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War On Rats: MTA Pulls Trash Cans From More Subway Stations
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 30, 2012
Modified Aug 30, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 30, 2012
Modified Aug 30, 2012
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You may have noticed that those fierce-looking looseleaf sheets of paper emblazoned with "CAUTION Rodenticide" have failed to stem the tide of furry, adorable disease bags that currently rule the subway. The MTA noticed too, and began experimenting with the idea that if they removed the trash cans from subway stations, the rats would disappear along with their food supply. Last week the MTA removed all trash cans from 10 subway stations to further test their theory, but is this just one step from taking away our precious food?
The MTA's release notes that the stations were "chosen to represent average-sized stations both elevated and underground." Will people actually carry their trash outside instead of throwing it on the tracks or leaving it on the platform? That depends on your view of humanity. It's also worth noting that D.C.'s Metro is largely rat free due to its strictly enforced ban on food and drinks. So all we'd have to do is just cede the last crumb of joy we possess on the subway and submit to the quiet indignity of being treated like children. Simple, right?
Here's a list of all the can-less stations.
Bronx: 238th Street 1 station // East 143rd Street 6 station
Manhattan: 57th Street F station // Rector Street 1 station // 8th Street M/R station
Brooklyn: 7th Avenue FG station // Brighton Beach Q station
Queens: 111th Street A station // 65th Street MR station // Flushing-Main Street 7 station
And watch this video—the payoff is at the 1:10 mark:
Tagged
garbage
MTA
rats
subway
trash cans
war on rats
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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