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Ban on eating on public transport debated
(Shenzhen Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-27 14:10 With phase 1 of the Shenzhen
Metro due to open Dec. 28, the Shenzhen Metro Corporation has recently published
a series of rules and regulations for passengers.
Top of the list is a regulation prohibiting eating either on Metro trains or
at stations. Offenders can be fined between 200 and 500 yuan (US$60).
It has sparked spirited debate among city residents on whether eating should
be allowed on public transport such as buses and taxis.
So far there are no written rules or regulations prohibiting passengers from
eating on buses or taxis.
I don't agree with eating on Metro trains or at stations.
Metro trains and stations are not proper places to eat but public places with
higher demands for environment and comfort. It is not polite to eat in these
places.
Eating is forbidden in offices and should also be prohibited on Metro trains
and at stations.
As not everyone looks good when eating, someone's awful eating habits may
disturb others while damaging their own image. In addition, eating in such
crowded places may soil other people's clothes.
I think the eating ban should also be applied on public buses because they
are public places packed with people and eating may disturb others.
The rule prohibiting passengers from eating on Metro trains and at stations
has made out of consideration for hygiene.
Unlike buses or taxis, the subway trains have narrow and confined spaces,
which are normally packed with passengers, so are the Metro stations.
Eating will undoubtedly result in pollution and problems of disposing of
waste on trains and at stations. In addition, the smell of food might disturb
others on the train.
Yes, there will be food on offer at Metro station halls like other subways in
Beijing and Shanghai. Passengers can buy food after getting off trains to eat
outside stations.
I'm against eating on subway trains and at stations because people don't want
to be disturbed by others and eating could make the train dirty.
In Europe, eating on subway trains is not common but does happen
occasionally. As far as I know, there is no penalty for this behavior in
European countries. I'm glad to hear Shenzhen has such rules.
Anyway, just as smoking is forbidden on trains and at stations, people should
not eat in such public places.
It is really unnecessary to make such a strict rule prohibiting Metro
passengers from eating.
As we know, eating on public road transport such as buses and taxis usually
happens in the morning as breakfast is not a big thing for many Shenzhen people.
I'm sure few people would eat strong-smelling food such as durian on trains
or at stations. In addition, passengers holding onto handrails on a crowded
Metro train won't have their hands free to eat.
I've been to Australia where eating is forbidden in sightseeing buses,
because they worry that it will be difficult to define the legal
responsibilities if a passenger chokes when eating.
However, to make such a strict rule does not accord with the situation in our
country and it will be very difficult to put into practice.
Will the Metro company send people to watch passengers in every corner of a
train?
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