![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2166771213.jpg\")
\n\t\tBarebackers sit and people-watch, rather than distracting themselves on public transport (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tBarebackers sit and people-watch, rather than distracting themselves on public transport (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a Monday morning and you\u2019re half asleep on the District Line<\/a> heading into the office.<\/p>\n Amidst a sea of rucksacks and travel mugs, people sit and read their books or doomscroll<\/a> on their phones<\/a>, avoiding eye contact by whatever means necessary.<\/p>\n There are plenty of irritating commuter types<\/a> out there who disrupt this almost zombie-like journey to our desk. <\/p>\n But one subset of London Underground passengers have been labelled the worst of them all: the \u2018barebackers\u2019.<\/p>\n Get your mind out of the gutter \u2013 it\u2019s a perfectly innocent term coined by Curtis Morton, co-host of the Behind the Screens podcast, in a TikTok<\/a> that\u2019s racked up nearly 100,000 views.<\/p>\n Essentially, barebackers \u2013 also known as rawdoggers<\/a> \u2013 are people who sit without any form of entertainment and people-watch, staring at other passengers to pass the time.<\/p>\n \u2018Barebackers are number one,\u2019 Curtis says in the clip ranking the most annoying train travel habits. <\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019ve commuted enough times \u2013 why are you sitting there without a phone, without a book, just looking at me, looking at what\u2019s going on? Keep yourself to yourself. Read a book \u2013 just do something.\u2019<\/p>\n It might sound a little harsh, given that a mere 25 years ago this was likely considered perfectly acceptable behaviour. Heaven forbid, people may have even stuck up conversation with their fellow passengers.<\/p>\n According to Curtis though, it\u2019s still not an excuse for someone to stare into your soul.<\/p>\n He tells Metro<\/strong>: \u2018I\u2019m honoured to be the unofficial spokesperson in the important fight to eradicate all barebackers<\/a> from our transport network.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018I get that 20 or 25 years ago people commuted without TikTok, Tinder<\/a> and a podcast for every possible niche. They might\u2019ve had ten songs on a Walkman and pure vibes<\/a>. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/p>\n To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro’s<\/strong> London news hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018Even then, we didn\u2019t have a nation of dirty barebackers! People read books, did crosswords, even flipped through the Metro.<\/p>\n \u2018But now, at least once a day I seem to encounter someone just sitting there, no headphones, no phone, no distractions, not even pretending to scroll \u2013 just staring through me.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t The podcaster says this unwanted attention makes him suspicious of other travellers, and a little paranoid, joking: \u2018I think, what are you plotting? Or are my flies undone? Have I accidentally turned the flash on my phone?\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n And while Curtis commends people who find the time to keep up with their correspondence outside their daily commute, he adds: \u2018I think it\u2019s completely reasonable to ask: pull out your phone. Buy a book. God, even fall asleep.<\/p>\n \u2018Just leave the barebacking to the privacy of your own home, and not while making eye contact with me on the 7.48am to London Bridge<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n On TikTok, there was a general consensus Curtis was speaking some hard truths, with one comment reading: \u2018Every point got me nodding my head ferociously.\u2019<\/p>\n Not everyone agreed though, including Mark Joseph who wrote: \u2018Anyone who doesn\u2019t need constant stimulation from a book\/phone\/iPad, and can just exist in peace for five mins, is awesome.\u2019<\/p>\n Barebackers weren\u2019t the only commuter type under fire either. Curtis\u2019s list of the worst passenger behaviours also featured playing music out loud or having loudspeaker phone conversations, which he ranked at number five.<\/p>\n Not letting people off the train before you get on sat at number four, while prematurely getting ready to alight took the number three spot. People who sit with their legs spread were his second most hated commuter stereotype, just behind barebackers. <\/p>\n Curtis\u2019s co-host James had a couple of honourable mention too, from people who won\u2019t remove their rucksack on a crowded train to those who hog the space on the platform where the train doors will open.<\/p>\n Among the comments, many shared their own additions to the list of commuting no-nos, with @Julian nominating \u2018people putting their bag on the window seat and sitting on the aisle seat (especially when the train is busy).\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Eating on a train \u2013 put that McDonald\u2019s cheeseburger away!\u2019 added @aaron_pacey, while a third user said: \u2018People who get on and then stop right in front of the door, so they block anyone else trying to get on.\u2019<\/p>\n So, are you guilty of any of the above commuting offences?<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-1869802837.jpg\")
\n\t\tPeople who put their bags on seats were another subset of commuters who were frowned upon (Picture: Getty Images\/Westend61)<\/p>\n
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