Do You Think I Can Hold My Breath That Long?

Washington has been smoke free for six months and six days. Don't worry, I am not about to write a blog entry on how I hate DC being smoke free. I think it is one of the best moves this city has made in the past few years. What I do hate is when I am entering or exiting a metro station and I see someone light up while on the escalator to or from the station.

You know who you are. You are the type of addictive personality that will carry the cigarette in hand, just holding it there, occasionally putting it in your mouth, even when you are still on the metro train. Do you really have that strong of a craving? I have no pity for you and your addictions. Can you not curb your enthusiasm for your cancer sticks until we get out into the open air?

Nothing ruins my commute like being stuck on a metro escalator, unable to pass on the left and being forced to breathe in the second hand smoke of someone a few people ahead of me.

Last I checked, there were unwritten rules of etiquette on the metro. We all know the obvious ones:

1. Don't block the doors
2. Stand on the right, pass on the left (when on the escalators)
3. Do not eat or drink in the metro (though this seems to be slipping because I see more people drinking Starbucks on the trains)
   

I propose we add one more unwritten rule and propel it to the top of the list:

1. Do not light your cigarette until you have reached the top of the metro escalator and you are in the open air. This will allow fellow passengers to breath clean air during the daily commute.