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Comment by ehnto | Hacker News Reader

You might be right, but I don't think it would be the right choice. There's a point where you trade off total security for usability. America is no stranger to trains and metros, yet the majority of those run without TSA like security.

I noted while in Japan, that they have no bins. If I'm not mistaken, they were removed due to a terror attack in the 90s. However, Japan train stations all have coin lockers. Now in NYC, you've got no coin lockers, due to a terrorist attack, but you do have bins. I don't believe either measure actually reduces the likelihood of a terror attack, it's just security theater.

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NYC tried removing their trash cans in a few stations but people just threw their trash on the tracks, increasing the number of track fires.

My understanding is that after the sarin gas attack in Tokyo, people there are much less likely to eat or drink in the train system as almost everyone who died in that attack was consuming something. So there’s less trash in general over there.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I think it's pretty analogous to writing a test to cover that bug that happened in your app.

The French thought about the bin problem and replaced them all with transparent plastic bags mounted on frames to support them and hold them open. The best of both worlds.

Needs more of this: [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z02zi1S8vZQ

(Total Recall X-ray scene)

And you can cut down on cleaning staff

But add significant amounts of litter.

At least in North America, people will just toss their trash on the ground if there isn't a garbage can available, but if there is a bin around they will make use of it. Might be able to chalk that up to cultural differences when discussing Japan, however.

The city of Portland did a study once where they removed trash cans in some parking garages and the amount of litter went down. The theory was that if there's trash on the ground (as there often is around trash cans, especially when they are full) people will throw more trash onto the pile. Get rid of the trash can and people will carry their trash out.

"in North America, people will just toss their trash on the ground if there isn't a garbage can available, but if there is a bin around they will make use of it."

Better than in the UK, where many people toss their rubbish on the ground if there isn't a bin available. If there is a bin available, they still toss it on the ground.

Sure, but the same is true with airplanes, and we have TSA for airplanes.

TSA for planes is political theater. TSA for any HSR would depend on incidents and political climate.

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