BEIJING, Dec. 27 -- 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?

(Source: Shenzhen Daily)