayor Sadiq Khan launched a campaign to encourage headphone use.
In Ireland, Irish Rail introduced etiquette guidelines and a 100 euro fine for blasting music or videos on trains. Thorp argues the UK should follow suit before the problem escalates further.
A Personal Perspective
Thorp, a father of two under three, admits he might be becoming a grump. He notes other annoyances like people stopping suddenly on busy streets. But the loudspeaker trend on public transport, he writes, is a 'blood-boiling' issue that many are too British to address directly.
