Burnham launches campaign against loud phone use on public transport

Andy Burnham has announced a new campaign aimed at tackling nuisance behaviour on public transport. The initiative specifically targets individuals who play loud music or videos from their mobile phones without using headphones, a practice described by Burnham as "headphone dodging."

The Mayor of Greater Manchester stated that such actions can quickly detract from a journey. "We’ve all been on the train when someone starts blasting music or videos from their phone," Burnham said in a statement. "It gets on your nerves and can quickly spoil the journey."

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Commuter experiences highlight the issue

Regular users of public transport have shared their experiences and views on the new campaign. One London commuter, who travels daily on the Tube, described encountering passengers playing videos aloud as a common problem. "Even yesterday, sitting next to me was a guy playing videos out loud, which is the most common issue," the commuter, identified as Claire, 41, reported. She questioned the underlying social changes that permit such disregard for others, listing it alongside behaviours like occupying seats with bags or "man-spreading."

Claire expressed scepticism about the campaign's impact. "I’m not sure Andy Burnham’s announcement will do anything," she said. "If you’re already playing very loud videos in public, presumably you don’t care very much about what you should be doing." She also noted the infrequent presence of police or "safety officers" and expressed relief that transport workers would not be tasked with enforcement, which she believed would make their jobs significantly harder.

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Fines of up to £100 could be issued for playing music or videos out loud on buses.

Concerns over enforcement and scope

Similar doubts about enforcement were echoed by other individuals. Ben Ellis, 38, from Edinburgh, supported the campaign's aim to define acceptable behaviour in shared public spaces but questioned its practical application. "The last time I asked somebody who was playing reels aloud to use their headphones I was called 'a piece of shit' and decided not to ask anybody that again," he stated, highlighting the potential for negative reactions when challenging such behaviour.

John, 43, from Sheffield, described his own efforts to address the issue by asking people to use headphones or turn off sounds. He noted that while many comply, some refuse, leading to confrontations. He recounted one instance where a young person questioned his request, asking, "If you were watching Netflix on your phone, wouldn’t you have the volume on?" John feels that many people have forgotten basic consideration for others in public spaces.

Margaret, 49, from Weston-super-Mare, who commutes five nights a week, stated that "almost every bus or train journey has someone blaring music." She believes the campaign does not go far enough and should also address people using speakerphone for calls. "Everyone’s too scared to ask them to move to a different carriage or turn it down, so it’s a regular occurrence," she said. "It makes my journey a nightmare. No one enforces anything. I doubt this new law will change this."

Mike Hughes, 63, from Tyldesley in Greater Manchester, raised concerns about behaviours such as football fans being loud and offensive on trains. He suggested that only "instant reporting and action will work" but questioned how this could be achieved across a network with coverage gaps. Linda, also from Manchester, noted the lack of regular conductors on the Manchester Metrolink, which she believes leads to unchecked antisocial behaviour and deters her from travelling. She compared the potential effectiveness of the campaign to laws against middle-lane hogging on motorways, suggesting it might prove "nigh on useless" without consistent policing.

What happens next

Details regarding the specific enforcement mechanisms and the timeline for the campaign's rollout have not yet been fully detailed. The campaign aims to address behaviours that impact the daily journeys of public transport users across the country.