Face coverings compulsory on public transport in England from 15 June

[infobleep]

Absolutely. I could wear an ill-fitting tea towel which will do no good at all, and people who wear masks with valves could be sending highly directed streams of virus out with some force.

It's all extremely stupid.

You could make a face mask out of thin paper. Perfectly legalcis my understanding but not a good idea.

 

[adc82140]

Regarding the valved masks I think there needs to be a specific ruling regarding them. If we are supposed to be wearing face coverings to protect others, it should be publicised as "strictly no valved masks allowed"

 

[Bikeman78]

Incredibly annoyingly, they've not removed the caps of people on buses: 20 on double decker, 10 on double-doored single deckers and 8 on single-door single deckers. So the increase of shoppers means that about 75% of buses going past had "BUS FULL" signs on. This isn't good and it's not going to work. The limits need to allow more people on buses now that coverings are compulsory.

This is exactly what Enthusiast, among others, predicted several weeks ago. I wonder what happens if a "full" bus stops to let two people off but 20 people want to get on?

 

[Andyh82]

If this becomes a permanent part of daily life then it will be disruptive. I'm concerned that we're heading in that direction, and a masked society is not one I want to live in.

As a temporary measure for a couple of months, I can just about stomach masks. But we're seeing buses having them painted on, huge numbers of news articles illustrated with mask pictures, and even them becoming a fashion statement in some quarters. We need to have a clear exit strategy for leaving this masked world behind.

Buses have red noses ‘painted on’ or poppies, or Christmas decorations.

They don’t stay on all year and neither will the face masks.

I do wonder if half the moans in this thread are theoretical, like the various threads we have about fares, or set down/pick up only stops, or rules about taking photos on stations, like people are deliberately trying to find loopholes that they will never have to implement.

 

[AM9]

... I do wonder if half the moans in this thread are theoretical, like the various threads we have about fares, or set down/pick up only stops, or rules about taking photos on stations, like people are deliberately trying to find loopholes that they will never have to implement.

On threads like this there's always been a lot of manufactured indignation seemingly to try and bump those whose decision it is into doing what they want. Fortunately, it rarely makes any difference. The decisions about relaxing restrictions are made based on scientific evidence and there actually being a epidemial justification of increasing the risk of rising infections.

 

[al78]

Have you read any of the comments on there recently? About 80% think we should be under much stricter conditions, and some seem to equate going shopping for non-essentials to a war crime.

No different to any other online comments section e.g. BBC, Yahoo, which admittedly are heavily populated by toxic people.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

On threads like this there's always been a lot of manufactured indignation seemingly to try and bump those whose decision it is into doing what they want. Fortunately, it rarely makes any difference.

This is a discussion forum, people will express their views and thoughts on a multitutde of subjects, some you may agree with and others you may not. I think you'll just have to accept that.

The decisions about relaxing restrictions are made based on scientific evidence and there actually being a epidemial justification of increasing the risk of rising infections.

I beg to differ, but that's a discussion for a different thread.

 

[al78]

No, the Guardian readership is the demographic you'd expect. ABC1s, with a higher income and higher representation of the professions and the public sector than average.

Yes, they are affected by the lockdown in that their freedom of movement is restricted, they can't socialise, and until very recently couldn't socially bubble with another household in their family. I have no idea what ABC1 means, I don't do tribalism so am unfamiliar with all the labels that get slapped on people.

 

[island]

The relevant regs simply require a face covering, defined in the regs as;



As such a respirator covers the nose and mouth it is acceptable for the purpose of travelling by train.

But not on the services of TfL or its subsidiaries, which require that masks be attached behind the ears or tied behind the head.

 

[PupCuff]

But not on the services of TfL or its subsidiaries, which require that masks be attached behind the ears or tied behind the head.

It's brilliant having a consistent approach across all public transport, isn't it?

 

[NorthOxonian]

Yes, they are affected by the lockdown in that their freedom of movement is restricted, they can't socialise, and until very recently couldn't socially bubble with another household in their family. I have no idea what ABC1 means, I don't do tribalism so am unfamiliar with all the labels that get slapped on people.

ABC1 is (very roughly) the middle classes - those in managerial, professional, or administrative work. I suppose they're less likely to have their line of work directly impacted (with many in the public sector), and most can work from home fairly easily. I'd expect them to be a little more pro-lockdown but not by a huge margin because as you say they still have the same social restrictions as the C2DE group (which is effectively the working classes as well as most pensioners).

 

[Baxenden Bank]

If you are having problems with breathing using face masks try something like this

A nice knitted face mask with plenty of big holes for air to pass through

View attachment 79528

Which amply demonstrates the phase I saw, relating to most cloth face coverings and even masks of the lower order:
'as much use as a chain-link fence in stopping dust'.

 

[Trainfan2019]

All 3 of us passengers plus conductor had our masks on my train this morning. Around Crewe station the few people and staff present there all had masks on.

Different on the way home though...3 teenagers get on at the next station, no distancing and no masks on any of them.

 

[Huntergreed]

All 3 of us passengers plus conductor had our masks on my train this morning. Around Crewe station the few people and staff present there all had masks on.

Different on the way home though...3 teenagers get on at the next station, no distancing and no masks on any of them.

Were they questioned by anyone?

I must admit here in Scotland where I live at least there's been no increase in mask use whatsoever.

 

[route101]

Increased capacity is the inevitable consequence of it. The Government is conceding increased usage of public transport to get to the shops, even if not explicitly encouraging it.

Admittedly, it's easier for rail users as we have ultimate control over how many people get on, whereas a bus driver can go straight past if he reaches the socially distanced capacity of his bus.

If non essential shops are opening , then the non essential message for public transport should be dropped

 

[Trainfan2019]

Were they questioned by anyone?

Not questioned at all.

The conductor had announced earlier she would not be patrolling the train. They got on at an unstaffed station and got off at a station only staffed until lunchtime. This journey was this evening.

 

[scotrail158713]

My prediction would be that there's three main reasons for this:

1 - The fear driven messaging which was initially used made out that 'this big bad virus is here to kill us all', and we now have a terrified population. The government did not foresee how effective this form of messaging would be and are now reluctant to ease restrictions, simply due to the fact that the population don't feel 'safe', and if the government are, in the public eye, placing the population in danger, then all trust for that government will be lost.

2 - The 'pro-lockdown' army are exceptionally vocal, just take a scroll down facebook comments on a news article. I found these ones within five minutes in the comments section of a BBC article which demonstrates just how strongly they feel:



(The grammar quality within this one in particular suggests to me the author doesn't have a fully developed understanding of the situation).

The level of vocality displayed will be taken by the government as the view from the 'general public', so they have a perception that we all want to live in our own little 2m box for the next 2 years.

3 - The government are taking their own advice, 'guided by the science', far too literally, by being guided purely by medical scientists and epidemiologists. I would like to think that the government are getting an all round opinion from experts in various sectors (economists, psychologists, behavioural scientists, medical scientists), but I have a hunch they are only listening to Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, who are trained to always err on the side of caution without considering the economic or social implications of the restrictions that they advise.

It’s crazy isn’t it?
This one is just wrong on so many levels - spelling, factual accuracy...

I can't beleeve BJ is opening up Primark again. There's still 100's dieieing every day and it's far too dangerous to go to work nvm shop for clothes. We need to lockdown again, or this is the end of life in UK

 

[route101]

Not questioned at all.

The conductor had announced earlier she would not be patrolling the train. They got on at an unstaffed station and got off at a station only staffed until lunchtime. This journey was this evening.

I seen on twitter , cant find it now , that a guard was asking passengers to put on face coverings.

 

[BJames]

It’s crazy isn’t it?
This one is just wrong on so many levels - spelling, factual accuracy...

I find quotes like the one you've highlighted a perfect example of the intelligence levels of some of the UK's population. It's very concerning indeed. It's been done repeatedly on here but the amount of people that think you'll drop dead if you step outside your front door continues to astonish me.

 

[Journeyman]

I find quotes like the one you've highlighted a perfect example of the intelligence levels of some of the UK's population. It's very concerning indeed. It's been done repeatedly on here but the amount of people that think you'll drop dead if you step outside your front door continues to astonish me.

The Scottish government has actually had to run a publicity campaign to persuade people to go outside occasionally.

 

[Ianigsy]

The galling thing for me at the moment is that none of the four face coverings I have on order has actually turned up yet, so this afternoon I was on the bus home from work in 23 degree heat with a scarf around my head and neck.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I find quotes like the one you've highlighted a perfect example of the intelligence levels of some of the UK's population. It's very concerning indeed. It's been done repeatedly on here but the amount of people that think you'll drop dead if you step outside your front door continues to astonish me.

They are only regurgitating what they have taken in. No independent investigation of alternatives or thought has taken place. Hence the belief that you could only go out once a day and for less than one hour. A simple check of the law, rather than the soundbite, revealed otherwise. Blame the originators of the message.

What I find particularly worrying is the 'I get all my "news" from twitface' and 'if it was said on twitface it must be accurate'.

 

[Butts]

Not questioned at all.

The conductor had announced earlier she would not be patrolling the train. They got on at an unstaffed station and got off at a station only staffed until lunchtime. This journey was this evening.

Still hiding in their office then - what a joke !!

No one wearing masks on my journey into Edinburgh Tonight or staff at Haymarket - but then fortunately not mandatory up here.

 

[Bow Fell]

Still hiding in their office then - what a joke !!

As instructed.

It’s not the duty of the traincrew or any rail staff to enforce face coverings.

The brief we’ve had is to advise and educate, if someone isn’t wearing one, and if it’s for medical reasons, not a problem.

I genuinely don’t understand the issues people are making out of this:

Travelling on Public Transport?

Wear a face covering.

Have a medical condition, or wearing one would cause an issue to yourself? (anxiety/claustrophobic)

Not a problem, but you may be advised. We’re not asking for medical certificates.

Not wearing a face covering because you don’t feel like it and above the situation?

Don’t be an arse. Simple. If you’re happy to make up a medical condition etc, to get out of wearing one, fair enough. That’s down to you. Just don’t be rude, if you get asked or advised.

This is Government advice, that the TOC’s/Bus Companies etc been told to implement.

I’ll agree it’s a far from ideal situation, but sadly we are where we are. It’s highly unlikely, this will go on forever.

Be responsible and be polite and respectful.

What happened to that “just use common sense” that you were all such a fan of just a few weeks ago?

 

[Jonny]

Has anyone considered if masks risk picking up small amounts and magnifying their effect, or if the encouragement to use improvised masks poses risks in terms of non-coronavirus infective diseases (such as pneumonia)?

 

[Jamiescott1]

Is it enforced on the tube with the same legislation or by a tfl bylaws?

Are they compulsory in tube stations?

 

[Butts]

Contrast the Guards hiding in their Cabins with BA Stewardesses on my recent Flight from London to Glasgow going up and down the much narrower isles handing out water and crisps to passengers.

No gloves on either

 

[LowLevel]

Contrast the Guards hiding in their Cabins with BA Stewardesses on my recent Flight from London to Glasgow going up and down the much narrower isles handing out water and crisps to passengers.

No gloves on either

Nothing to do with us. I'm still walking around the train answering questions, making sure the bogs haven't packed up, collecting statistics, telling pricks to behave and whatnot. It is the train operators who have conducted their risk assessments regarding cab based working. I'm bored to tears to be honest.

Given BA's stance towards their crew with what even the Tories are calling a blatant attempt to destroy their terms and conditions I can't say I'm that keen to be in their boat.

 

[Butts]

Nothing to do with us. I'm still walking around the train answering questions, making sure the bogs haven't packed up, collecting statistics, telling pricks to behave and whatnot. It is the train operators who have conducted their risk assessments regarding cab based working. I'm bored to tears to be honest.

Given BA's stance towards their crew with what even the Tories are calling a blatant attempt to destroy their terms and conditions I can't say I'm that keen to be in their boat.

You need to have a word with your Scotrail colleagues - even on trains with 6 carriages and 6 passengers in total they are nowhere to be seen.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Contrast the Guards hiding in their Cabins with BA Stewardesses on my recent Flight from London to Glasgow going up and down the much narrower isles handing out water and crisps to passengers.

No gloves on either

Gloves are pointless, possibly actively negative, unless you are changing them every few minutes. Hand washing/sanitising is better.