King County Metro launches anti-harassment campaign
King County Metro has launched a new, multilingual initiative aimed at keeping transit safe for all. Developed in coordination with community members and employees, the campaign sets a clear expectation for respectful behavior. The signs also let riders know to get help in an emergency and encourages reporting.
Leading with the headline, “It’s OK to Say, That’s Not OK,” the signs then include specific language referencing the Code of Conduct. “All harassment – physical, verbal, intimidation – is wrong,” read the ads. “Speak up. Keep transit safe for all.”
Depending on the situation and the person’s own comfort level, there are three actions for riders to choose from:
- Tell the driver
- Fill out an online comment form ( kingcounty.gov/metro/ride ) or call the customer service office (206-553-3000)
- Call or text 9-1-1 if there is an emergency
Available in King County but not nationwide, “Text-to-9-1-1” is helpful for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired or in an unsafe situation.
Even if an emergency response is not necessary, please let Metro know through the online contact form or our customer service office if you experience an incident. Reporting allows us to better allocate resources and to continue to improve the customer experience. While Metro created this campaign at the request of and in partnership with organizations that are disproportionately affected by harassment and violence, the visuals intentionally do not show specific communities to avoid amplifying hate or reinforcing stereotypes.
The “It’s OK to say, that’s not OK!” campaign will appear across Metro in English, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
