All photography set to be banned on Glasgow’s Subway

Amateur Photographer reports:

Amateur Photographer (AP) can exclusively reveal that Glasgow Subway passengers will be told they must ‘not take photographs, or make video, audio or visual recordings on any part of the subway’.

The ban is contained in Section 12.1 of proposed byelaws drawn up by the system’s operator, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT).

The new rules add: ‘The only exception to byelaw 12.1 is if a passenger has the written permission of SPT in relation to the activity.’…

The crackdown will apply to all parts of the underground system, including trains and areas owned by SPT, even above ground.

Restrictions on flash photography are common for safety reasons, but Michael Pritchard (the Royal Photography Society’s Director General) points out,

The UK’s largest public transport system in London has no problem with amateur photography on its network, provided flash photography is not used for safety reasons. And commercial photography can be undertaken with advance notice.

It seems difficult to understand why Strathclyde feels it needs to prohibit all photography.

There is yet time for this proposal to be changed, and in fact the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is answerable to councillors:

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport comprises 20 councillor members representing the 12 constituent unitary authorities in the West of Scotland and between seven and nine appointed members. The numbers of members from each council area are as follows:

• Glasgow City Council (5)
• South Lanarkshire Council (3)
• North Lanarkshire Council (3)
• Renfrewshire Council (1)
• East Renfrewshire Council (1)
• East Dunbartonshire Council (1)
• East Ayrshire Council (1)
• North Ayrshire Council (1)
• South Ayrshire Council (1)
• West Dunbartonshire Council (1)
• Inverclyde Council (1)
• Argyll and Bute Council (1)

So if you live in one of those areas, why not contact your councillor? And if you know someone whose does, why not ask them to too?