The campaign, themed “Our Way: Respect,” focuses on specific situations. Typical examples include talking loudly on the phone or listening to music on the bus, as well as verbal and physical abuse, sexual assault, and smoking at bus stops. To kick things off, messages and visuals will appear on the company’s online channels and inside the vehicles. Over the coming months, the campaign will be expanded, for example through posters at bus stops and large-scale exterior bus advertising.

“There must be no place for disrespect or even violence on buses—neither among passengers nor toward our staff. With this campaign, we are making it clear that we do not tolerate disruptive behavior and aim to raise awareness for better conduct among all public transit users,” says Marion Hebding, Managing Director of ESWE Verkehr.

The campaign was triggered by feedback from passengers’ daily experiences and from bus operations. While general conditions and conduct are regulated in the terms of service, they are repeatedly disregarded by individuals. Misconduct occurs almost daily. Several times a week, the police request video footage from the buses due to suspected criminal offenses. Only physical assaults on bus drivers or ticket inspectors are on the decline.

ESWE Verkehr is using a variety of images and slogans in the campaign that focus not on prohibitions but on the desired behavior. For example: “Respect means: keeping your music private” or “Respect means: thinking of others.”

Hebding says: “We deliberately send out positive messages so that people participate, help one another, and the bus becomes a place where everyone feels comfortable. We are aware that public transportation ultimately reflects broader societal issues. But consideration, fairness, and respect cost nothing and can make a big difference.”

More information and visuals for the respect campaign are available at eswe-verkehr.de/respekt.html (opens in a new tab). Additional general information about Wiesbaden’s mobility service provider can be found at eswe-verkehr.de (opens in a new tab).