I return to the subject of messages on London’s public transport system, specifically the Underground (or Tube if you prefer). Back in 2017 I wrote about it in this piece (“Reporting anything unusual won’t hurt you”), reflecting that clear instructions are generally better than oblique statements, and recalling the signs that were printed on carriage doors in the 1970s. They read: “Obstructing the doors causes delay and can be dangerous”. These signs were frequently defaced to read: “Obstruct the doors, cause delay and be dangerous”.

Recently, travelling on the Northern Line, I found a new example of a sign being amended and can offer photographic examples. As you can see here, the sign is in two parts. First of all, “Items trapped in the doors cause delays” (another example of an oblique statement). Below that we have, thankfully, a clear instruction: “Please keep your belongings and clothing clear of the doors”.

Someone clearly saw an opportunity here for a bit of editing, because it has been changed to the following:

The instruction is different, but still clear: “Please keep your long thing clear of the doors”. I hate to sound immature, but I laughed all the way from Tottenham Court Road to Camden Town.