Bus station plays jazz to drive teenagers away

Ananova ^ | February 15, 2003 | Ananova

[MadIvan]

A bus station in America is planning to play classical music and smooth jazz to discourage loitering teenagers.

Officials at the Trade Street in Charlotte, North Carolina, hope the "grow-up" music will irritate groups of youths who hang around the station.

The station's loudspeakers already emit the calls of hawks and owls to frighten away pigeons that roost in the rafters.

"The idea is to make the atmosphere at the Trade Street station less pleasant for those who aren't there to catch a bus," a spokeswoman told the Charlotte Observer.

"We know if we play a certain genre, people won't want to hang around."

[MadIvan]

This is based on an earlier experiment in Newcastle where they played loads of Delibes in public transport stations. The rates of crime fell through the floor.

I suggest that's what we do in future - if we find there is a crime hotspot, just play loads of classical until either they become cultured or run away. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Happygal]

You think this lady would put me off taking the bus? ;-)

[proxy_user]

Delibes? How about Alan Pettersson?

[Commander8]

I heard of something like this, I think it took place in Woodland, Ca.(it's been awhile since I heard of it so could be wrong.) where the city put public speakers all over their downtown area and blaired classical music to keep the gangbangers away.

[inquest]

Anything but actually hold people accountable for their actions, huh? Progress marches on.

[MadIvan]

Darling, I don't think you'd be put off the bus. They'd find the sound system had been somehow mysteriously accidentally tragically been utterly decimated, however. ;)

Love, Ivan

[MadIvan]

It's a preventative measure. The teenagers can't seem to get around to mugging people when they are in earshot of the "Coppelia Suite".

Regards, Ivan

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

LOL - I can't wait to show this one around. Thanks. : )

[inquest]

I understand the rationale. I just can't help but wonder why we're so impotent when it comes to dealing with the problem directly. I guess it has something to do with a fear of being "judgmental" or something.

[Paul Atreides]

I wish that restaurants would go back to playing pleasant music. I like rock (not so much the current stuff), but listening to some guy rasping about "take care of my disease" to music isn't a pleasant eating experience.

[MadIvan]

Well you know actually saying that gangsta rap encourages crime makes certain people grumpy. And we can't have that.

Regards, Ivan

[guitfiddlist]

Officials at the Trade Street in Charlotte, North Carolina, hope the "grow-up" music will irritate groups of youths who hang around the station.

That's pretty funny. I live one mile south of that station here in Charlotte. I remember putting on some Pat Metheny on when having a small party with some 20-something females around. You would have thought I'd powered up a jackhammer. They freaked. Couldn't handle it. And we're talking some very mellow but sophisticated stuff.

[Capt. Tom]

Many years ago when I would have to work on my wooden boat the boat yard would have kid playing around as their parents worked on the boats.

I would play Strauss waltzes loudly at my boat and it would keep the kids at bay.

Years ago when I went to a Mall and there were kids just hanging around I told my wife a good dose of the Blue Danube would clear the area in 5 minutes.

If you have a hard core situation and can't drive them all off then switch to Lawrence Welk. In that case I probably would leave the area myself. Lovely Lovely Lovely. -tom

[Mr. Mulliner]

Hmmmm, playing the music of dope-smoking Louis Armstrong and heroin addict Charlie Parker reduces teen crime, huh? Who would have guessed?

[Happygal]

They'd find the sound system had been somehow mysteriously accidentally tragically been utterly decimated, however. ;)

That wouldn't be MY fault. That would be

[MadIvan]

Now don't you bring her into this, love. ;)

Love, Ivan

[demlosers]

Good Idea! LOL!

[dfwgator]

More likely they play Kenny G, that would pretty much do the trick with me.