Pamela Kokoszka wants a new sign on the bus
As a young adult with no children of my own, I don’t dread anything more than being stuck on the bus with a bunch of little kids screaming their heads off while their parents or guardians are too busy checking their social networks to pay attention to what their kids are doing.
While commuting I want to be able to enjoy my music and catch up on the news before getting back to reality, because as soon as I step off the bus it’s either a busy day at work or being stuck in my study books for hours.
I am sure everyone else trapped in this situation asks themselves the same question as I do: “Why can’t you tell those kids to shut up?” I don’t know whether it’s pure ignorance on the parents’ part, or whether they honestly don’t realise that the whole bus is desperate for them to do something about the noise.
I see other passengers giving each other glances, but no one is brave enough to say anything. I understand why though, because I don’t think I’m brave enough to say anything either, in case I end up being attacked by a parent for getting involved.
I understand why you would not want someone telling you how to bring up your kids, particularly someone like me who does not have any of their own, but then I make sure my music is not too loud, and so why shouldn’t they keep their kids quiet too? It is just common courtesy.
On buses there are signs telling you what you cannot do, which can include listening to music too loudly, eating and drinking, smoking, and putting your feet on the seats. So why not put up signs telling people to keep their kids quiet too?
I am not sure what the picture would be of: a silhouette of a child with their mouth blaring out, and a giant red X across it I suppose. Or how about another member of staff on the bus whose job it is to make sure that people behave, like the old conductor used to?
I realise it would cost TFL money, but the alternative is that travelling on the bus can sometimes be hell.