Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 18, 2005

Metro introduces sniglets

Campaign uses humor and creativity to reinforce behavior

A new campaign uses humor to catch the attention of Metro passengers and emphasizes specific behaviors aimed to enhance bus and rail safety, reliability and overall rider comfort.

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Sniglets--clever and creative words not found in your typical dictionary--will appear on signs placed in the space above the windows in Metrorail cars and Metrobuses. The messages will remind customers to plan alternate routes home, report suspicious items, offer seats to people who need them and not block train doors.

Each sniglet appears as a dictionary entry with the word spelled out, followed by its part of speech, a pronunciation guide and definition. Four sniglets have been created:

 PlanBdextrous: (plan-bi-dek-stres) adj. able to plan an alternate route home in case Metro is inaccessible due to unforeseen circumstances.

Sumpnspicious: (sump-en-spish-es) n. unattended package or odd, unusual behavior that is reported to a bus driver, train operator (via intercom at end of rail car), station manager or Metro Police at 202-962-2121.

Conseaterate: (ken-set-er-it) adj. thoughtful toward others who are more in need of a Metrorail or Metrobus seat.

Doorker: (dor-ker) n. person who crowds or blocks Metro doors, making it difficult for others to exit or enter promptly.

Four sniglets will be seen on 90 Metrorail cars. Three sniglets (all but doorker) will be placed on 500 Metrobuses. Metro will survey riders to gauge their receptiveness to the sniglets and the use of humor to reinforce behavior.

The sniglets were created by LM&O, Metro’s advertising agency. Samples of the sniglets are available in pdf by request.

News release issued on October 18, 2005.