Food on the Subway

Lately there has been a lot of talk once again about banning food on the NYC subways.  This idea actually isn't new.  Supporters of the food ban have been clamoring quite some time claiming it would cut down on litter and rats underground.  Opponents say the city is full of people with such hectic/weird schedules that the only time they can eat is during their commute.  Personally I think a food ban is a good idea, but unfortunately it's nearly impossible to enact.

One can't say that big cities can't impose such a rule because subway systems in other parts of the world like Tokyo and Hong Kong have that rule in effect and people for the most part seem to be following it based on what I've seen.  The problem lies among its riders.  We New Yorkers are so accustomed to eating on the subway that we see it as the norm like jaywalking, which by the way is technically illegal in New York as it can be considered reckless endangerment.  To tell people to stop eating in the subway we would have to change everyone's mindset that has been set a certain way for so long.  This is going to be one tough nut to crack, especially in this "I don't give a f*** and I can litter/spit-everywhere I want" mentality many embrace here.

Cops can enforce a food ban by issuing tickets and fines,but they have so many other things to watch out for and this is probably the least of their worries.  Once again it all comes back to the riders.  If each rider can show restraint they can keep an eye on themselves and know everyone is trying just as hard.  With this culture though, I just can't see this happening.

So does this mean a food-free NYC subway system is never going to happen?  Not necessarily.  Maybe not in my lifetime, but maybe somewhere in the future there will be a demographic/cultural shift in NYC large enough that people eating in the subway will be looked upon as a quirky habit of the past.