Caught in a heavy rotation

It’s that time of year again—the season when the Wrapped playlists and yearly summaries from music apps fill social media. People eagerly share which songs they’ve listened to the most and how often over the past year. But I don’t join in anymore, not because I dislike the trend but because I have nothing new to show.¹

Every year, my playlist stays the same. Familiar songs dominate, and the repetition shows a pattern I can’t seem to change. Is it nostalgia? Is it the lack of good new music? Or am I simply stuck in my own habits? This cycle feels like a reminder of how hard it can be to let go of old routines. It even made me think about a friend who, after a car accident, refused to switch to public transport even though his workplace was just three tram stops away.²

At the time, I couldn’t understand his choice. He defended his habits with excuses and his belief that driving was better. Now I wonder: Am I any different? I find it easier to play Nightcall by Kavinsky³ for the thousandth time than to try something new. I stick with what I know because it feels safe and easy.⁴

This makes me ask a bigger question: How can we help people change their habits? Specifically, how can we motivate a switch from private cars to public transport—a key step to lower emissions and improve city life?⁵

To change habits, we need to understand why people feel comfortable with them. Listening to the same songs or driving every day isn’t just about liking them—it’s about feeling in control and knowing what to expect. Solving these feelings could open the way for change.⁶

Public transport might attract more people if it feels as comfortable and private as a car. Ideas like personal compartments, first-class seating, or better privacy could help. Another idea is to link cars with public transport—for example, by turning private cars into shared, driverless taxis.⁷

Maybe the answer is to meet people where they are. Just as I should try to understand my own musical habits, efforts to promote public transport should focus on small steps instead of big changes. Helping people try public transport for short trips, improving services, and removing stereotypes about it can make a big difference.

Stories can also be powerful tools to change minds. Sharing examples of people who switched to public transport and discovered unexpected benefits can inspire others to try. Tackling fears about losing comfort or control with simple tools—like real-time tracking apps or better connections for the last part of the trip—can also help.⁸

Thinking about my musical habits, I see that growth often means stepping outside my comfort zone. Trying a new song or a new way of getting around might feel risky, but it’s necessary for progress. Just as we can refresh our playlists with new tracks, we can design our cities to encourage greener ways to travel.

The challenge is to make new things feel less strange. Whether through better design, small rewards, or relatable stories, we need to help people close the gap between their current habits and better choices. By doing this, we can move beyond the limits of our heavy rotations—in music, in transport, and in life.