MARTA officials propose Rider ‘Code of Conduct’ (Atlanta: unemployed, live in)

[MattCW]

Well, we'll start with just going to the vet. How about taking a long-term business trip or even just vacation? Or even just exercising it in a park? You make it sound like I'm advocating for a giant animal to run around loose up and down the train! All I'm saying is for MARTA to remain in-line with other transit systems which allow small caged animals. Again, why are we trying to force people to think of transit as ONLY the thing that gets them to work and back?

[Zanarkand A East]

MARTA plans crackdown on 'nuisance' riders (AJC)

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Well, we'll start with just going to the vet. How about taking a long-term business trip or even just vacation? Or even just exercising it in a park? You make it sound like I'm advocating for a giant animal to run around loose up and down the train! All I'm saying is for MARTA to remain in-line with other transit systems which allow small caged animals. Again, why are we trying to force people to think of transit as ONLY the thing that gets them to work and back?

You don't get it, and it doesn't seem like anything you read here is going to change your mind. If you don't get the obvious smell, noise, safety, and courtesy points, then have you considered the fact is that some people are just afraid of animals, whether for rational or irrational reasons, and that includes adults as well as children?

Absent a compelling reason to bring a non-service animal on MARTA, it just makes sense. Most other transit systems also have similar bans. You could make similar far fetched arguments for people eating or drinking on MARTA, something that has been banned since the system first opened in the late 1970s. I used the have to listen to those recordings play over and over telling me that food and drink is not allowed. Well...using your logic....what if someone is late for work and just has to eat their dinner on MARTA? Too bad.

[cqholt]

Eating and drinking is allowed in stations. I don't mind eating on trains, just pick up after yourself.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Eating and drinking is allowed in stations. I don't mind eating on trains, just pick up after yourself.

It never used to be, but on the train, you may not mind, but I might. You may be OK with me and my Indian food riding to Five Points. Others may not. These kinds of things are made to fit the least common denominator of common courtesy.

[Atlanta_BD]

One thing they should've added but didn't is no loud talking and cursing on MARTA.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by neil0311

You don't get it, and it doesn't seem like anything you read here is going to change your mind.

No, I get it. I get that some people just can't help but to butt into things they should keep their nose out of.

If you don't get the obvious smell, noise, safety, and courtesy points, then have you considered the fact is that some people are just afraid of animals, whether for rational or irrational reasons, and that includes adults as well as children?

Then they shouldn't go out in public at all. If they're truly that afraid, that a caged animal is just soooo terrifying for them, how are they going to react when they turn a corner and someone's walking their dog right there? That's not in a cage. Even so, most pets smell better than their owners, and being secured in a cage, on the owner's lap has no safety or courtesy implications.

Absent a compelling reason to bring a non-service animal on MARTA, it just makes sense. Most other transit systems also have similar bans. You could make similar far fetched arguments for people eating or drinking on MARTA, something that has been banned since the system first opened in the late 1970s. I used the have to listen to those recordings play over and over telling me that food and drink is not allowed. Well...using your logic....what if someone is late for work and just has to eat their dinner on MARTA? Too bad.

Actually, most other transit systems do not have similar outright bans, ALL of the half-dozen I have surveyed in the past five minutes since typing this post allow small pets in enclosed containers, including the notoriously strict WMATA. Why should Atlanta break the mold in a way that does nothing but hinder service?

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by neil0311

It never used to be, but on the train, you may not mind, but I might. You may be OK with me and my Indian food riding to Five Points. Others may not. These kinds of things are made to fit the least common denominator of common courtesy.

I have to agree with neil on this -- no eating on the trains. It's just not the place.

As to dogs, about the only ones I'd be comfortable with on a regular basis would be my two. They are good sized but extremely courteous. They may look at you and grin but they won't get in your space.

[MattCW]

Well it passed, and it's actually sane! In addition to allowing small animals in rigid carriers, they also don't require strollers to be folded up, merely securely held out of the way. Either it got to the board and common sense prevailed, or the media failed us again. I'm betting the latter. MARTA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority PDF of the actual rules at the bottom of the page.

[kasuga888]

You need rules because in society, there are always "trolls" that screw it up for the rest of the properly behaving people.

Small pets? Okay, but there will always be jerks that let there pets pee and poop and bark etc without a care.
Food? Always a few idiots bringing in stinky food (imagine stinky tofu LOL) or dumping everything on the ground.