Sacramento RT Considers Rules to Limit 'Noxious Odors,' Other Objectionable Rider Traits

[marmar]

Oct. 25--Sacramento Regional Transit officials on Monday will consider a proposal to ban people from riding trains and buses who are a nuisance to other passengers, including people who "emanate a noxious odor" and who play music other passengers can hear.

The proposed rules are part of an effort by the transit agency to clean up service and improve its image among potential riders. Downtown business leaders and several new members of the Sacramento RT board say the agency needs to make improvements to attract "choice" riders when the downtown sports and entertainment arena opens in October 2016.

The proposed administrative prohibitions, listed in a staff report, are:

--Boarding trains or buses unless clothed above and below the waist and wearing footwear that has a sole.

--Emanating a noxious odor from body, clothing or possessions that discomforts other passengers, unless the odor relates to a disability or medical condition.

--Sleeping on a train that has reached the end of a line.

--Playing sound equipment that's audible to other passengers.

Pam Haney, advocacy coordinator for Wellspring Women's Center in Oak Park, which purchases transit tickets for some of its clients, said the odor proposal looks discriminatory.

.....(snip).....

"It seems as though the primary goal of this change is enabling them to have an administrative route to be additionally discriminatory toward homeless people," Haney said. ..............(more)

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/12130539/sacramento-rt-considers-rules-to-limit-noxious-odors-other-objectionable-rider-traits