To not be surprised people don’t want to use public transport

Sounds like a hideous experience OP, I think you got unlucky with the feral teenage boys, there are a lot of teenagers out there that are respectful too. Obviously public transport is going to have a lot of drunk ppl on this cant be avoided!

Indeed, politely asking someone to be considerate always risks physical violence. There was the woman who was pushed on to the tracks when she asked someone to stop smoking on the platform. And the thugs know they are practically immune from prosecution.

I hate public transport for the unreliability.

DS got the train back from college a few times last year. It never arrived on time. Not once in 8 - 10 journeys. On three occasions the trains stopped at Crewe, one was after 10pm. We ended up driving 40 minutes each way to pick him up from there.

We went to London a couple of months ago by train, and the return journey was over an hour late. Plus point was that we got a refund, but we would rather have got home on time.

Sadly, you're right. I've asked people before and had very aggressive replies. Not worth it. No one cares anymore. Girl with feet on seat listening to some thing without headphones with her boyfriend were on the train next to me and man behind me roaring into his phone. I turned and glanced at him but he kept speaking at top volume. I have to use public transport all the time but it is grim.

Once you’ve paid the sky-high costs of a car (insurance etc), public transport is then extremely expensive. For most journeys, the cost makes it a no-brainer.

It depends on the train company and route.
Long distance trains will have staff.
Commuter style trains trend not too.
This is what a lot of train strikes are about.

I've never experienced anything like that. But trains are expensive, and often unreliable at holiday times, as that's when engineering works are often done, and that's enough to put people off.

I find you rarely see on board train stafff unless you stop somewhere without barriers.

I had to go to London three times in the last month. Two changes and three hours just one way so six hours travel in all and at least one train cancelled on each trip. Standing room only on at least half the trains I had to catch and one of those was over an hour long stretch. No anti social behaviour though thankfully.
I only live two hours away by car but just didn’t want to get stuck in traffic on the M25

Different reason but I occasionally take my 4 year old to town on the bus instead of using the car.

He shortly turns 5 where it would be costing me an extra £4, whereas it won’t be extra if I drive in. So I won’t be using the bus after that.

I’m shocked that no one ie staff, did anything about a smashed bottle, so presumably glass everywhere. The worst I’ve found on seats and tables on the trains local to me (including on a line popular for day trips to the beach and a bit rough) are old drink cans, a bit of graffiti and used make up wipe. All grim none particularly dangerous like broken glass. I’d absolutely report that. The girls singing loudly is frankly just put up with. They’re unlikely to punch you in the face for asking them to stop though.

I don't drive so use buses and trains a lot. I find most other passengers are fine.

If you get a group, they can be a bit loud but people in groups tend to be louder than people in 2s or 3s - not just on public transport but pretty much anywhere. I like peace and quiet but you're not going to get that when you're surrounded by other people.

People using devices without headphones can be annoying. If it's bothering me then I'll say something and I find people are generally apologetic.

In theory I'm really pro public transport. In reality I'm finding it increasingly difficult to use because it's becoming more and more unpleasant to use.

It's definitely linked to the absolute collapse of people's ability to behave in a polite and civilised way in public situations.

In my local area the fact the bus service frequency has been cut back to a ridiculously inadequate level means the buses are so much busier and that much more unpleasant to use. But having said that as an older person I feel a lot safer on the bus than I do using the local train service. I'll only use the train if I really have no choice because I find them so intimidating.

Interestingly earlier today I was reading a report on recently released statistics which show the marked increase in anti social incidents at airports - including incidents of sexual assaults. They are linking this increase unequivocally to the availability of alcohol at airports and drunkeness.
Really depressing.

I didn't intend to. What I said came out badly.
I apologise for sounding harsh towards you.
💐

We use public transport all the time as we have no car and we've done day trips almost every weekend over the summer. It's been fine tbh, I've not noticed anyone playing music out loud but then it doesn't bother me too much in any case, I've certainly not seen any violence. The worst aspect is poor service and not enough services running so the trains are overcrowded, but that's down to the companies not the passengers. Still, I have fond memories of using trains in late 2020 when we'd have the entire carriage to ourselves.

I don't think they were having a pop at you

Apologies for sounding harsh. I understand you were probably scared. I am a regular public transport user and I witness much anti social crap going on.
Someone (not just you) should have called the police though.
Unfortunately no one did so this behaviour will carry on.
Definitely report the staff to the train company though. They should have done something.

Pretty well! I'm always polite & friendly, I've asked teenagers, young men, not-so-young men and an older woman. The only one who reacted badly was the older woman (she really didn't like being asked!) Everyone else has been great about it.

I'm early 30s, god knows what shit I won't take in 20 years time 😂

You said you moved carriages away from them. You could have contacted BTP then.
Behaviour like this won't stop unless people call the police.
If we all just sit back and let this anti social behaviour happen then it's never going to stop is it?