Most bus passengers know how annoying it is when commuters play loud music or have loud conversations on speakerphone.
Currently in Singapore, bus passengers can be fined hundreds of dollars just for doing so.
The move is part of a crackdown on “disruptive” behavior on public buses in the Asian city-state, with those who break the rules facing fines of up to SGD 5,000, or about $3,900.
Passengers who cause a “nuisance” to others by placing their feet on seats, playing loud audio, littering or eating or drinking on buses can be fined up to S$500 (approximately JPY 39,000), the Land Transport Authority (LTA), which oversees Singapore’s public transport system, said in a statement.
Serious offenses such as endangering other commuters or “defacing” a bus or other transport infrastructure carry a fine of up to S$5,000.
“Public transport is a shared space and all commuters have a role to play in ensuring a respectful and comfortable commuting environment,” the LTA statement said.
The new penalties are in line with existing rules for Singapore’s metro system.
Unlike major U.S. cities like New York, transportation systems in Asia are well known for their cleanliness, orderliness, and efficiency, and it’s common for eating, drinking, and music to be prohibited on board. For example, in Japan, even chatting with your fellow commuters is considered rude.
Singapore, known for its strict laws enforcing public cleanliness, is not the only city making efforts to create a more peaceful commute.
The problem is particularly acute in London, where authorities last year launched an etiquette campaign urging passengers to use headphones while on the tube. Around 70% of London transport users said they found it a nuisance when commuters played loud music or talked loudly on the phone without headphones, a behavior some people called “barebeating”, according to a Transport for London poll last year.
Public transit systems in cities such as Beijing, Krakow and Toronto have banned playing loud audio without headphones, although enforcement varies.
While some disorderly commuters may be given a verbal warning and leave, others may have to “face the music” for their nuisance.
In February 2025, a man in France was fined $200 for refusing to turn off his speakers inside a train station and making a loud phone call on speaker.
