The Nanjing subway's ban on folding bikes and food on trains beginning next year has sparked a heated discussion among the public.

The Nanjing subway's operating company said that more than 600 commuters carry folding bikes on trains every working day, but only 4.1 percent of those passengers fold the bikes before boarding the train.

"Under a transportation regulation issued in 2009, commuters in Nanjing should not bring unfolded bikes to the subway, but many people are not aware of the rule," said an official with the operating company who asked to remain anonymous.

"The subway is too crowded, especially during peak hours, for the bikes as more than 1.1 million passengers commute in Nanjing by subway every day," he said. "We'll learn from other cities and prohibit the bikes in subway cars."

Beijing has banned folding bicycles on all subway lines since October 2007. Shanghai banned folding bikes on subway lines in August, which also sparked a public debate.

Nanjing held a hearing on Dec 13 about the ban. The regulation will be based on the hearing and submitted to the city's people's congress for approval this month.

It will task effect before the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in August, the city's operation company said.

"Riding bikes to subway stations and then going to work by subway is the most environmentally friendly mode of transport," said Liu Xi, a 30-year-old Nanjing resident. "Instead of being banned, it should be encouraged after proper restrictions are applied, such as regulating the size of the folding bikes allowed on board."

Qi Yi, a teacher at Nanjing University, said allowing folding bikes on the trains will save commuters 30 to 60 minutes every day.

"I have conducted a survey among subway passengers, most of whom thought that carrying folding bikes should be allowed," Qi said. "More than 50 percent of them said they'd like to combine the modes of riding bikes and taking the subway together if necessary."

"Besides, it's the passengers' right to bring luggage if the folded bikes meet the subway's requirements. There's no reason that folding bikes should be banned in particular."

But many netizens argued that banning bicycles is the right thing to do because they take up too much space and could hurt other passengers on the crowded subway trains.

The introduction of a ban on food and drinks also aroused public discussion.

Chen Daoyin, from the city's Jianye district, said food should be banned because the smell of some food is "unbearable".

"The smell of Chinese chive dumplings in subway cars can cover the best perfume in the world," Chen said. "The food scraps left attract mice and other pests and may bring risks to the subway's operation."

But some people argued that exceptions should be allowed for babies and patients with hypoglycemia.

Contact the writers at cangwei@chinadaily.com.cn and songwenwei@chinadaily.com.cn