COMMENT EXTRA: Masks on the Underground *

BTN's Editor-in-Chief, when allowed, has been using the London ‘Tube’ throughout the pandemic.

He has yet to see a Transport for London (TfL) staff member on a train monitoring the use of face masks to reduce the spread of Covid-19.  When suggesting to fellow passengers to cover up either he gets a pathetic shrug, or abuse.

TfL can’t police every train but they should make an effort.  Voice overs, and only at stations, are not good enough.  The alternative is to bring the armed forces in, not as enforcers, but just to make the point!

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Andrew Sharp, United Kingdom

I was on one bus where the driver wouldn't open the door until a passenger put his mask on! And at one point, the Chicago subway reserved the rear car of trains for people who wouldn't wear masks.

Barry Graham, United States

Masks don't help if you are vaccinated. I'm fine with no enforcement of this ridiculous requirement.

John Hepworth, United Kingdom

Added to this a big fight took place on the York to Leeds line when a passenger wearing a mask confronted a person not wearing a mask.Unless as a nation we insist on mask wearing this problem will continue

Simon Grigor, Harrow

I have sympathy with TfL staff who I don't think should have to enforce the mask rules, given the high proportion of non-wearers who look as if they could very quickly turn aggressive. But where are the British Transport Police in all this? I too am a regular tube user and I haven't seen a single BTP officer during the pandemic. Buses are the same and in this connection I was interested to observe the practice when using the buses on Jersey a month ago: non-mask wearers had two choices on trying to board a bus: (i) produce a certificate showing exemption; or (ii) pay 60p to the driver for a facemask. Otherwise they weren't travelling that way.

Roger Maynard, United Kingdom

Absolutely right What is wrong with the Brits A trip in the underground is scary