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Metro de Madrid reinforces civic behaviour: music and audio only with headphones
Metro de Madrid is stepping up its campaigns to remind people that music and audio must always be listened to with headphones. Coexistence in the carriages depends on small gestures. More and more passengers are asking for silence and respect on daily journeys.
Travelling on the Metro de Madrid means sharing space with hundreds of people every day. That’s why the company has decided to take its campaigns for coexistence and civility a step further, reminding passengers that music, audio messages, and videos should always be listened to with headphones and at a reasonable volume. No speakers or sounds that invade the carriage. The message appears on the interior screens alongside other usual recommendations: speak quietly on the phone, let people get off before boarding, and don’t block the doors.
The official regulations do not explicitly mention music or WhatsApp audios, but they do prohibit any behaviour that causes a nuisance and the use of devices that might disturb others. This applies both to people playing videos on their phones with the speaker and to musicians performing without authorisation inside the carriages.
Passenger complaints usually echo the official message. According to surveys and letters from readers, what bothers people most are phones on speaker and loud phone conversations. Many travellers see the metro as a shared space where a certain level of quiet should prevail, especially during rush hour or at the end of the day. Some even call for stricter rules or the creation of quiet carriages, as already exist on some long-distance trains.
For now, Metro de Madrid’s strategy is not to penalise those who ignore these recommendations, but to keep emphasising the importance of civility. Using headphones, lowering your voice, and avoiding speakers are simple gestures that improve everyone’s experience. The campaigns also remind passengers how to carry backpacks or bulky items: at your feet or in front of you, never on your back, to make it easier to move around inside the carriage.
Metro de Madrid is much more than a transport system: it reflects the pace and coexistence of the city. Every day, millions of people cross paths underground, and mutual respect becomes essential for everything to work. The civility campaigns aim not only to prevent annoyance, but also to reinforce the idea that the metro is a shared space where small gestures make a difference. Madrid is already starting to move in that direction.