'Don't bring food on bus in Seoul'
By Kim Jae-heun
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to step up its publicity campaign to inform citizens they are no longer allowed to bring food on buses. This is because most passengers are only aware that coffee and other drinks are subject to the ban, not hamburgers and other food items.
The city will put up posters on buses and at bus stops, beginning Thursday, telling passengers both food and drinks are not allowed on buses.
Since Jan. 4, bus drivers have been able to deny passengers holding drinks or food. After the revision of the city ordinance, the bus industry says the number of people getting on buses with coffee has decreased. Through the campaign, the city hopes to discourage passengers from bringing on food too.
“I very much like the idea of banning food on the bus because it smells a lot,” 26-year-old student Kim Ji-yong said. “Sometimes when I ride the bus back home, middle school students get on the bus with a cup full of tteokbokki or a hamburger in their hands. It takes less than five minutes for the smell to spread and fill up the whole bus.”
Kil Tae-gyu, a 30-year-old businessman, also remembers an old lady eating gimbap in front of him and spilling the food when the bus stopped abruptly.
“Not only does the food smell, but it is just bad manners to bring food on public transportation. You are not using it alone,” Kil said.
The bus industry estimates nearly 38,000 people get on buses with food every day. Seoul roads have around 6,900 buses and an average five to six passengers eat food every day on any given bus.
“Considering some that bus driver did not catch, we assume the number can be higher,” a Seoul Bus Labor Union official said.
People leaving trash on the bus after they finish eating is another problem.
Bus drivers complain about garbage they have to pick up after they finish their daily shift.
“People put trash in between chairs or the window, or sometimes they just leave the leftovers on the seat. It harms other passengers too,” 41-year-old bus driver Choi Moon-sik said.
However, people cannot be punished for bringing food on the bus. Drivers can only stop passengers from getting on the bus with food or drink.