Eating on Beijing Subway Prohibited Starting March 10

Steven Schwankert | Feb 20, 2014 3:00 pm | 9 comments | 4003 reads

A new ban on drinking and eating on the Beijing Subway goes into effect March 10, threatening to ruin the most important meal of the day for thousands of capital commuters with fines of up to RMB 500 imposed upon dashing diners in areas including stations and not just on trains.

The move has been both welcomed and decried by subway riders. Some welcome the ban for creating a more pleasant environment on the crowded trains. But many use their commute to eat breakfast, thereby saving time on their way to work as well as maximizing their enjoyment as they travel alongside their fellow passengers in cramped quarters.

Although not a significant source of litter or mess for the subway system, the large crowds during peak periods can lead to spills of beverages or food, causing conflict among subway passengers. Some food items are also the source of unpleasant smells that disturb other passengers.

Other new regulations going into effect on the same day allow properly equipped guide dogs to accompany blind passengers. Also now subject to fines are passengers who inappropriately push their way onto or off trains.

The Beijing Subway is currently undergoing reform as lines expand and new stations open. A fare increase from the present flat RMB 2 per ride price is expected this year, even as debate continues regarding higher fees should be aimed at rush-hour commuters or calculated by distance, and seemingly without regard for the impact that pushing riders back onto surface streets will have on already crushing traffic.

Photo: Frank Yu

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Mabelling's picture Mabelling Submitted by Guest on Sun, 04/06/2014 - 23:33

Welcome this too....however, had I not read this news now, I probbably wouldn't have known it is now disallowed ----because i did not see any SIGNS PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED in any station or within subway cars or announcement inside subway TV announcing that such laws have gone into effect...

It's not so much the eating but the discarding of trash in the carriage under seats that bothers me.

What bothers me even more now are the SALES OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE ADVERTISEMENTS FLYERS that are dropped everywhere on the floor,, and the back of some seats, making the insides of subway carriages dirty, untidy and horrible.

If the subway company are smart, they would get a law passed that not ony fine these real estate developer for public littering but also charge then the cost of cleaning up all these trash.

To severely penalize these companies, the government should consider having the 3 large telephone companies to disconnect the telephone numbers of those sales offices until all fines and penalties are paid up, and as a lesson to all others who litters the subway.

mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Fri, 02/21/2014 - 12:08

Steven, I read a report that some buses in town are underutilised by the tune of 40%. The gov't has already clearly stated subway operations are 1) running above capacity, well beyond their original ridership #s and equipment is breaking down at a quicker rate, which only adds to budgetary woes all the more, 2) highly subsidised and it appears they want riders to start paying for more of their fair share of the...ahem, fare...so the subway is not such a large tax hog, espcially as costs are increasing 3) as the subway continues to expand and take citizens to greater no. of places around the city, the ability of door-to-door only increases, which means that increasingly buses will be utilized less (or for shorter distances).

Regarding pushing, I am astounded when the more modern stations have the platform doors open BEFORE the car doors. This only adds to the nervous activity/obnoxious behavior displayed by some, for fear of missing their stop or fear of missing the train or less understandably, nervousness regarding not getting a seat (oh my!). To me, it seems like the doors could be re-programmed without too much difficulty, and the subway operators (by way of enforcement, rules/fines enacated, and signage and education) could undeterake efforts to minimize the rate of pushing. China is projected to be one of the more senior citizen-laden countries in the world, and when elderlies are at risk for broken bones, destroyed items, etc., I could only imagine it would make so much MORE sense to reverse the opening of the doors than to leave it as-is.

TX_Chick's picture TX_Chick Submitted by Guest on Fri, 02/21/2014 - 08:38

Pushing is a problem here, period. I was already out of the subway station trying to walk on the sidewalk and a woman pushed me out of the way so she could walk where I was trying to walk. It's so hard to live here when people lack so many of the common courtesies we're taught as children in the states, you know, line up, no pushing, no spitting, help someone when they need help, etc.

RadioDJ38's picture RadioDJ38 Submitted by Guest on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 23:51

"Also now subject to fines are passengers who inappropriately push their way onto or off trains"

If the moronic Chinese people would stop standing in a big group right at the exit of the train forming a big wall, then it wouldn't be necessary to be more aggressive in pushing them out of the way.

Come on people! Do you not have the common sense to let people out first before you all try to rush in the door at the same time?! Things woud be a lot smoother in this country if the people would use some common sense.

alwn1708's picture alwn1708 Submitted by Guest on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 17:22

Wow thank Steve, I am honoured (does that put me in the running for a Beijinger Annual Award? The Editors "I'll agree once a year" award?

What they should really impose fines to are those people who drag on those poxy wheeled traders trolleys that are often laden with wares for you to fall over , and the construction workers with their bedding/clothing bales that seem to be able to wipe out everything in close proximity!.

As for hiking the price , compared to other countries operting subway systems then Beijing is just stupidly cheap. London will cost you 68 kuai per day , Tokyo 42 kuai per day (granted there are open tickets, but in BJ you gotta spend most of the day underground to rack up 42 kuai's worth).Yes there demographics to take into account but is an extra 2 kuai per day really going to bring the infrastructure to a halt , I doubt it , really.

Does this really look like the face of concern?

Steven Schwankert's picture Steven Schwankert Submitted by Guest on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 16:04

Mtnerror, for once I'm going to agree with alwn1708: the eating bit will be easy to enforce, but pushing? I don't think the subway system will be generating much revenue from pushing fines.

I didn't say a fare increase is all bad. But one of the reasons the subway has expanded is because there is little or no room for the expansion of surface transport services. If people are pushed off of the subway system, where will they go? How much longer would a surface commute become for anyone already traveling from one side of the city to another?

mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 15:55

The Beijinger, you guys relegated the new rule prohibiting pushing to a minor mention -- why? This is MUCH welcome news. Will it be enforced? Time will tell. The commentary at the bottom categorising a fare hike as ALL bad reveals both bias and a gross misunderstanding of public transport ideals vs. reality.

alwn1708's picture alwn1708 Submitted by Guest on Thu, 02/20/2014 - 15:40

I can't wait to see who they are going to get to instill the fines and get people to pay-up during the rush-hour periods , especially for those "pushing to get on and off".

I can see the whole scene unfolding as we speak " 1 million passengers on line 10, , and just a Maginot Line of Transport Volunteers all simultaneously shouting "fckkkkkkkkk" into their personal pa squawk boxes"

Does this really look like the face of concern?

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