"Food ban" likely to be implemented on all Beijing Subways

If the "food ban" is implemented successfully on the Subway Line 4, it will likely be promoted to other eight lines, Jia Peng, manager of publicity department of Beijing Subway Operation Co., Ltd. told Beijing Public Service Radio on the morning of July 12.

In the interview, residents suggested that over the summer, there are always people eating food on the subway and the smell can get so strong that other passengers cannot stand it. In response, Jia Peng said that a “food ban” warning has already been posted at all platforms on Line 4. If it works well, other Beijing Subway lines will adopt the same measure.

Line 4 will open to traffic in September 2009, and food will be banned for all passengers passing the ticket barrier. In Hong Kong, there is a law prohibiting passengers from eating in subway carriages. Failure to obey will result in a maximum fine of 5,000 HKD.

An officer from Beijing MTR Corporation operating Line 4 said that considering the situation in Beijing, fines like those in Hong Kong will not be enforced on Line 4. Their staff will only persuade passengers from eating and promote the idea for self-discipline. At present, no detailed rules about “food ban” are incorporated in the management regulations of Beijing Subway.

Translated by LOTO