Commuters are calling for a ban on smelly hot food on the Tube after similar plans for a clampdown were proposed in New York. After having a fellow passenger's takeaway spilt on him, NYC transport boss Joe Lhota (corr) proposed a total ban on the Subway. Bans are already enforced on subway trains in Washington, San Francisco and Chicago.
Lhota told a press conference: "Just recently I was on a train and someone got on with a styrofoam thing of Chinese food. There was a lot of rice and other things. Inevitably the rice fell. It was all over the place. I want to avoid things like that."
People have called for a ban on hot food on the tube
Former Thatcher adviser Lord Sherbourne previously put the idea to the House of Lords in December 2015, branding it anti-social, but the proposal was never enacted. Many commuters came out in support of the ban, calling it 'common sense' and asking for hot food to be banned on buses too. Andrew Mant said: "At last, common sense. Can we also please ban it on buses? The smell of fried chicken kills me, then the box is left on the seat."
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Lee Clotworthy added: "Brilliant. I literally can't stomach kebab meat after a night out. Night bus was the only way home after a Christmas party and every other person was eating it. I opened a window and someone literally leaned over to shut it. I opened it again and explained why. They called me selfish and told me to move somewhere else if I didn't like it. Moving wouldn't have made a difference but why should I have had to move anyway? By the end of the journey I was practically getting grief from the entire deck. Blame them, I couldn't believe it."
Similar bans have already been introduced in cities across the United States
But many were outraged by the suggestion, with many labelling the idea 'ridiculous' and questioning why people shouldn't eat in a public place. Arjun SIngh Lotay said: "Who comes up with this stuff? Stuffy middle class northerners who come to work in the city, gentrify neighbourhoods, and act as if they own their own bubble of London, and invest themselves in other people's business. The tube is a public place. Why can't someone eat on it?"
Hannah Salvidge added: "I've never heard anything so ridiculous - I took a pasty onto the tube at about 8:30 at night when I was with my brother not so long ago and he looked really awkward and embarrassed like I was clipping my toenails in public or something. When I asked him what was wrong he said 'people don't like you bringing hot food onto the tube' - I've lived here on and off for 17 years and never ever got the sense that was the case and never cared if anyone was eating either. But looking around, I suddenly realised people did look a bit awkward about it! When did this happen? It's supposed to be a 24 hr city - people are hungry - where are you supposed to eat if you're on the move?"
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