They tried to ban smelly people too, but that one failed.
The ordinances that did pass largely mirror the policies of larger public transit networks around the country. Issues address include passengers being fully clothed and wearing shoes, passengers playing sound equipment loud enough to be heard by other passengers, and passengers sleeping on trains that have reached the end of the line.
Advocates for disadvantaged Sacramentans called the new set of regulations were discriminatory toward the city’s homeless population, who still have a right to ride on the public transit network.
Alane Masui, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Regional Transit District, said the laws are part of an effort to increase ridership. "If we can make it more attractive or make it more enjoyable to use the light rail or bus, then people are more apt to use it," said Masui.
The laws come as Sacramento enjoys a downtown revitalization, which officials hope will draw more people in via bus and rail. The system currently averages just shy of 100,000 boardings on weekdays and received nearly 7,000 calls to the system’s customer advocacy department, which mostly takes complaints.
Additionally, transit officials reported 318 crimes taking place on the system.
Further reading on the new Sacramento transit rules can be found here.
Image Credit: Flickr User 24354425@N03, https://flic.kr/p/oGVpD9 via (CC BY-NC 2.0)