Coping with the Green Giant: The Controversy Over Transporting Houseplants on the Paris Metro
Traveler Faced with 150 Euro Fine for Carrying a Green Plant on the Paris Metro, RATP Enforces Rule
Last Sunday, Salomé discovered a green hitch in her travel plans when she was stopped at the bustling République station with her towering plant - a 1.30-meter-tall greenery named "Prune". After several baffling minutes, an agent informed her that her plant, deemed a nuisance, was an infraction, demanding a €150 fine.
Frustrated, Salomé took to Twitter to vent, "I was told that transporting a tall plant is considered an infraction because it's a hindrance," she lamented. To her surprise, the Paris Metro signs only prohibit the carriage of large luggage, but allow objects that can be easily carried without disturbing other passengers. The irony wasn't lost on Salomé, commenting, "Spoiler alert: it was very easy to carry the plant."
Salomé didn't mince words regarding the agent's lack of education, "She had the nerve to tell us to take another form of transportation next time. Very eco-friendly to have to rent a car to transport a simple plant," she criticized. Finally, with the fine paid, she was allowed to continue her environmentally conscious journey with her green friend.
Wasting no time, the Paris RATP (transport authority) chimed in on Twitter, "Although I understand your questions, the RATP has established rules. Transporting an object considered a hindrance remains a legitimate reason for a fine." The RATP clarified that their agents cannot evaluate exceptions as it would lead to arbitrariness. They did invite Salomé to lodge a complaint through direct message, arguing that the Paris Metro does permit bulky items under certain conditions. The rules dictate that suitcases or packages cannot exceed 75 cm in size, while packages up to 2 meters long, but no more than 20 cm in their other dimensions, are allowed as long as they are held vertically.
The discrepancy between the policies and the application still irks Salomé and her fellow Plant Parents (tree-hugging enthusiasts) in Paris. Perhaps a change in the RATP's 'leaves-of-absence' policy is in order? Paris, the city of romance and soaring Eiffel Tower dreams, may soon flourish with more green companions on train rides - if Salomé's complaint yields results.
The controversy over the Paris Metro's policy on transporting plants has sparked conversations among Parisian residents with a fondness for gardening and the French lifestyle, as Salomé's encounter with the transport authority sheds light on the discrepancies between stated rules and their application. As Paris strives to maintain its reputation as a city embracing various aspects of home-and-garden culture, a potential reform in the RATP's policy towards plants may be an opportunity for the city to encourage a more inclusive and eco-friendly urban lifestyle.
