February 1, 2016
When you take the subway, bus, or train to work, you may not be aware of the laundry list of items that pose a risk to you and other passengers. However, organizations like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are on the lookout to ensure public safety and fire prevention. On the New York City Subway, New York City Buses, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, Staten Island Railway or Access-A-Ride, riding personal vehicles like scooters, skates, skateboards, and hoverboards is understandably prohibited. And some rules, like banning the smoking of cigarettes or cigars, are obvious. But some bans are less obvious.
Last month, the MTA announced that hoverboards are not even allowed on buses, trains, subways, or even at subway stations, due to the combustion risk of their lithium ion batteries. The ban might seem extreme, but authorities cannot be too careful when it comes to fire prevention and safety precautions. Below, we here at Fire and Life Safety America summarize a list of items to leave at home when taking the subway, riding the bus, or hopping on the train.
You can keep yourself and everyone else safer by arranging other means of delivery of flammable, compressed, or even formerly flammable items great or small than taking them with you on public transit. Even a small container could pose a risk, and when it comes to fire protection, it is always better to be safe than sorry.