1/25/2007 ~ No Spitting Zone

On the Rio: Electric Light Orchestra ~ Mr. Blue Sky

I may have already mentioned that spitting on the streets is quite common. (Not really just spitting, but hacking up goobers so large they are visible on the sidewalk to be avoided like dog doo.) So I just had to share this recent Op Ed from the Shanghai Daily Newspaper.


Don't give spit bags to taxi drivers
By Patricia Mahar 2007-1-24

SHANGHAI Daily's front page article on January 18 describes Shanghai's solution to the unhealthy and dangerous habit of public spitting by cabdrivers. The solution: To provide cabdrivers with paper bags (suitable for hanging within the cab) so they can spit INSIDE their taxis rather than outside.

This solution is a recipe for disaster.

Consider hanging paper bags of spit swaying inside taxis, filling the enclosed space with the malodorous aroma of spit.

Consider paper bags of spit overturning and spilling onto seats, dashboards and floors.

Consider paper bags of spit being tossed out the cab windows, littering the streets of Shanghai.

Consider the spewing forth of germs, released with an energetic and loud spitting episode, in the confined air space of a cab.

Consider the magnification of the pre-spitting sound when directed inward rather than out of an open window.

Consider exchanging money with someone holding a paper bag of spit.

If Shanghai's health promoters are truly interested in "keeping a good image for Shanghai" and helping cabdrivers "kick the spitting habit," they should make it unacceptable for drivers to spit.

A much better use of paper would be paper signs posted in every cab asking passengers (in both Chinese and English) to report spitting by drivers. Perhaps this, combined with diligent re-education efforts regarding the evils of spitting, and commendations for cabdrivers with non-spitting lifestyles, might actually result in a change of behavior and accomplishment of the Shanghai Health Promotion Committee's stated goals.