If you’re passing through Union Station on this hot and muggy day, grab yourself an icy treat at the brand new Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop! It’s located next to Famima! and adjacent to the Amtrak ticket windows.
The waffle cones are made on site, and the tempting smell of them cooking up will definitely lure in passing travelers. You can try free samples of the flavors as well – which proved to be my downfall, as I immediately ordered a scoop of the banana peanut butter frozen greek yogurt after trying it.
Ben & Jerry’s will be open from noon to 8 p.m. every day, making your commute through Union Station just a little bit sweeter.
I definately am one for keeping the current system of no eating and drinking on Metro trains. We simply do not have a citizenry capable of cleaning up after themselves. I don’t want to sit in seats soaked in soda and step over everyone’s crumbs and discarded plastic and wrappers.
Amtrak and Metrolink are different in that riders have trays in front of them like on an airplane and generally have much longer rides. Also, you are riding with generally the same people day in and day out and such sloppy habits are looked down upon. No such culture exists on Metro.
I have to laugh at the comment that Japan allows food. People there are extremely well behaved and clean and would hardly ever litter anywhere. Complete opposite of here.
“I have to laugh at the comment that Japan allows food. People there are extremely well behaved and clean and would hardly ever litter anywhere. Complete opposite of here.”
Simple stated, what you’re saying is:
“Japanese people are more refined who are conditioned to take their trash with them, whereas people who ride Metro tend to be poor, uncouth, and slovenly (that’s why they use Metro!), therefore we don’t trust them to allow them to eat and drink on our system, nevermind that it’s unenforceable and it’s dirty as it is anyway.”
Sorry, don’t buy that argument.
Much as not all Metro riders are like that, not all Japanese are refined either. When I visited Japan I saw just as many “slovenly” people riding the trains, including rowdy drunks, people leaving their newspapers behind, etc. The only difference: they hire janitors to clean the mess up and it comes out clean everyday.
There is hardly any trash anywhere in Japan. It is a very clean country despite being crowded. Tell me how much graffiti and trash you saw in Japan. People don’t eat on the trains there and are much cleaner. They don’t have janitors roaming the entire country. It is a different culture. The US is completely different. You can even notice a dramatic difference between here and Canada
“It is a different culture.”
No, it’s called conditioning.
Japan has strict laws against trash that they are conditioned from early childhood to be careful with garbage.
Take a read at these articles:
http://www.japanchronicles.com/article/8/sorting-trash-in-japan
http://www.city.chiyoda.tokyo.jp/english/e-guide/recycle.html
http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25212/
Because they’re so uptight about trash, kids are conditioned to be that way that once they grow up as adults, they’re conditioned to handle garbage with such apprehensiveness. That’s the secrecy to Japanese cleanliness and that is the level they have to go to in order to ensure that cleanliness. It’s not culture, it’s conditioning.
Call it conditioning or call it culture. Same thing. Lets keep the focus on this side of the world. I feel some of you should just start a Japanense transit blog.
I know some other US transit systems that allow coffee (or other liquid) in a spill-proof mug. For example, Seattle: “Consuming food and drinking nonalcoholic beverages is permitted on the mezzanine and exterior plaza levels of tunnel stations and the exterior areas of other passenger facilities. Also, drinking a nonalcoholic beverage from a container designed to prevent spillage is permitted on transit property and the bus. ”
The desert transit systems (Sunline, Victor Valley) also allow drinks in proper containers:
“Non-alcoholic drinks in sports bottles or other closed containers ONLY.” (http://www.sunline.org/rules)
Santa Cruz is real mellow: “Food & drink are permitted on the bus, provided they are not easily spilled. Common sense and cooperation with the Operator in maintaining this policy is appreciated.” (http://www.scmtd.com/en/riders-guide/riding-tips)
Chicago Transit Authority: http://www.transitchicago.com/riding_cta/policies.aspx
“Cannot eat or drink any food or beverage on board buses or trains but it is OK in stations”
San Diego MTS: http://www.sdmts.com/MTS/RidersGuideEnglish.asp
“Drinking beverages in cups with lids is permitted; eating is not.”
SEPTA (Philadelphia):
Eating, Drinking & Smoking survey results: http://www.septa.org/cs/survey/results/013.html
Revised Passenger Etiquette from survey results: http://www.septa.org/cs/etiquette/food.html
Boston MBTA: http://www.mbta.com/
No food or drink ban