Those of you that ride the regional rail system have probably noticed that SEPTA is trying to promote cell phone courtesy. The blue signs or the flyers on the seats are just asking us to be courteous and considerate of our fellow riders when using cell phones on the train. I give them credit for reacting to the increasing number of cell phones being used everyday on the trains.
SEPTA actually had the novel idea of asking their riders what they thought of on-train cell phone usage, and based their campaign on the survey results. According to the survey, a slim majority of riders considered cell phone usage essential and didn't think that they should be banned. Thus SEPTA is asking riders to use the following courtesies:
- Limit cell phone use to essential calls.
- Keep conversations brief.
- Speak in a low voice.
- Set ringers on vibrate or low.
A majority of riders also wanted quiet zones or cell-phone-free cars. SEPTA wisely realized that this would just not work. Those of you who board the trains at one of the last stops inbound, or if Center City is the last stop outbound, know that just finding a seat can be an adventure. Just think of the extra time needed for passengers to find "right" car, or imagine the complaints if there were not enough room in their "desired" section.
I should be one of the last people to complain about cell phones on the train. I've been known to use mine on occasion, although I don't think that I use it in such a manner to offend most other people on the train. There does seems to be at least one rider every week who goes beyond what should be considered proper cell phone etiquette.
Some of my least favorite cell phone users talk so loud that the riders in the next car can hear them. These people always seem to discuss aspects of their personal lives that most of us would rather not know. There are also the ones who use rude and vulgar language on the phone, especially if there are children only a few feet away from them. Finally, there is the rider with their ringer set as loud as possible to the most annoying song samples available. This rider also receives at least seventeen calls from the time the R5 Doylestown Express leaves the tunnel outbound from Market East and arrives at Fort Washington. I'm sure you also have your favorite examples.
I think that the frustration of annoyed SEPTA riders is not just limited to cell phone usage on the train, but reflects their invasion of everyday life. I don't know how many times I've almost been in an accident (both in my car and on FOOT) because a careless driver on a cell phone nearly hit me. I've also had to mediate a situation on the fourth floor of the library (it's a 24 hour quiet area) due to a lack of cell phone etiquette.
We can make this techno-world a little less stressful for everyone if we just try to follow proper etiquette.
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