METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

New CTA courtesy campaign shames inconsiderate rider behavior

The campaign, featuring a series of messages to be placed on buses and trains, reflects some of the most commonly heard complaints from riders about the behaviors of fellow public transit passengers.

May 27, 2015
New CTA courtesy campaign shames inconsiderate rider behavior

Courtesy: Chicago Transit Authority

3 min to read


Courtesy: Chicago Transit Authority

Standing by the doors and not letting others on or off. Leaving food wrappers on the seat and floor. Playing music so loud you can hear it from 20 feet away.

In an effort to promote more courteous behavior among CTA customers, the agency — using feedback from customers — is launching an informational campaign designed to prompt consideration and discussion of the best ways to be courteous and considerate to fellow riders.

The campaign [Photo Gallery of artwork], featuring a series of messages to be placed on buses and trains, reflects some of the most commonly heard complaints from riders about the behaviors of fellow public transit passengers — not only on the CTA, but on transit systems throughout the world.

Ad Loading...
Courtesy: Chicago Transit Authority

“The overwhelming majority of CTA customers are considerate of their fellow passengers,” said Graham Garfield, GM, Customer Information. “However, based on feedback we’ve received from passengers, we believe this public-service campaign will help improve the transit experience by continuing the dialogue about courtesy among our customers. We hope it will encourage customers to think more about courteous behavior on CTA trains and buses.”

Courtesy: Chicago Transit Authority


The courtesy campaign messages cover a wide range of discourteous passenger behaviors, from littering and eating on trains to not using all available doors on an arriving train. Garfield noted that while many of the behaviors have an obvious impact customer experience — for example, eating can create a mess on seats and floors, as well as unwanted odors — some have impacts that are less obvious, but no less important. For example, customers who crowd around one set of train doors while boarding instead of moving down the platform to other doors can cause delays in service. And a discarded newspaper can not only create a mess inside a bus or rail car, if can cause a minor fire at track level.

CTA used feedback from social media, calls/emails to CTA Customer Service, and observations of CTA personnel to develop the courtesy campaign subject matters. The messages will begin appearing on buses and trains this week.

Courtesy: Chicago Transit Authority

The campaign, developed in-house by CTA staff, is the latest effort by the CTA to improve customer communications and passenger comfort. Among other efforts since 2011, the CTA has expanded digital information screens with bus and train service info, launched a rail-safety reminder campaign, and created the Renew Crew program to bring long-overdue improvements to 100 rail stations.

Transit agencies across the country and throughout the world have launched courtesy campaigns, targeting many of the same behaviors as the CTA campaign. CTA last used a courtesy campaign in the early 2000s.

The CTA is the nation’s second-largest transit agency, providing about 1.6 million rides on an average weekday. Each weekday, CTA provides more than 2,200 train trips and more than 19,000 bus trips.

More information about the campaign is available at www.transitchicago.com/courtesy

More Management

A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
An image of a ticket validator in front of a security gate.
Managementby Staff and News ReportsJune 12, 2026

STL Metro Transit To Launch Next-Generation Fare Collection and Security Gates

The St. Louis transit agency will begin the phased rollout of gated station access and integrated fare technology to improve security and the customer experience.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An aerial view of the CATS light rail.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseJune 12, 2026

CATS FY27 Budget Prioritizes Safety, Service

New investments in security, service expansion, and rail development aim to improve the rider experience while keeping fares flat.

Read More →
A person holding up a TransLink Compass Soccer Mini to a navigation terminal.
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 11, 2026

Transit Agencies Nationwide Gear Up to Move World Cup Crowds

As millions of fans prepare to descend on host cities, transit leaders are turning a month-long global event into a proving ground for the future of customer experience, mobility, and crowd management.

Read More →
A blue and white OCTA public transit bus parked in the street.
Managementby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

OCTA Approves $2 Billion Budget for FY 2026-27, Prioritizing Transit Investments

More than half of the agency’s upcoming spending plan is dedicated to transit as OCTA balances infrastructure investment with fiscal stability.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
New MobilityJune 5, 2026

Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility

In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.

Read More →
A maintenance person with a tablet.
ManagementJune 5, 2026

Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI

Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.

Read More →
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SamTrans planning for ballot measure
Managementby StaffJune 4, 2026

SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue

The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.

Read More →