About Us

About Considerate Commuter

Different journeys. Different perspectives. Mutual respect.

Considerate Commuter is a community initiative created to encourage greater understanding, patience and respect between everyone who shares the journey.

Whether travelling as a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, driver or public transport passenger, people experience the same roads and communities in very different ways.

And sometimes, what looks inconsiderate from one person’s perspective makes much more sense when seen from another.

A cyclist may move unexpectedly into the road because there is a pothole, broken glass or another obstruction ahead.

A motorcyclist may change their road position to make themselves more visible or to avoid a hazard.

A driver may not stop suddenly for someone waiting to cross because there is another vehicle travelling closely behind them.

A pedestrian may need more time to cross than someone expects.

A bus driver may need considerably more space and time to manoeuvre or stop safely.

There is often something happening that the person watching simply cannot see.

That idea is at the heart of Considerate Commuter.

Why Considerate Commuter exists

Much of the conversation around our roads focuses on what other people are doing wrong.

Drivers complain about cyclists. Cyclists complain about drivers. Pedestrians become frustrated with both. Motorcyclists can feel overlooked altogether.

Considerate Commuter wants to approach the conversation differently.

Instead of asking:

“Who is to blame?”

the project asks:

“What might we not understand about each other’s journey?”

Understanding someone’s behaviour doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing with it. Nor does consideration remove anyone’s responsibility to travel safely and follow the rules of the road.

But understanding another person’s perspective can change the way a situation is interpreted.

A moment that initially feels selfish or inconsiderate may look very different once the reason behind it is understood.

And sometimes simply remembering that there is another human being on the other side of the windscreen, handlebars or crossing can change how people respond to one another.

What do you wish other commuters understood?

One of the first aims of Considerate Commuter is simply to listen.

The project is collecting anonymous experiences from people who walk, cycle, ride motorcycles, drive and use public transport.

The Considerate Commuter Survey asks people about their journeys, their frustrations and, importantly, the things they wish other commuters understood about their behaviour.

Perhaps there is something you regularly do that other road users misunderstand.

Perhaps there is a situation that makes you feel particularly vulnerable.

Perhaps another commuter once showed you patience or consideration and it completely changed your journey.

Or perhaps there is something very simple you wish more people knew.

Those experiences matter.

By bringing different perspectives together, Considerate Commuter hopes to help people see everyday journeys through somebody else’s eyes.

Have your say

The survey takes approximately five minutes, responses are anonymous, and there are no right or wrong answers.

[TAKE THE ANONYMOUS COMMUTER SURVEY]

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOMzxiGliAPWSv7k6aTQSQs0FMzHDgV0Zdt1xUh35KImkaXg/viewform

Everyone is part of the journey

Considerate Commuter isn’t a campaign for cyclists, for drivers or against cars.

It isn’t about choosing sides.

It’s for everyone who shares the journey.

🚶 Pedestrians

🚲 Cyclists

🏍️ Motorcyclists

🚗 Drivers

🚌 Public transport users

And, importantly, the people whose journeys may require a little additional consideration — including children, older people and those who may need more time or space.

Many people belong to several of these groups.

The person driving today might cycle tomorrow.

The cyclist holding up a car for a few seconds may be a driver themselves later that evening.

The person crossing the road may have stepped off a bus moments earlier.

We aren’t separate groups. We’re people travelling in different ways at different times.

More than a logo

The Considerate Commuter badge is intended to become a simple, recognisable reminder of that idea.

Whether it appears on a car window, a jacket, a bicycle, a bag or somewhere else, its message is the same:

The person displaying it is choosing to be a Considerate Commuter.

Not a perfect commuter.

Not someone who never makes a mistake.

Simply someone willing to give other people a little more patience, space and understanding.

The products available through Considerate Commuter are therefore intended to do more than carry a logo. They help spread the message and support the development of the wider initiative.

A simple idea

Considerate Commuter isn’t suggesting that a badge, sticker or slogan can solve every problem on our roads.

It starts with something much smaller.

Pause before assuming the worst of someone.

Give another person a little space.

Allow for the possibility that there is something about their situation you cannot see.

Remember that everyone is trying to get somewhere.

Because sometimes a few seconds of patience can completely change somebody else’s journey.

And if enough people begin thinking that way, perhaps everyday journeys can become a little calmer, kinder and more considerate.

Considerate Commuter

Different journeys. Different perspectives. Mutual respect.

Share the journey. Show respect. 💛