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Tough cell for riders

Phone yakking tops list of annoyances for commuters in survey detailing bad manners of LIRR passengers

BY JOIE TYRRELL | Newsday Staff Writer

September 20, 2006

Get your feet off the seats. Hang up that cell phone. And please, pick up your trash.

Miss Manners would be ashamed. Passenger courtesy is seriously lacking on the Long Island Rail Road, according to the first-ever survey of rude rider behavior conducted by the LIRR Commuter's Council for more than two months this summer. The results released yesterday showed that cell phone use is by far the biggest hangup and ill-mannered behavior was noted at least 43 percent of the time.

"Cell phone usage has become such a nuisance everywhere and people are kind of fed up with cell phone usage. It's not surprising that it is the most common complaint," said Beverly Dolinsky, executive director of the Commuter's Council.

Six members of the council, a commuters' advocacy group, logged repeated instances of "annoying, troublesome or offensive" rider behavior during their regular commutes. In all, they observed 316 trips in June to July with at least one customer courtesy issue arising more than 43 percent of the time, according to the report, titled "Just a Friendly Reminder: Be Courteous While on the LIRR."

The council wanted to see how widespread discourteous behavior is among LIRR riders and what types of behavior are most offensive.

Following cell phones, the ill-mannered list included feet on the seats, littering, loud conversations, loud games or headphones leaking sound, and occupying multiple seats.

Riders have only themselves to blame.

"We recognize that having LIRR personnel function as the full-time 'manners police' is neither feasible nor desirable," read the report. "Instead the responsibility for customer courtesy falls squarely on the shoulders of riders."

The LIRR has received the report, according to LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan. The railroad will be working with the council on developing a courtesy awareness poster campaign, she said. The council was planning a poster design competition among school children to encourage awareness of customer courtesy.

"We will provide them with poster space in our trains and in our stations," McGowan said.

Members also found differences during the time of day and the direction traveled. There were fewer issues on trains bound for Manhattan than on those outbound. Members observed courtesy issues in only 32.7 percent of inbound trips versus 54.7 percent outbound.

"We were finding the same thing over and over," said Gerry Bringmann, a commuter from Patchogue who is chairman of the commuters' group. "On the morning train there would be feet on the seats, and on the afternoon train, people were awake and talking on their cell phones."

Commuter Lucina Sullivan, 42, of Hicksville, said she has heard entire conversations from riders seated up to five rows away.

"The cell is the major issue. It's annoying. I tried to block it, but ... they speak loud and clear," she said.

Maaj Stanley, 45, of Sea Cliff, said she has her own way of being considerate while riding the railroad.

"I send text messages," she said.

Staff writer Jennifer Maloney contributed to this story.

Rider complaints

Lengthy cell phone conversations are the primary nuisances for Long Island Rail Road riders, according to a recent survey.

Extended cell phone calls 16.1%

Feet on seats 9.2%

Littering 8.9%

Loud conversations 7.6%

Occupying multiple seats 6.6%

Loud electronic games / headphones leaking sound 1.9%

Other 4.1%

NOTES: Survey of LIRR riders conducted from June 1, 2006 to July 31; 316 total trips. Survey includes inbound and outbound trips from Penn Station.

SOURCE: 2006 LIRR COMMUTER COUNCIL CUSTOMER COURTESY SURVEY