Bus chiefs find way to Handel the yobs

[timelesstable]

COMPOSITIONS by Beethoven, Bach and Mozart are helping bring peace to bus stations across West Yorkshire.
Bosses at transport body Metro believe that classical music creates a better atmosphere but also tends to drive away young yobs who create problems by hanging around the entrances.
A pilot at Huddersfield bus station was considered a success and is now being rolled out to manned bus station across West Yorkshire.
The composers who have been chosen will include Mozart, Vivaldi and Handel, as well as Beethoven and Bach.
A Metro spokesman said: “Our customers will soon be experiencing the magic of Mozart and beat of Beethoven being played in all our bus stations following the successful trial in Huddersfield where classical music has been played at the bus station entrances since February.
“Feedback from our regular passenger surveys have shown playing live or recorded music is appreciated and comments from Huddersfield have been very positive with passengers commenting on the ‘soothing atmosphere’ while waiting for their bus.
“And our surveys have shown the initiative does act as a natural deterrent to people gathering at the entrances.”
But Dr Simon Walker, a lecturer in popular music at Leeds University, has doubts about the deterrent aspect.
He said: “I find the idea of music being used like a weapon a little bit sad. If it is effective, then it might be justified. It has been tried elsewhere and anecdotally it seems it may have worked.
“It’s still a shame, though, that something that can be such a positive element of everybody’s lives is being used as a form of social control.”
It is not the first time that music has been used as a form of social control. The Local Government Association said in 2008 that councils had played operatic music and “unfashionable” music in a bid to disperse groups of youths.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/bus-chiefs-find-way-to-handel-the-yobs-1-4411260

[ay1403]

Alternatively, play dubstep on full blast somewhere far away from a bus station as a distraction!

[yt03ayf]

Seems a good idea, Maybe something other areas can look at.

[Deleted]

Seems to be working, saw it in operation at Huddersfield today.

[Father Dougal McGuire]

doubt it will make a difference, however - if it proves successful i am all for it! I dont get why the yobs have to destroy or break everything all the time, like kids who sit at the back of the bus and scratch all the windows with offensive wording all over...same in the bus stations with the windows there.

[timelesstable]

I wonder if it will work on the smokers who also congregate at the bus station entrances.

[www.buseireann.ie]

It'll make one hell of a difference if they carry on playing it as loud as they have been, can see many a brainless yob and smoker thinking to themselves 'this music is doing my head in' then quickly move off somewhere else.

[Matty]

Huddersfield was bad when they was smoking weed by the entrance and they have put speakers facing straight down towards the door outside.

[timelesstable]

Apr 8, 2012 16:46:37 GMT 1 www.buseireann.ie said:

It'll make one hell of a difference if they carry on playing it as loud as they have been, can see many a brainless yob and smoker thinking to themselves 'this music is doing my head in' then quickly move off somewhere else.

Looks like it should work then

[Father Dougal McGuire]

Hopefully, why should normal people have to be bothered by smoke, rubbish etc all over when all they want to do is get a bus to where they would like to get to. In Huddersfield they have metro security officers on the inside but on the outside where all the people smoke weed and other things there isn't any form of enforcement.

[A1YBG]

What about the genuine people actually inside waiting for a bus? Of its late or they missed a bus then have to listen for ages and ages......! Although I don't mind a bit of music while waiting.

[Father Dougal McGuire]

Apr 8, 2012 20:41:38 GMT 1 A1YBG said:

What about the genuine people actually inside waiting for a bus? Of its late or they missed a bus then have to listen for ages and ages......! Although I don't mind a bit of music while waiting.

I see what you mean, classical music isn't really my thing to be honest. Although it's better that raving dub-step! lol

[Davidc]

Apr 8, 2012 20:41:38 GMT 1 A1YBG said:

What about the genuine people actually inside waiting for a bus? Of its late or they missed a bus then have to listen for ages and ages......! Although I don't mind a bit of music while waiting.

As far as I know the classical music is only being played outside the entrances, you can't hear it inside (unless your there late night when its quite). Inside Huddersfield bus station they play music over the PA system but it isn't intrusive, its usually general pop music.

[dwarfer1979]

Apr 10, 2012 21:38:05 GMT 1 Davidc said:

Apr 8, 2012 20:41:38 GMT 1 A1YBG said:

What about the genuine people actually inside waiting for a bus? Of its late or they missed a bus then have to listen for ages and ages......! Although I don't mind a bit of music while waiting.

As far as I know the classical music is only being played outside the entrances, you can't hear it inside (unless your there late night when its quite). Inside Huddersfield bus station they play music over the PA system but it isn't intrusive, its usually general pop music.

They were playing classical in Huddersfield Bus Station when I was in there on Saturday, though as you say not too loud and not very intrusive.