MTA Postpones Rules of Conduct Vote

Stories about the MTA's proposed rules of conduct just keep getting better: The MTA board has decided to postpone voting on the stricter rules (no riding between cars, no drinking beverages) because, well, maybe some of the rules are stupid. People have been protesting some of the new rules, noting that the rule against drinking "from an open container" was an amendment to a rule that barred people from even carrying them. Former Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, now working with a "good government group against rules" according to Newsday, said, "You're going to get into problems with each and every case." The NY Times reports that station agent Martin Goodman was at the MTA meeting and "chided the board members," asking them, "Are you actually New Yorkers? Why not ban newspapers? In the wrong hands, they can become litter as well." We love you, Martin Goodman! MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow said that the postponement showed, "If people say something to us, we think about it. We're actually not ashamed to admit that we might have gone too far."

The Times also has a super graphic that explains what kinds of drinking containers are banned and allowed: Your Poland Springs sports bottle is okay, but your Starbucks isn't. And baby bottles are "Definitely not a problem," according to NYC Transit spokesperson Charles Seaton. And perhaps in a preemptive strike against adults taking up the baby bottle habit (remember when that was a fad? Or was that pacifiers?), he adds, "Youngsters have nothing to worry about."

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By Jen Chung in News on June 30, 2005 9:04 AM

Comments [rss]

Cgee

Everyone should immediately run to BB&B and get the OXO spill-proof thermos. Looks cool and is *really* spill-proof, unlike the crap that Starbucks sells.

Captain Midnight

This just in for you caffeinaholics: The MTA says intravenous drips of coffee are acceptable.

Samantha T

That story about the Korean woman is among the best revenge tales I've ever heard. Wow.

bob denver

Jack's link to the story of the Korean dog poop girl was shocking. She should move to NYC where she would be welcomed, as long as she doesn't drink beverages in public.

Heather

I don't mind these proposed rules. However, since I eat a lot of beans, I would be concerned when the MTA gets around to banning farting on the subways.

milovoo

Yup, S.D., Looks like it's baby bottles for all of us.

How appropriate.

kim

I chatted with an MTA employee about this the other day. I asked him who was going to enforce these rules and give out tickets (which seems to be one big issue to me - neither the cops nor the MTA is any good at enforcing many of the current 'rules' - panhadling, litter, spitting, etc). He thought the rules were silly and wouldn't be enforced.

Will

Some rules do seem to go too far, like riding in between trains (you do at your own risk), but if you've ever seen subway cars in Hong Kong or Taiwan, you will appreciate the rules. The cars are very clean and there is no stench...

Too bad they can't rid the stench in the stations...

S.D.

Well, the Solution is Obvious: Adults should start using A Baby Bottle for Coffee...

;-)

cc

Of course baby bottles are okay. People who have children are always more respected than people who don't.

wls

The graphic doesn't talk about soda cups with lids and straws -- like you get from most fast food places. I assume those are banned, too? Also, why is the open/not open criteria based on how much mess it makes IF you drop it? So the MTA is trying to make accidents illegal? Why not just make a rule against setting a drink container on a seat or the floor and not securing it in some way? That's where the most messes seem to come from -- when people don't finish all of their drink and just set it under the seat instead of holding onto it until they get to a trash can.

S.D.

Nice photo. "TA puts off vote on controversial fines"? Now if only they do that when it comes to Fare increases...

Some of them were Over the Top (this IS the MTA, after all) but I wonder what's wrong with the current rules??

From the Daily News article, it looks like they're attempting to enforce existing Rules ok.

Mind you, Summary Execution of Litter Bugs would work for me.

Jack

All these rules about drink, but nothing on feces. For that, let's go to Korea!

Korean Netizens Attack Dog-Shit-Girl

"It began in a subway train with a girl whose dog made a mess on the train floor. When nearby elders told her to clean up the mess, she basically told them to fuck off. A nearby enraged netizen then took pictures of her and posted it, without any masking, on a popular website which started a nationwide witchhunt."