No loud music on Karnataka State buses now. What else deserves a ban on public transport?

Do you often travel on Karnataka State Transport buses? If you do, there's something you might not be able to do any longer. Play music (or anything) on mobile phone speakers. A new directive from the Karnataka High Court will now get you de-boarded if you don't follow the diktat.

The ban comes after a petition in the High Court sought the restrictions citing ‘noise disturbance inside buses’. Karnataka Cabinet minister Dr K Sudhakar put out a Twitter poll on the issue, asking people to vote whether it is a good or a bad move. He said it’s a good move. 92% of the 2,858 people who voted, agree with him. 

KSRTC has banned playing of any content (video, audio, music, movies, etc) on ‘Speaker mode’ of mobile phones while travelling in its busses to avoid inconvenience to fellow passengers. I think it is a good move, what do you think?

— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) November 12, 2021

Indeed, playing anything on speakers on public transport is surely a nuisance, but there are a few more such problems that deserve a ban.

1. STEALING SEATS RESERVED FOR LADIES, SPECIALLY ABLED, AGED

We often come across ignorant passengers hogging seats reserved for women, specially abled or the aged. Such passengers can be asked politely to vacate their seats, but a directive is required for repeat offenders.

2. CHEWING AND SPITTING TOBACCO

As children, our moms would tell us not to touch the windows or the window sills on public transport. It's likely that those windows are covered in gross spit of strangers. It is a dirty nuisance for co-passengers and as we lead a life in the shadow of Covid, definitely a life-threatening one. Since gutkha or tobacco needs to be spat out, it’s likely for the best if it is banned during the bus ride.

Thank you @KSRTC_Journeys. We hope to see a poster saying "No chewing of Gutka" in the buses soon.

— Praveenkumar K: Kalam way (@praveenkalikeri) November 12, 2021

3. EATING AND LITTERING

Imagine traveling in an AC bus to your hometown, and having to put up with a pungent smell from your co-passenger’s tiffin. Eating during a long bus ride cannot be penalised. However, it is better to ban consumption of smelly foods inside buses.

Then there are the wrappers. Littering inside the bus should also be penalised just like littering in any public place is.

4. BUSES NOT ON TIME

Indian government buses are also notorious for never being on time. Punctuality on part of the buses may also do passengers a lot of good. 

5. OVERCROWDING

Before Covid hit, Indian state buses were synonymous with a tuna can. Covid took care of half that problem during the beginning of the pandemic, but things are quickly going back to normal. A ban on overcrowding; essentially, a limit on the number of passengers, is needed in state buses.