If you're a frequent commuter of the New York subway system, then you're probably already familiar with the ad campaign the Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched last year that attempts to teach riders proper subway etiquette. Along with the poster that reminds riders to let others exit the train car before they enter it, the ads also remind commuters not to use the car as a bathroom, not to eat smelly take-out, not to manspread and that poles are not for your latest dance routine.
Now New Yorkers may have noticed a new poster that adds to the list of things not to do when commuting.
The MTA just released new posters that remind commuters that hoverboards are banned from subway, bus, rail cars and stations.
Not only does this mean that users can't ride the motorized skateboards, it also means that they can't even carry them on with them when using mass transit.
The MTA previously announced in January that it prohibits hoverboards because the hands-free units can be considered "hazardous or flammable materials." The ban should have come as no surprise since the MTA already banned the use of "personal wheeled vehicles, such as skateboards, skates or scooters, in train stations."
But the crackdown continues, as the MTA is making sure that all riders know that the devices are prohibited in an attempt to avoid fire-related accidents caused by the hoverboards.
To get its message across, large posters have gone up in some subway stations, such as at Penn Station. Titled "Hoverboards Not Allowed," the poster features two different illustrations to depict the most common scenarios. Featuring the stick figures used in previous campaigns, the first image looks identical to the post that reminds riders to wait their turn to get on the train, but instead features a red stick figure riding his hoverboard. The second image features the red stick figure holding the electronic board under his arm on a bus.
"Hoverboards many be the latest fad, but they are not safe because they have the potential to catch fire," the poster reads.
The poster also feature translations of the message in languages like Spanish and Chinese so that all commuters can understand.
The MTA frequently puts posters that remind commuters not to stand too close to the edge of the platform, or not to jump down onto the tracks if they dropped something, throughout certain subway stations. These types of posters are often seen attached to the side windows toward the front of buses.
It appears that the MTA is being more proactive in informing riders about the potential safety risks of hoverboards. This comes after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that the electronic boards were unsafe.
It is known that the batteries located in some models overheat and cause them to explode and start a fire. As a result, retailers like Amazon decided to pull the product.
New York's subway, rail and bus system isn't the only transportation network that bans hoverboards. The devices have previously been banned from major airline carriers including Delta, Unitied, American Airlines, British Airways, Jet Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin America, Spirit Airlines and Alaska Airlines because of fire concerns.
Source: Mashable
Photo: Kris Arnold | Flickr
