A new nickname for a subset of London Underground passengers has sparked outrage among Metro readers, prompting them to share the travel habits they find ‘far more irritating’.
Coined by Curtis Morton, co-host of the Behind the Screens podcast, the term ‘barebacking’ describes people who sit without any form of entertainment and people-watch, staring at other passengers to pass the time.
Criticising the behaviour, Morton said: ‘You’ve commuted enough times – why are you sitting there without a phone, without a book, just looking at me, looking at what’s going on? Keep yourself to yourself. Read a book – just do something.’
His comments confused Metro readers, who pointed out that such behaviour was normal before the age of smartphones.
Marta_in_london wrote: ‘I can’t believe that this is an issue, this is how people used to meet and talk and communicate, now everyone is on the phone’.
Cat.raftery agreed: ‘It wasn’t long ago that it was normal not to stare at a screen and instead stare at the ads on the Tube, avoiding all eye contact,’ while allythrntn simply said: ‘Sorry for acting normal’.
iamlaurajprice added: ‘I used to do this all the time when I lived in London. Read a book and I’ll miss my stop. Get your phone out now and you risk it being snatched. Maybe just smile at the stranger and get on with your day.’
Others who disagreed with Morton’s comments shared the Tube habits they think are worse than ‘barebacking’.
Anna-lise Foreman wrote: ‘Speakerphone conversations, listening to videos aloud, obnoxiousness of most types are FAR more irritating’.
And gus_cotrim shared: ‘I’ve seen people smoking cigarettes and vapes, taking up two seats, and putting their feet on them. I’ve seen coffee and drinks spilled everywhere, as if the seats weren’t already dirty enough. Honestly, I couldn’t care less if someone is just sitting quietly, minding their own business, and looking around.’
Others vented about commuters who put their feet on seats, wear backpacks on board, eat pungent food, and cough or sneeze without covering their mouths.
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Metro spoke to etiquette expert Jo Hayes, founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, to find out how passengers can tackle irritating behaviour on the Tube.
‘If well-mannered passengers fail to address the poor manners on display, the poor etiquette will continue to flourish,’ she said.
‘Often, people simply aren’t aware that what they’re doing is wrong because of lack of self-awareness, never being told, or perhaps for reasons related to neurodivergence. Addressing the situation, even if it feels awkward, is best for all concerned — your fellow well-mannered passengers will thank you.’
And for those worried about being a culprit, Hayes explained that she follows the Golden Rule when travelling on any form of public transport: treat others as you would like to be treated.
‘This means demonstrating respect, consideration and courtesy towards your fellow passengers. Aim to be as unobtrusive as possible,’ she said.
An etiquette expert's guide to travelling on the Tube
- Avoid phone conversations: If you have to make a call, ensure you speak softly, discreetly and keep it short.
- Maintain good hygiene: If coughing or sneezing, ensure you use a handkerchief/tissue and turn away from fellow passengers as much as possible. Use hand sanitiser to clean your hands afterwards.
- Keep yourself (and your belongings) contained to your seat: This means no ‘manspreading’ and removing backpacks when standing to avoid taking up more space than is necessary.
- Avoid eating: This can be unpleasant for others, especially if the food has a strong smell, and risks getting the seats and surfaces dirty.
- Do not put feet on seats: This is considered disrespectful to the passengers who sit there next and deserve a clean seat.
In contrast, ‘barebacking’ has received support from Metro readers, with some suggesting that a lack of reliance on entertainment might be a good sign.
jcjonjons wrote: ‘That’s ridiculous. Not everyone needs to be glued to a screen or a book to justify existing in public. Sitting there, thinking, observing — it’s what people did for centuries before smartphones. Maybe the real problem is that we’ve lost the ability to be alone with our thoughts without feeling guilty about it.’
jac_b1999 added: ‘How is it weird that people can actually have the attention span to sit on the tube quietly without fidgeting on their phone? If anything it should be promoted.’
And karenj424 added: ‘Isn’t it called being present, in the moment and taking in your surroundings….’
Is ‘barebacking’ good for you?
So, with many readers in favour of it, Metro turned to the experts for their verdict on ‘barebacking’.
Jane Darougar, a counsellor and BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherpy) member, explains that ‘barebacking’ can be a great way to plan for the day ahead, or to decompress at the end of it. Rather than being weird, as Morton claims, she says it allows commuters to keep clear boundaries between work and home life.
Constant scrolling can cause feelings of anxiety and overwhelm, with Darougar explaining: ‘Even using snatched moments during our journeys to and from work to catch up with social media, listen to podcasts or listen to music can cause a sensory overload when we do not have a break to listen to our own thoughts.’
In contrast, she says, putting your phone down for the journey ‘can be a restorative antidote to endless stimulation.’
Dr Sophie Mort, clinical psychologist and mental health expert at Headspace, agrees, telling Metro: ‘Without constant input, our brains have a chance to rest, wander, and process thoughts. This downtime can improve creativity, problem-solving, and self-reflection. It also strengthens our ability to tolerate stillness, which is crucial in a world where we’re often overstimulated.’
However, she adds that ‘barebacking’ might not be for everyone.
‘For those struggling with anxiety or intrusive thoughts, being alone with their mind can be uncomfortable or overwhelming. In such cases, gentle distractions, like music or podcasts, can actually be a form of self-care.’
Darougar also adds a word of warning to all the ‘barebackers’ out there, urging commuters to remain aware of their surroundings.
‘If you fix your sight on someone, it might make them feel extremely uncomfortable and could be misunderstood. Bareback traveling is still considered unusual in a transport system where the majority will be preoccupied with their phones or a book.’
How to overcome boredom on your commute
‘Constantly needing entertainment can make it harder to tolerate boredom, which is actually an important psychological skill,’ Dr Mort explained.
‘Boredom encourages creativity, self-reflection, and the ability to be with our own thoughts. If we always fill quiet moments with content, we might struggle with stillness in other areas of life — like sitting through a meeting, waiting in line, or even falling asleep.’
Instead of turning to a smartphone, Dr Mort shared four practices to help commuters overcome their boredom while travelling:
- Mindfulness: Paying attention to your breath, body, or surroundings.
- Observational exercises: Noticing details about the people or architecture around you.
- Daydreaming: Allowing your thoughts to wander freely, which can spark creativity.
- Reflection: Using the time to process your day or mentally plan ahead.
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