China clamps down on noisy subway passengers

By Zhu Bochen
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail ​China.org.cn, December 3, 2020
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A member of staff directs passengers entering Haishan Subway Station in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, Oct. 28, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cities across China have been introducing regulations on public transportation etiquette over the past few years, with the issue of nuisance noise from mobile devices recently coming to the forefront. 

The habit of passengers playing loud music via cellphone speakers has become increasingly commonplace with the emergence of short video apps such as Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and Kuaishou. 

Nationwide efforts to clamp down on the behavior officially began in October 2019 as China's Ministry of Transportation issued a document on the management of passenger transport in urban rail transit. Article 36 of the document states: "Passengers are not permitted to sell products, engage in marketing activities, beg for money, talk too loudly, or play music via speakers of electronic devices." 

In response, major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan have adopted these measures into their codes of conduct for urban rail transit. 

On Dec. 1 this year, Shanghai implemented its updated code in this regard. According to local news reports, as of 1 p.m. that day, subway staff had dissuaded 19 passengers in the city from playing music via speakers. 

Beijing has taken a comparatively tough approach in terms of the policy. As far back as June, the city's implementation guidelines on the issue stated that those who refused to cooperate with subway staff would receive a negative record on their social credit profile for a "lack of etiquette on public transport." 

Wuhan, on the other hand, has decided to issue fines to those objecting to the regulatory efforts. 

Nevertheless, urban rail operators in these cities have noted the difficulties in implementation. Since the passenger code of conduct is not legally binding, there is currently very little that subway staff can do on the issue besides trying to dissuade and advise rulebreakers. 

"We hope that more passengers can realize that such behavior is inappropriate and can disturb others," a staff member working on Line 6 of the Beijing Subway told China.org.cn. "For now, raising awareness on how to behave in public spaces is our top priority."

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