There was a question on everyone's lips. Or more specifically everyone who uses Twitter's keyboard. #ThingsIWouldBan trended and we asked Londoners what they would ban from the city were they omnipotent. We got the ball rolling, with a tube etiquette related bugbear, but London you did not disappoint. Take a look below.
#ThingsIWouldBan is trending on Twitter today, so we've got one question for Londoners. If you could ban one thing from London what would it be?
— Londonist (@Londonist) January 29, 2019
We'll get the ball rolling on this one. People who stand on the left side of tube escalators 😠
Many of the responses were tube related like our own.
People purposefully striding towards a specific Oyster barrier, then switching to the adjacent one when they are RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT pic.twitter.com/hpiTpLGF1s
— Imola Unger (@ImolaUnger) January 29, 2019
People who hold the tube doors open for a friend still at the top of West Ham jubilee escalators
— Rebecca-sarus (@Maxo11x) January 29, 2019
Backpacks that are not removed on public transport
— Lady With Claws (@amyaddis) January 29, 2019
Anyone getting on the tube before everyone getting off has alighted
— Cull Obsidian (@TheCullObsidian) January 29, 2019
#ThingsIWouldBan
— Trinity Church London (@london_trinity) January 29, 2019
People who clip their fingers nails on the tube and watch their nails scatter around the carriage.#gross #districtline
While some were just more widely transport related.
Sniffing repetitively on public transport pic.twitter.com/M3tpCc6NG1
— Mark Amies (@Superfast72) January 29, 2019
UBER! Sat in traffic in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon and every car (9) I could see in the traffic jam was a 'licenced' minicab 😡
— Dave Phillips (@BeefeaterDave) January 29, 2019
People sitting in cars with the engine running - idling I think you call it - just awful for everyone and hideous for kids lungs #ThingsIWouldBan #lewisham
— Lewisham Lowdown (@LewishamLowdown) January 29, 2019
Bags on train/bus seats, especially when it's busy. Something about it just strikes me as inherently selfish.
— Laura Cooney (@cherrysodablog) January 29, 2019
Some people had particular ire aimed at cyclists.
Cyclists that ignore traffic lights 😒
— Foxlow (@FoxlowTweets) January 29, 2019
@Londonist #ThingsIWouldBan
— Esther Ballantyne (@ballantyne_esth) January 29, 2019
1. Cyclists who don’t stay in their cycle lanes and think they’re a car instead. Every cyclist shd complete their advanced driver training before they get on a bike to cycle in public spaces. 🥴
2. Also motorbikers who overtake on the wrong side.
🙄
Cyclists wearing headphones.
— A.j. Stranger #UTAG (@AStrangerJ) January 29, 2019
Although one cyclist did have a retort of their own.
Pedastrians who are completely unconscious that they also need to pay attention to bike riders on the road (not just cars or trucks) nor what a bike path is in comparison to their perfectly wide and fine pedestrian pavement right. next. to. it. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/929X5ZyBSn
— ChrissyB (@LondonAmericano) January 29, 2019
In fact, lots of people raised frustrations with pedestrians.
People bumbling along, heads down, on their phones - and getting in my way!
— Philippa (@PippyG82) January 29, 2019
I'd ban tourists and leisure travellers from stopping mid-stride in front of London commuters - thus avoiding us piling into them like angry little dominoes and maintaining visitor safety/enjoyment #ThingsIWouldBan 👍🏼
— Jennifer Prout (@JenProut) January 29, 2019
The use of golf umbrellas in The City. No need!
— Jenni Goodfellow (@_JustJenni_) January 29, 2019
People in groups who insist on all walking next to each other so they can chat, while blocking the path of people walking the opposite direction so we have to squeeze past them or alter our own path. You won't die if you have to walk in a single-file line!
— Welcome To The GeNFL (@GeNFLSzn_) January 29, 2019
We did manage to find a few Londoners whose biggest gripes aren't transport influenced.
Chewing gum #ThingsIWouldBan
— JD Singfield (@JDSingfield) January 29, 2019
People complaining ad nauseum about incredibly minor frustrations.
— Dr. Archaeomanda (@archaeomanda) January 29, 2019
Tourists. Should cover everything
— Antony OBRIEN (@AntonyOBRIEN7) January 29, 2019
Headphones. Everyone is an island.
— Alison Thomson (@AlisonLThomson) January 29, 2019
People who live in outer London boroughs yet maintain they live in “Essex”, “Kent”, “Middlesex”, etc.
— Adam White (@adam_m_white) January 29, 2019
There were also some more political entries. But that's not a rabbit hole we particularly want to fall down right now...
Got anything else you'd like to ban from London? Then head to the comments below.
