Ban it all you want, it won't stop. The amount of 'prohibited' activity I see on the MTA on a daily basis just goes to show that you can ban all you like and it won't make a lick of difference.

This goes for CTA in Chicago, too.

DGS: Ban it all you want, it won't stop. The amount of 'prohibited' activity I see on the MTA on a daily basis just goes to show that you can ban all you like and it won't make a lick of difference.

This goes for CTA in Chicago, too.

No kidding. I don't know how they pulled it off in DC, but I've ridden the MTA numerous time and the CTA for most of my teenage and adult life, and unless they start shooting people on the trains for eating, I don't see this happening.

that sure sounds like something the city can handle if it wants to, Billy.

Here in DC they'll even haul 12-year-old girls away in handcuffs for eating in the subway system. We don't put up with that sh*t.

cgraves67: On the trains in Chicago there are little grommets at the lowest points on the seats. My guess is that they exist to allow urine to drain out of the seat. My wife doesn't believe it. Is this correct?

I think those are actually there to allow the seats to be sprayed down for mass cleaning and then left to drain/dry. I suppose urine would drain out as well, but I doubt that was the intent.

/then again, who knows?

otherginger: In theory, you can't eat on BART here in the Bay Area. They make an auto announcement to this effect every hour or so. It does nothing - everyone eats on BART.

Perhaps it's because I ride BART during peak commuting hours and am usually engrossed with my droid, but I don't see too much eating on BART, if any at all.

Had a dude almost pee on me the other day on the platform. And the worst part? He didn't even wash his hands after!


/the moose came in second

I'll admit to wolfing down a bagel on the subway once when I was in a big rush. But I haven't seen people eating on the subway enough to think it's a major problem. Maybe it is. Spaghetti is pretty ballsy.

Doc Daneeka: How about common sense?

Drinking coffee out of a travel mug on your morning commute = ok

Eating fettucini alfredo = not ok

Do you honestly think the same people that get street meat from a vendor, or their chinese in a styrofoam container, or their McDs, or doughnut bag and coffee cup, or their bags of sunflower seeds and the shells dropped to the floor of the bus/train.. give one tiny damn about what you consider common sense? They're lazy, selfish, apathetic, and/or think the world owes them so they do it because.. why not?

I think the very least you can do is take your wrappers with you and throw them in a garbage bin that's right outside the train as soon as you get off of it. Nope, that's hard work.

It's sad, but it's not going away, no matter what laws/bans/sense get proposed.

Arkanaut: DGS: cgraves67: On the trains in Chicago there are little grommets at the lowest points on the seats. My guess is that they exist to allow urine to drain out of the seat. My wife doesn't believe it. Is this correct?

I think those are actually there to allow the seats to be sprayed down for mass cleaning and then left to drain/dry. I suppose urine would drain out as well, but I doubt that was the intent.

/then again, who knows?

FWIW, in NYC we don't have those "grommets"* on our seats, and if someone opens up the window** when it rains on a train that goes above ground, water will pool in the seats.

*No wallaces either
**It doesn't open all the way, but obviously enough for rain to get in.

All too well aware, been in Brooklyn for almost 2 years now.

saw a homeless dude shiat himself as he tried to sneak under a turnstile once. I think I'm ok with food on the train.

SpinStopper: Maybe if people would learn not to be such pigs. I'm not saying everyone is by any means, but all too often I've seen someone throw trash on the ground within feet of a garbage can.

You'll see less of that since they've started taking the trash cans out of the subway to encourage people to throw their trash away before they enter on the tracks.

I ride the NY subway just about every day and I rarely see people eating or drinking.

OTOH, Metro North and NJ Transit not only allow drinking on the trains, they even sell beer right on the platform.

Maybe MTA should put bar cars on the subway... might help pay for their budget deficits.

Eddie Adams from Torrance: I ride the NY subway just about every day and I rarely see people eating or drinking.

OTOH, Metro North and NJ Transit not only allow drinking on the trains, they even sell beer right on the platform.

Maybe MTA should put bar cars on the subway... might help pay for their budget deficits.

I see it each and every time I'm on a bus/train that I take for longer than 1-2 stops. Maybe it's just what side of the city I'm on.

Eddie Adams from Torrance: I ride the NY subway just about every day and I rarely see people eating or drinking.

OTOH, Metro North and NJ Transit not only allow drinking on the trains, they even sell beer right on the platform.

Maybe MTA should put bar cars on the subway... might help pay for their budget deficits.

The commuter rails are a different story. I have consumed countless beers and pizza slices on the LIRR, and even the occasional halal chicken and rice. But that's commuter rail, where you're staying a while. Eating and drinking on commuter rail is an inalienable right that is only to be suspended on days when shiat can get out of hand (New Years, St. Patrick's, Belmont Stakes Day, 4th of July, etc.).

/And yes, I always throw my trash out

If you don't smoke, I won't fart.

This is Facism. I used to eat my bagel on the train every morning into Manhattan. If I am EATING all of it then the rats are not getting it. It is illegal to litter on the tracks. It cases track fires. So really the problem seems to me that they are having issues with track litter and rats. Instead of being responsible city and doing something about the specific issue they are going to blame it on litterers who THEY HAVE not ticketed for throwing trash on the rails. So if you can't ENFORCE the littering law how the hell are you going to enforce not eating on the train?

SpinStopper: James!: SpinStopper: Maybe if people would learn not to be such pigs. I'm not saying everyone is by any means, but all too often I've seen someone throw trash on the ground within feet of a garbage can.

You'll see less of that since they've started taking the trash cans out of the subway to encourage people to throw their trash away before they enter on the tracks.

I would have no problem at all with trash cans every 10-20 feet. But, what you mentioned is the same "logic" that led some people to believe that smokers would go away if ashtrays were removed from building entrances. Instead, we now see entrances carpeted with cigarette butts ;)

It's the kind of stupidity that actually burns.