Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
News image
Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 May 2007, 14:20 GMT 15:20 UK
Couple's victory over bus music
Valeria Martinelli (l) and Tom Wright
More than 3,000 have signed the couple's petition
A couple who campaigned against other passengers playing music on the buses have claimed a victory following the launch of new posters.

Tom Wright and girlfriend Valeria Martinelli, from Leyton, east London, set up an online petition last summer.

About 3,000 people backed their campaign which called for London's buses to be music-free.

The new posters being displayed on London's buses now warn travellers not to use loudspeakers.

The posters will replace original signs which simply asked passengers to keep their music down.

Bottles thrown

"We've actually got what we've asked for," said Tom. "We've actually got a sign specifically stating that you can't play music out loud which we wanted put on buses."

Ms Martinelli said the couple's online campaign struck a strong resonance with the travelling public.

She said: "We have had emails from people signing the petition who've said they've been threatened, they've had bottles thrown at them and they've been threatened with hammers.

"We've even heard of a case in Richmond where somebody was beaten up by a gang of young people."

The couple said the new poster campaign would only work if it was properly enforced.

"With a lack of conductors they're still leaving it for passengers to police themselves which is a worry," said Mr Wright.

But union leaders have voiced concerns over a ban, saying it would force drivers to police buses which could potentially leave them vulnerable to assault.




VIDEO AND AUDIO NEWS
A couple campaign against loud music on public transport



SEE ALSO

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific