Eating in public and on the go seems to be de rigueur today

This week’s Mediahuis regional weekly newspapers’ column

Michael Commane

Since Monday, October 7 it is forbidden to carry an electric scooter on any public transport in the State. Transport for Ireland (TFI) made the decision on safety grounds, saying that there is a concern about the batteries on the scooters. 

A similar rule applies in a number of other European cities. There has been considerable discussion about the electric scooter prohibition, the usual hullabaloo and outrage.

I am ‘outraged’ about something else. Alas, not a word about it, not a whisper. I was on a crowded Luas last Sunday, sitting down minding my own business when this ever-so-polite young woman sat beside me. She was well turned out, dare I say sophisticated, maybe refined too, whatever exactly those words mean.  

Within two or three minutes of sitting down she produced a sandwich, a bap, a roll. These days there are a zillion names for such products. It certainly wasn’t a sandwich-style item that we took in our packed lunches fadó fadó. But no matter, leaving that aside, a person can eat whatever they like, whenever they like but must they to do it on a crowded Luas, especially when the sight of this food item and the smell from it was disgusting, at least to my nose and eyes. 

There is a sign on the Luas explaining that it is forbidden to eat or drink on the tram. Had she any idea of the smell that was emanating from the food she was eating? I covertly looked at it a few times to see greasy particles, crumbs and assorted food-stuffs falling down on to the greaseproof paper in which it was wrapped. 

Am I intolerant? I was surprised no one else on the crowded tram was expressing any annoyance whatsoever. She was obviously oblivious to the smell and sight of what she was eating. I decided to say nothing. I can imagine all I would have done was to upset the young woman. She looked delicate and fragile. When it was all consumed, she neatly wrapped the greaseproof paper and put it in her bag. The hell was over. 

Two days later I am on an early morning bus, in front of me a passenger is eating what looks like a simple old-fashioned roll. This time no smell, nothing. And now I’m wondering is one allowed eat food on a bus. I’ve never seen a sign on a bus saying you can’t.

I’ve discussed the issue with a friend, who immediately snapped at me, saying he has seen me eating on a train. Does the fact that there are tables on trains make a difference, longer journeys too?

Have we all forgotten about good old table manners? It’s something no-one ever talks about these days. 

I’ve asked around and the general consensus is that fadó fadó parents would never have allowed their children eat in public. These days everything seems to be ‘on the go’ on the street. Does how we eat say something about us?

One thing is certain, the times we are living , they sure are a-changing.