Passengers on the Shenzhen Metro are not allowed to drink or eat
aboard the trains, and violators face a maximum fine of 200 yuan
($25.65), according to a new regulation.
The Shenzhen Metro said it enacted the rule to ensure its
passengers' personal safety and a clean and comfortable environment
while they travel. They said regulations by Ministry of
Construction and Shenzhen Municipal Government authorized the
move.
Subways in many Western countries also forbid eating and
drinking, and Hong Kong's MTR, just across the border, assesses a
maximum fine of HK$2,000 ($256) on rule breakers.
The Shenzhen Metro, which carries about 300,000 passengers a day
on its two subway lines (No 1 and 4), has not fined anyone yet for
eating or drinking on the train.
"We just advised rule breakers not to do so next time as it was
a violation of the passengers' rule," a recent report by the
company said.
Is it necessary to have such a rule? Is the rule even legal?
Debate has been stirred among local residents, professionals and a
media officer from the Shenzhen Metro.
"Service quality and passenger safety are always our working
priority. We made the rule to ensure these criteria are met.
"The smell of the passengers' food or drink may annoy other
passengers and compromise the hygiene standard of the train. If a
drink, milk, for example is spilled onto the floor, it will make
the floor so slippery that some passengers will probably fall,
causing an unnecessary hazard to our passengers' personal safety,"
said Zhou Yuan, Shenzhen Metro media officer.
"I think that smoking should be banned on the train, but
drinking and eating should be OK.
"Sometimes I am in such a hurry that I have to eat my breakfast
while traveling. Why should I be fined if I put all garbage into
the rubbish bin after eating or drinking?" said Zhang Huaping, a
human resources consultant.
"Some time should be given to local citizens to gradually accept
the new rule, but for a long-term view eating and drinking should
be completely banned just like smoking. ... Cleanliness is
important for every passenger traveling on the train.
"It is actually not just about the trains' cleanliness; but also
about the Shenzhen Metro's image and the overall image of one of
the world's international cities," said Wang Youming, senior middle
school lecturer.
"Some time should be provided to passengers before they have to
comply with the new rule, but it should not take too long," said
Fanny Liang, expatriate sales manager from Hong Kong.
(China Daily January 17, 2007)