(The following editorial appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on January 12, 2009.)
PHILADELPHIA — News of SEPTA’s plans to pilot a “quiet car” on the R5-Lansdale/Doylestown line this week prompted at least one spirited riders’ discussion within earshot of passengers in surrounding seats on one commuter rail car the other day.
Even if those riders weren’t yet ready for the quiet car themselves, they sounded excited about the plan – with good reason.
Who hasn’t been annoyed on a train, bus, or in some other public setting by the distraction of others’ loud phone conversations, radio or banter?
The idea that airlines might open up the friendly skies to cell-phone calls has many frequent flyers dreading the prospect of being trapped in a noisy plane.
The problem of people yakking loudly on cell phones for entire journeys isn’t a new phenomenon aboard SEPTA trains. So it’s good that the transit agency finally is looking at ways to turn down the volume.
As more and more people crowd onto trains because of gasoline and other price spikes, this is the perfect time for SEPTA to explore ways to make the ride more comfortable for everyone.
Even better, a SEPTA spokesman says the “QuietRide” pilot program is only the first step in what will be a “wide-ranging customer-service initiative promoting etiquette and basic common courtesy.” That’s part of SEPTA General Manager Joseph M. Casey’s welcome campaign to improve customer service overall.
For the next few weeks, SEPTA will ban cell-phone use in the first cars of the Lansdale/Doylestown rush-hour express trains. Conductors also will urge riders to maintain a library-like atmosphere by keeping their voices low and using headphones with iPods and the like.
Provisions should be made for emergency calls, of course. But Amtrak and a few other transit agencies have had success with designating quiet cars.
The policies tend to become self-enforcing over time – with fellow riders (gently) reminding others who give in to the urge to phone home despite the ban. In effect, this policy will test SEPTA riders’ ability to get along. Fingers crossed.
SEPTA could expand the quiet-car rules to other routes after the R5 line pilot program, which ends March 13. Riders can help the agency make that determination by providing feedback. (Call 215-580-7800 or go to www.septa.org/comment.)
While SEPTA should promote courtesy and consideration among transit riders on every rail car or bus or station platform, its effort to reduce annoying cell phone use on commuter trains is a good start.