COMMUTER� COUNCIL & METRO-NORTH� SURVEY� RIDERS

ON� CELL� PHONE� USE / ABUSE

(New York, NY� -� April 27, 2002):����������� Commuters on Metro-North in Connecticut are being asked what they think about fellow riders� use of cell phones, as the CT Rail Commuter Council continues its proposal for dedicated �Quiet Cars� on each train.

As part of its quarterly Customer Satisfaction Survey, Metro-North, in conjunction with the CT Rail Commuter Council, has added several specific questions about cell phone usage on the trains.� The goal of the questions is to quantify what, if any, objection riders may have to the use of cell phones on the trains in a manner which disturbs others� tranquility.

�It�s been a year since I first proposed the concept of� �Quiet Cars� ,� says Jim Cameron, Vice Chmn of the Commuter Council, � and am I am still getting complaints from riders about cell phone abuse� loud ringing noises,� rude behavior by riders carrying on long calls from their seat, etc.� All this despite the MTA public service campaign on rider courtesy!�

�When I approached the Metro-North board last July about our idea, they said they would test its necessity with this survey which, unfortunately, was delayed by 9-11.� We�ll be anxious to see the survey results to see if most riders share our ideas of riders� rights to a quiet, enjoyable, cell-phone-free commute,� says Cameron.

Under the Council�s plan, one car on each train would be designated a �Quiet Car� where riders could be seated with the expectation of no cell phones or loud conversations.� If demand grew, additional cars could be so designated.� The Quiet Car plan is modeled after Amtrak�s highly successful test of cell-phone free cars.

�I am not opposed to cell-phones,� notes Cameron.� �I use one myself, even on the train.� But if I�m going to make a call I leave my seat and go to the doorway vestibule.� And I always leave my phone on �vibrate� rather than ring.� Its just common courtesy, isn�t it?�

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