What is it about public transportation that makes otherwise civilized individuals behave badly? Few would consider commuting a pleasant experience but faulting the offensive stench in the metro or cramped, stroller-packed buses as cause for complete disregard for others is only acceptable to a point. All passengers are in the same, stinky boat yet not all of them break rules or ignore widely accepted social norms.

For the last year, The RATP, Paris’s transport authority, has been running an advertising campaign to call offenders out on their unseemly behavior by portraying them as animals (let’s be honest, even papi needs to be reminded he can’t kick back like he’s at home). The campaign is an outgrowth of a study conducted by the RATP to understand why Parisians look and act so disgruntled on public transportation. Again, cue the smells and cramped quarters.

While we could argue that boorish conduct is endemic to public transportation systems in most large cities around the world,  few transit authorities devote the energy to raising awareness and curbing infractions through civic education. Bravo, RATP! Your ads have proven both entertaining and affirming. So what should locals (and visitors!) pay close attention to while commuting?
(*flow might be lost in translation)

“Jump the turnstyle and you may face a ticket control on the platform”. Should be added: don’t try to pass with someone who is a paying passenger.

“At 86 decibels, a secret is no longer confidential”. In other words, inside voices. Better yet, avoid using your cell phone completely.

“Block the doors and you make everyone late”. Furthermore, you risk losing your fingers.

What positively indecorous behavior have you witnessed on public transportation in Paris or elsewhere? 

{For more on this campaign, check out the related article on The Atlantic}