The New Policy In The Subway

[johnsemlak]

I don't see what's wrong with drinking if your drinking a cool drink in a container that you can seal completely (i.e. a plastic bottle). Hot drinks, like Starbucks coffee, are a different matter fo course.

 

[GMSkarka]

*shrug* DC already has the no eatting, drinking, etc rule.

So does NYC....and has for years, so I'm not sure what he's on about. (I never got a fine, but did have a transit cop remind me that I had to get rid of my can of Coke, and this was back in 2000).

 

[Ranger REG]

The result is predictably a lot of cleaning for the janitors. I imagine spilling drinks happens, but I don't find it frequent. Most people are pretty careful about that.

As you said, "most" not "all." I just happened to have gotten the DOOF that was not careful of his drink.

 

[stevelabny]

i can't imagine this would ever fly. i also havent seen or read any official announcement of this. Anyone have a link? I feel bad for any cop who ever tries to give me a ticket for eating or drinking. He better start writing up the "assaulting an officer" ticket too.

And while I might be able to buy that this is to make everything "cleaner" explain why they would also want you to not drink water?

As for prohibiting backpacks... this is already why I don't go to Yankee Stadium anymore.
Prohibiting backpacks is assinine. How else am I supposed to carry my stuff back and forth?
Especially on the train...an hour commute to work...you need something to do for that hour, and something to do during breaks at work. If they ever prohibited backpacks on the subway, they'd either encourage more traffic, or get people to just avoid manhattan altogether. i'm sure that would help the economy.

Jaerdaph, why are backpacks a pet peeve? Surely you realize that people need to carry stuff back and forth? Plus, I don't see any bad side to backpacks.

 

[MonsterMash]

How about water? Is your subway air conditioned? In London it gets incredibly hot, if people couldn't drink water there's a serious health risk.

On the tube I think they could hardly ask people not to drink given the encouragement to take bottles of water on (I wouldn't rule out an attempt at an alcohol ban at some point though).

Smoking is very much prohibited though - and the staff and passengers enforce it as memories of the Kings Cross fire are still recent enough that people are quick to speak up.

 

[jaerdaph]

Jaerdaph, why are backpacks a pet peeve? Surely you realize that people need to carry stuff back and forth? Plus, I don't see any bad side to backpacks.

Get hit a few times in the head with one because the person wearing one forgets they have it on.

I carry a (to use the Seinfeld term) European Men's Carry-All. Also known as a man purse. It doesn't stick out from my back and hit the people sitting down in the head when I turn around.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Get hit a few times in the head with one because the person wearing one forgets they have it on.

I carry a (to use the Seinfeld term) European Men's Carry-All. Also known as a man purse. It doesn't stick out from my back and hit the people sitting down in the head when I turn around.

Isn't that the truth. Happened to me this very morning on the train. If you're going to stand on the subway, take off your backpack instead of smacking me in the face every time the train lurches.

 

[jaerdaph]

If you're going to stand on the subway, take off your backpack instead of smacking me in the face every time the train lurches.

Thank you!

 

[eabha]

It's not so much getting knocked around that bothers me about backpacks on public transit. It's those two guys/gals wearing them and standing back to back on the streetcar that makes me want to scream. How does one get by? You ask politely and they move an inch, not at all realizing that I am not the size of a broomstick. I can't get through!

 

[Laurel]

I like the no open and actively eating or drinking your food or beverage law that DC has. I agree with anyone who previously stated that they should in fact enforce this more strictly.

If you have a medical condition that requires medicine to be taken with liquid, or you need to keep your sugar up, or any such issues you can still carry the items with you. Just be sure to take stuff in a zip lock bag, or a drink that has a cap. Take a sip or bite as needed. If they do try to give you a fine explain things to them. It may waste a few minutes, but for the cleanliness, reduced smells, and reduced noise it isn't so bad.

But that's just my take.