FRANK MURRAY,
Sir, - Jennifer Desmond (September 5th) complains about rail passengers putting their feet on the seats. I agree with her up to a point. I travelled for many years on the DART, and while you often found people doing this, I also found that if you asked them politely they would usually take their feet down and often apologise. There are, of course, notices condemning the practice but I found a direct appeal from another human being was more effective than drawing attention to these official requests.
There is another way to defeat feets on seats: a firm dusting with the hand before you sit down will make your point and the rare delight of finding an empty seat should be enough compensation for the chore.
I think we need to avoid the attitude, "Someone (else) should do something about it". Nor do I believe clamping is an option, though I admit I did once think of suggesting the use of dogs. My idea was that a German Shepherd would be trained to go through the carriages and growl at anyone with their feet up. However, I decided that if my fellow-passengers and I were not prepared to assert ourselves it was not something that should be delegated to an innocent canine. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK MURRAY,
Arnold Park,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.