Londoners' sarcastic Tube Chat alternatives to badges encouraging socialising on the Underground

Tube chat: The internet has responded to the idea with alternative badges
Chloe Chaplain30 September 2016

Londoners have taken to social media to mock badges aimed at getting commuters to talk to strangers on the Tube.

Badges carrying the offer 'Tube chat?' were handed to commuters in an apparent attempt to make Londoners more sociable.

But Underground passengers reacted with incredulity at the "monstrous" scheme - which many said ran counter to unwritten rules on public transport.

The designs bear a striking similarity to official 'Baby on Board' badges for pregnant women, but Transport for London said it was not involved in the scheme.

Stop talking: Londoners condemn tube chat scheme
Tube Chat

And social media reacted with predictable scepticism when images of the badges were circulated, using photoshop to come up with their own alternatives.

Some have kept the message simple, with just “no”, “f**** off” or, the slightly more polite alternative, “don’t even think about speaking to me” written on the Transport for London-style badges.

Others have been a little more creative with their ideas, with one reading “wake me up if a dog gets on” and another saying simply “pube chat?”

For Londoners who get regularly riled up on their morning commute, there is always the “Tube spat” design.

It is for those “interested in arguing about the slightest thing; the weather, people who make eye contact, Paul Hollywood” and who want to "get stuff off their chest".

Another alternative suggested for those ready for a heated argument on the Tube was a mocked-up badge saying “ask me about Article 50” - a reference to the process by which Britain will leave the EU.

The 'Tube chat' badges have been designed to look like existing “Baby on board” or “Please offer me a seat” badges, but a TfL spokesman confirmed that it was not part of an official campaign.

He added: "We currently only promote two badges to be worn while travelling, the baby on board badge and the badge for people with hidden disabilities."

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