Chicago Transit Ads Aimed at Rude Passengers

[summer]

www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150527/downtown/cta-fights-against-train-djs-manspreading-courtesy-campaign-photos

CHICAGO — During tiresome commutes in the early morning and after a long day of work, many Chicagoans might have difficulty summoning the energy for a snarky one-liner like "Did your bag pay a fare too?"



Thankfully, a new Chicago Transit Authority "courtesy campaign" promises to throw shade at selfish riders on our behalf.


Signs will be popping up on CTA buses and trains this week that skewer common misbehaviors on public transit and encourage riders to be more conscientious.




Thirteen ads included in a CTA announcement early Wednesday took aim at riders who eat on trains and buses, loud cell phone-talkers, litterbugs and wannabe train DJs.



These offending behaviors were culled from the top complaints submitted to the transit agency on social media, via calls and emails and through observations by CTA personnel, according the CTA.




“The overwhelming majority of CTA customers are considerate of their fellow passengers,” said Graham Garfield, General Manager of Customer Information. “However, based on feedback we’ve received from passengers, we believe this public service campaign will help improve the transit experience by continuing the dialogue about courtesy among our customers.





"We hope it will encourage customers to think more about courteous behavior on CTA trains and buses.”



One insidious transit misbehavior won't be directly targeted in this round of ads — though transit staff considered it.



The Chicago Tribune reports that "manspreading" isn't included in the current campaign, but CTA spokesman Brian Steele said they hope riders will consider it included in the "general topic of taking up too much space." Since December, Steele told the Trib the CTA has received only two calls complaining about "manspreading" on trains or buses.



The CTA last ran a courtesy campaign in the early 2000s, according to a release.

[mrsukyankee]

They've done the same on the Tube in London, but they are much more 'British'. (Sorry for the large sizes)

[Deleted]

They have ads like these in the NYC subway too. I'll be honest, I don't think they did any good. People are assholes and/or clueless. I'm including myself here in the clueless category since I've often so zoned out on my commute that I don't notice people who need to sit.

[Deleted]

Even if few people notice the signs, at least people who are getting peeved every day will feel like someone is trying to fix it.
But they need a man spreading one.

[redheadbaker]

They have signs like these on Philly buses and trains, too. People are still assholes.

[cattledogkisses]

I hate people who think their bag needs its own seat. I think a lot of people do it because they don't want someone sitting next to them, but that's part of public transportation. Get over it.

[Deleted]

May 28, 2015 7:31:38 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I hate people who think their bag needs its own seat. I think a lot of people do it because they don't want someone sitting next to them, but that's part of public transportation. Get over it.

There's a lady on my commuter bus who does this daily. Sits on the aisle seat & piles her three bags on the window one. I always make her move her shit because I want a window seat & it's fucking rush hour bitch you don't get your own row. I did it just this morning.

[cookiemdough]

Waste of money.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

They need these for Boston, but they wouldn't work either, lol.

I'd add, If I've been waiting 20mins and you've just shown up as the train/bus has pulled in, you DON'T get to board before me.

[moreace01]

Where's the one telling guys to stop sitting with their legs spread - taking up two seats? Their balls didn't pay an extra fare.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

May 28, 2015 8:23:44 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Where's the one telling guys to stop sitting with their legs spread - taking up two seats? Their balls didn't pay an extra fare.

I think that is what this is referring to.  

The Chicago Tribune reports that "manspreading" isn't included in the current campaign, but CTA spokesman Brian Steele said they hope riders will consider it included in the "general topic of taking up too much space." Since December, Steele told the Trib the CTA has received only two calls complaining about "manspreading" on trains or buses.

[charminglife]

May 28, 2015 8:28:31 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

May 28, 2015 8:23:44 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Where's the one telling guys to stop sitting with their legs spread - taking up two seats? Their balls didn't pay an extra fare.

I think that is what this is referring to.  

The Chicago Tribune reports that "manspreading" isn't included in the current campaign, but CTA spokesman Brian Steele said they hope riders will consider it included in the "general topic of taking up too much space." Since December, Steele told the Trib the CTA has received only two calls complaining about "manspreading" on trains or buses.

Time for more people to start making calls about balls. 

[darnkatz]

This won't do shit. It's a waste of money that could have been spent elsewhere.

[af1212]

In Philadelphia we have - "Dude it's rude!"

septa.org/service/dudeitsrude/

[penguingrrl]

Do people even read the subway ads? I can't say I ever have. I will say, though, that when I was pregnant or had kids with me the vast majority of NYers were really good to me. They would help me carry stroller plus kid up stairs, move to get me a seat when I was visibly pregnant and generally smile at my kids and stuff. I was pleasantly surprised.

I did once have someone ask me to get up and give him my seat when I was 8 months pregnant (and I'm no Kate Middleton; I carry huge) and I rolled my eyes at him. And once was carrying a stroller upstairs while pregnant in a stop and had someone push me out of the way so he could get upstairs faster. He apologized when he noticed that I was hugely pregnant and carrying a toddler in a stroller, but too little too late fucker.

[sushi]

When I'm on a better computer I'll post awesome Japanese ads.

Here with so many tourists who've never ridden a train stand on the right and your bag doesn't deserve 2 seats might actually work. I'd hope. I think tourists actually are that stupid.

My train goes by a major airport and a huge tourist site. I have noticed a huge difference once it was tourist season. Not only do they sit in priority seats they also will use those for their bags. RAGE. And they're loud compared to the business quiet commuter. Killlllll

[lissaholly]

I was offered a seat when I was pregnant just once. That was the day I gave birth. Some people really are oblivious and it may help. But in reality, people know they are being assholea and they really don't care.

[elleblue]

May 28, 2015 17:49:04 GMT -5 lissaholly said:

I was offered a seat when I was pregnant just once. That was the day I gave birth. Some people really are oblivious and it may help. But in reality, people know they are being assholea and they really don't care.

I think this often results from a sense of shared responsibility. As in "I'm not the only one not offering the hugely pregnant woman a seat, why should I be the one to have to stand?" type of thinking. Assholes. 

[miniroller]

May 28, 2015 18:36:01 GMT -5 elleblue said:

May 28, 2015 17:49:04 GMT -5 lissaholly said:

I was offered a seat when I was pregnant just once. That was the day I gave birth. Some people really are oblivious and it may help. But in reality, people know they are being assholea and they really don't care.

I think this often results from a sense of shared responsibility. As in "I'm not the only one not offering the hugely pregnant woman a seat, why should I be the one to have to stand?" type of thinking. Assholes. 

Ok, I'm trying to be optimistic, guys. Thinking if one person reads a sign, then two days later, offers his seat to a pregnant woman, six people will see/ notice him perform this act of kindness, & follow suit. Thus, you'll have random acts of kindness kind of similar to the pay it forward in coffee shops trend. There's a chance!

[penguingrrl]

May 28, 2015 18:36:01 GMT -5 elleblue said:

May 28, 2015 17:49:04 GMT -5 lissaholly said:

I was offered a seat when I was pregnant just once. That was the day I gave birth. Some people really are oblivious and it may help. But in reality, people know they are being assholea and they really don't care.

I think this often results from a sense of shared responsibility. As in "I'm not the only one not offering the hugely pregnant woman a seat, why should I be the one to have to stand?" type of thinking. Assholes. 

Yup. You'll routinely see a car full of people trying to subtly avert their eyes for plausible deniability. Oh, I just didn't *see* you, sorry! 

[elleblue]

May 28, 2015 18:44:50 GMT -5 miniroller said:

May 28, 2015 18:36:01 GMT -5 elleblue said:

I think this often results from a sense of shared responsibility. As in "I'm not the only one not offering the hugely pregnant woman a seat, why should I be the one to have to stand?" type of thinking. Assholes. 

Ok, I'm trying to be optimistic, guys. Thinking if one person reads a sign, then two days later, offers his seat to a pregnant woman, six people will see/ notice him perform this act of kindness, & follow suit. Thus, you'll have random acts of kindness kind of similar to the pay it forward in coffee shops trend. There's a chance!

I think this can and does happen. Rudeness begets rudeness and kindness begets kindness.

[Deleted]

May 28, 2015 17:49:04 GMT -5 lissaholly said:

I was offered a seat when I was pregnant just once. That was the day I gave birth. Some people really are oblivious and it may help. But in reality, people know they are being assholea and they really don't care.

I really am clueless. A pregnant woman was standing right next to me once & I didn't notice for an entire stop. I jumped up once I realized. Since DH got sick I've really tried to pay attention more.

When he was really ill last year, I'd have to shove my way on, grab a seat and wait for him so we could trade, because no one is giving up a seat for a man in his 30s. If I couldn't get a seat is ask him semi-loudly if he was okay in the hopes someone would get up, because he was too proud to ask someone to do it.

[msmerymac]

May 28, 2015 7:31:38 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

I hate people who think their bag needs its own seat. I think a lot of people do it because they don't want someone sitting next to them, but that's part of public transportation. Get over it.

If someone is on the inside seat and has their bag next to them just until someone gets on so they don't have to hold it in their lap, whatever. It's the people who take the aisle seat with a free seat between them and the window who act oblivious that piss me off. 

Oh, and the woman at the airport the other day who needed a whole seat for her chipotle leftovers in a crowded terminal.

[msmerymac]

May 28, 2015 17:30:42 GMT -5 af1212 said:

In Philadelphia we have - "Dude it's rude!"

septa.org/service/dudeitsrude/

I think Dude It's Rude is catchy, and those ads are much easy to read and digest than these busy CTA ads.