In early July, local media reported that the "Chengdu Urban Rail Operational Safety Management Regulations," had been drafted. The list of rules and regulations regarding passenger conduct on and around the soon-to-open subway stipulate, in sum, that those who are drunk, naked, or carrying serious infectious disease will probably be banned from the subway and surrounding areas. Eating, drinking, and bringing pets and bicycles (including folding bikes) will also be forbidden.

Am article that appeared in the West China City Daily made light of the situation with its headline "Chengdu Drafts Regulations: Eating Baozi and Drinking Soymilk Prohibited on Subway" (成都拟规定：地铁内禁止吃包子喝豆浆), and immediately a fierce debate broke out online, with about half the 'net users supporting the eating and drinking ban, and the other half opposed. Similar debates followed regarding the bicycle ban until finally the Chengdu Metro Corporation laid down the law, saying that Chengdu would follow Shanghai's example and forbid bicycles on the subway. However, rumor has it that a free bicycle-loan system—similar to those implemented in Dujiangyan and Sansheng Xiang—will be set up along the subway route.

A partial list of the regulations follows:
-No intercepting trains
-No blocking pathways
-No entering the tracks, the railway, or other restricted areas without permission
-No climbing on or crossing the train enclosure, railings, switch, the carriages, the emergency exits, the casing doors, etc.
-No forcing the doors when getting on or off the train
-No open flames in the stations, on the platform, in the carriages, in pathways, in exits, etc.

-No obstructing the normal operation of doors of the carriages, the casing, or the emergency exits
-No going the wrong way on escalators
-No other behaviors that will impact the orderly operation of the city's traffic networks
-Any person who violates the above rules will be fined between RMB500 and RMB1,000 by the city traffic administrative department
-Parking vehicles, piling rubbish, informal vending, and hawking are prohibited

-Smoking, spitting, urinating and defecating, spitting out gum, littering fruit peels and other rubbish is prohibited in the stations, on the platforms, on the trains, in the common areas, and at the exits.
-Graffiti and vandalism, including carving, tagging, and posting notices is prohibited
-In the station, on the platform, and other areas, passengers must be wearing shoes and shirts
-Lying down, begging, selling items, and scavenging for recyclables is prohibited
-At the station and on the trains, noisy disruptions including loud outbursts, playing of musical instruments, stamping on seats, etc. is forbidden
-Riding skateboards or unicycles is forbidden at the station, on the platform, and in the carriages
-The fine for breaking any of the above regulations can be anywhere from RMB20 to RMB200

Meanwhile, the government hosted an open suggestions box on its Web site, welcoming citizens to send in their opinions regarding the rules and regulations.

Information appeared in the Chengdu Commercial Daily in July 2010. Photos by Dan Sandoval.

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