A senator in New York is proposing a new law to institute a $250 fine for eating on the subway. To maximize on cleanliness – and cut down on the city’s rat problem – Bill Perkins, a senator from Harlem, hopes to mirror Washington’s ban on subway noshing.
Many New Yorkers are enraged over the legislation, but the proposed law has stimulated discussion over what should be considered ‘proper’ manners. In the past, the TTC has tried to ban the consumption of food on its vehicles, but to no avail.
Though never glamorous, eating on the subway is often a necessity for commuters, especially those who need to eat regularly to keep blood sugar levels healthy. Still, there’s got to be something to be said for, you know, maintaining a certain level of decorum as a courtesy for fellow passengers.
With council meeting about the TTC today, mostly to discuss the LRT plan, we touch base with Christopher Rouleau, a graphic designer and founder of the Toronto Etiquette Project, for his take on whether this proposed New York City legislation would help to make the TTC a better experience.
Read more: Toronto Etiquette Project
Late last year, Rouleau launched the Toronto Etiquette Project; a series of cards to be handed out for breaches of public etiquette, both new and old, with infractions ranging from eating smelly food, to cutting one’s nails.
We spoke to Rouleau for his take on whether such legislation could ever succeed in Toronto, and about spreading the word of good behaviour.
This story is part one of our two-part Subway Series. Part two will run on Monday.
Q: A senator in New York wants to institute a $250 fine for eating on the subway — what’s your take on that?
Well, my gut reaction is that it’s a little extreme, especially, in the article, they use that example, was it Washington? Where the child, the little girl, is arrested for eating French fries or something? I don’t know if fines are the way to do it — there must be a better way to sort of, instill common sense in people or awareness of what they’re doing and how it affects other people. But, I don’t think a $250 fine is the best idea.
Q: Should there be limits to what you can eat on the subway?
I know that people are busy, people are forced to snack in between wherever they’re going. It’s sort of inevitable, but you don’t have to be — you know, just use common sense. It’s also a cleanliness issue. If you’re making a mess with your food, it’s like making a mess with anything, if you were, basketweaving or something, and you were leaving little basket crap everywhere, it’s just the same thing. If you’re leaving a mess wherever you are, it’s not good, because someone has to go up behind you and clean up after you.
Q: What has been the strangest thing you have seen somebody eat on the TTC?
I haven’t seen a ton, but I’ve heard of a ton. I can’t think of any bizarre foods that I’ve seen, but I’ve heard of nail clipping, I’ve heard of flossing, what did one woman say, she was at a public, theatre event, and she saw someone picking their toenails. It was the summer, and someone was wearing flip flops or whatever and they were picking their toenails. It’s like, are you kidding? Or no, I think it was picking the dry stuff of your feet. Luckily she wasn’t eating it.
Q: Have you ever given out the etiquette cards? What has the reaction been?
I have yet to give one out, and I have them in my wallet, and if the right moment were to come out where it was appropriate, I would, you know, use it. I haven’t had any crazy responses, I’ve just had a lot of people saying they like the idea of it. But, I have had a lot of discussions with people of, you know, even if they’re not using the card or giving someone the card, the idea of the card has almost given somebody or empowered somebody to speak up in certain situations. I think that’s really good that people feel empowered to take control and stand up for good behaviour. I think that’s great.
Q: Is there anything in particular that people have been responding to about the Toronto Etiquette Project?
Everyone has an opinion about it, and there’s a lot of strong opinions about cell-phone behaviour, I think because it’s so pervasive in our society now. That’s the most talked-about thing with people, yeah, like, there are so many complaints about people’s bad cell phone behaviour, especially loud talkers or share-everything people. I don’t know if it’s a social media thing, but people, they feel entitled to share their entire life with the world at all times — and its like, you don’t need to, we don’t care, keep it to yourself. I don’t mean to come off as bitter.
Q: What inspired you to start the Etiquette Project?
I think when standing in line for a coffee, I would see people be really rude to the cashier, or at a grocery store, people would be really rude to the cashier. It was one of those situations where I was just like, well, if only I had a way to broach this, or you know, I could just as easily say something to them, but to find a way for people to engage with people in situations like that, that’s sort of how it all was born, I guess. People often think I have some sort of resentment for Toronto, but I love Toronto!
I love everything about Toronto. I think Toronto could be even better if we just take a moment, pause and think sort of beyond your own cell phone, headphones, whatever you’re eating and whatever’s around you. Be a little more Canadian people.
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Joanna Adams writes the Morning Cable, and lots more, for Toronto Standard. Follow her on Twitter:†@nowstarringTO.
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