10 June 2009 | Author: Yasmin Sulaiman

Mapping the tube strike through Twitter

Despite a Harvard study's recent findings that just 10 per cent of Twitter users create over 90 per cent of its content, the micro-blogging service may be gaining new pertinence - in the UK at least - as a result of the current tube strike. Drivers on the London Underground are striking for 48 hours over three days in protest at the possibility of real term pay cuts over the next five years and the prospect of up to 4000 jobs being lost in compulsory redundancies.

There are several facets to what the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and its leader Bob Crow are requesting from tube bosses but the inevitable impact is, of course, flagrant disruption to the morning routines of commuters across the city. And, predictably, Twitter has exploded with complaints from angry commuters. Pioneering Twitter search service Twazzup calculated that there are over 500 tweets per hour bearing the hash tag (hash)tubestrike at around 10.30am this morning, though this number is likely to have been much higher during rush hour. Most of these tweets are from people furious about the road traffic and crowded buses, both of which in turn have everyday cyclers bemoaning the worse-than-usual London havoc.

Others complain that tube drivers should feel lucky to have a job in the current economic climate and some Twitterers have clearly done their research: @johnnyminkley says "Average tube driver's salary: £37,231. They get 8 weeks paid holiday per year. They're striking for a 5% pay rise. Just saying." One user - @jamienewman - is even attempting to start a new hashtag: (hash)bobcrowfail. If it catches on, the rising negative sentiment against RMT's boss could cumulate into a deafening roar amongst twitter users.

Combine the displeasure of Twitterers with the stream of comments challenging the RMT's position on this Guardian blog post from Bob Crow, and it seems we have a new wave of social media discontent on our hands. Indeed, it seems that though the RMT's regular strikes have always attracted the wrath of commuters, the recession has made their demands seem even more worthy of objection than usual. And as long as the public is seen to objecting to the RMT's actions, it seems less likely that the London Underground will give into its demands.

Of course, this is day one - by day three, people may be so sick of the strike action that they're practically begging Tube bosses to capitulate to the RMT's demands. The real-time nature of social media means that if this happens, Twitter could shine a light on the turning tides of public opinion. We could also see union officials taking to the micro-blogging platform to directly contest individual Twitterers complaints, though there would have to be a lot of them to really make an impact.

Many have also been groaning about being unable to attend England's World Cup football match against Andorra tonight, with no extra buses or trains being put on by the FA to help people who may be unable to attend the game due to the strike.

Nevertheless, in amongst the rabble-rousing, there are some tweets attempting to offer up useful information to commuters looking for alternative routes of travel today. Some are highlighting that the Northern Line and the Jubilee Line are still in operation (and fairly empty, since everyone is avoiding the tubes), while others are pointing out quieter bus routes that don't travel right through central London. The Guardian is also hosting a webpage collecting tweets from some of its staff, who are twittering their commutes to work.

With such notable news providers jumping on the Twitter Tube, it seems that this new member of the social media family has plenty of mileage yet.

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