And as I've mentioned before, the simplest solution to such annoyances is to wear noise cancelling headphones. Why do so many complain when an obvious solution is widely available?
With respect, this is actually a very bad solution.
If you have headphones on that are good enough to eliminate most or all ambient noise, you just made yourself a mark.
I'm astounded daily at this and watching the risks that ensue, not only from headphones/earbuds but also people just buried in their phone, while walking.
Its not merely that you look like easy prey for a criminal, its that you can't hear the oncoming vehicle when you're stepping into the road, its you're obliviousness to the cyclist in the bike lane, or to the person worker who dropped something off the edge of a construction site yelling 'look out below'.
You need to be aware of your surroundings, accidents happen, fires, other emergencies and criminal behavior. I know someone who got mugged in a popular, 'safe' park in Toronto, thing is, he had headphones on, was on a bench, and immersed in his phone...he was made for a mark and got hit from behind and his bag taken.
He was a victim, not at fault, and the offenders were ultimately arrested...... for all of that, he would have preferred not to be a victim.
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Socially problematic behavior at an individual level can be addressed, or ignored, as the situation dictates.
Socially problematic behavior at a societal level (frequent problem), requires societal intervention.
The TTC already has By-Law number one with these applicable components:
Its simply a matter of sufficient enforcement to correct bad habits:
Fines for certain offenses:
From: :
Regulates the use of the TTC local passenger transportation system
www.ttc.ca
and
www.ttc.ca
