Are you a ‘good’ public transit user? The STM says ‘yes’ if you do these 5 things

The STM is asking people to mind their manners as part of a new campaign aimed at targeting bad behaviour.

Wearing headphones? Taking only one seat? Letting other people get off the bus before you get on?

If you’re doing all these things, then you’re a civil public transit user, according to the Société de transport de Montréal (STM).

Monday, the agency launched a new phase of its awareness campaign, reminding users of how to act on the city’s various modes of public transit “to encourage smoother travel.”

“The campaign takes a positive approach, reminding riders that responsible behaviour can create a ripple effect — good brings good,” the agency explains.

The five “good behaviours” that have the largest “impact on service reliability as well as their role in encouraging courtesy and awareness” include:

• Taking only one seat;
• Placing your backpack at your feet;
• Letting people out before you enter;
• Moving toward the back of the bus;
• Wearing headphones when using electronic devices.

The campaign, which the STM states is cost-free apart from printing expenses, is set to run across the bus and Metro networks until mid-June.

The first phase of the STM’s civility campaign was rolled out in the fall of 2024.