Website notice – Metro Tasmania, retrieved 17 July 2023
Get on board with a safer Metro
At Metro, we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our team and customers. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe when on board a Metro bus, in our Metro shops, or engaging with us through our hotline or online. That’s why we are coming together with the RTBU (Rail, Tram and Bus Union) to say “It’s NOT Ok!”, as one of our measures to address the community issue of anti-social behaviour and take a firm stand against it.
Our campaign is a statewide initiative designed to raise awareness about the various forms of anti-social behaviour that are simply not acceptable. We want to help champion a community where respect, kindness, and consideration prevail. And while the vast majority of our customers do the right thing, even one instance of anti-social behaviour on a Metro bus is too many.
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour encompasses a range of unacceptable actions, including (but not limited to):
- using obscene or offensive language
- threatening or abusing a Metro team member on our hotline or social media channels
- bullying or assaulting a Metro team member or customer
- smoking, vaping or using an e-cigarette on board a bus
- yelling, spitting or creating a disturbance
We want to make it clear that all these actions are not ok and will not be tolerated.
Our commitment to safety
We take the issue of anti-social behaviour seriously, and we are actively working alongside unions, Tasmania Police, local government, and schools to address this issue. As part of our commitment to safety, we have implemented various measures to ensure a secure environment for everyone, including CCTV on buses, supporting State Government safety initiatives, and staff training.
Get on board with a safer Metro
Through our “It’s NOT ok!” campaign, we want our community to be aware of and stand against anti-social behaviour and help us create a culture of accountability.
If you witness any instances of anti-social behaviour, we encourage you to inform your Metro driver so they can report it. Serious cases will be promptly reported to Tasmania Police, ensuring appropriate action is taken.
By coming together as a community, we can continue to build a positive and respectful environment on our buses, in our Metro shops, and online. Join us in saying “It’s NOT ok!” and let’s get on board with a safer Metro for everyone.
Media release – Tasmanian Small Business Council, 17 July 2023
Metro Initiative Will provide Commuter Confidence
‘The initiative to tell the world that bad behaviour is NOT OK announced today by Metro Tasmania will go a long way to providing confidence to Tasmanian commuters’, CEO of the TSBC, Robert Mallett said today.
‘Public transport can only get better and meet the needs of the public when there is a reliable, safe service provided to all travellers.
‘Congestion on Tasmanian roads will become even more a feature of our community as the Tasmanian population continues to grow at a pace where we can’t keep up with our critical infrastructure. The way to solve this is with a quality public transport system where the public have total confidence in their safety.
‘Only then will businesses large and small be able to offer employees an affordable and reliable way to get to and from their workplaces, day and night, with complete safety.
Mr. Mallett said that ‘Metro CEO’s Katie Cooper comments that “Anti-social behaviour can take many forms – whether it is abusing staff online or on the Metro phone line, vaping on a bus, or being physically or verbally aggressive towards our drivers – none of this behaviour is acceptable,” was a reflection of a malaise which is gripping the state at the moment and one which we all need to work toward stamping out’.
‘We all have a part to play in calling out and reporting anti-social and threatening behaviour and TasPol have been doing an incredible job tackling this. Maybe, just maybe, we can turn the corner with this campaign.
Media release – City of Hobart, 17 July 2023
It’s NOT Ok: Curbing unwanted behaviour on buses
City of Hobart City Mobility Portfolio Chair Cr Ryan Posselt is encouraging the entire community, passengers, and local businesses, to actively participate in a new safety campaign aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour head on.
” Anti-social behaviour on buses and in our malls, including harassment, vandalism, and disruptive conduct, has been a growing concern in our community for some time,” Cr Posselt said.
“Such incidents compromise the safety and security of passengers and have a detrimental effect on everyone’s commuting experience.
“It is hoped that together, we can create an environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.
“The City of Hobart continues to play an active role in working with community and businesses to improve the safety and perceptions of safety within our City.
“There are members of the community who heavily rely on buses as an essential form on transport, and they deserve to feel safe on their journey.
“Transport is an essential part of life. We use it every day. Buses are important in the transport mix. They are efficient and cater to most abilities.
“This campaign will bring comfort to drivers and passengers who enjoy using public transport.
“As Hobart grows, public transport will be vital to maintaining a city that is liveable and in which people can move around quickly, safely and sustainably,” Cr Posselt said.
