Under the cold wave, more than a hundred people are queuing for security checks. Is subway security check really necessary?

Recently, the subway security check has been demonized by the “Runren” group building, which is quite terrifying upon closer thought.

More than a hundred people lined up to board the bus in the cold wave.

Is it really necessary to line up to board the bus?

The rhythm of security checks is actually hard to maintain. Going through security checks may delay you for at most a few seconds. Despite the hype on the internet, most people don’t mind these few seconds. Even without security checks, there would still be congestion at the turnstiles. For individuals, security checks are the smallest of the small things in life, and it’s not very likely that they can set the pace. The group handling money matters still lacks competence; they don’t understand how to address the pain points of the people. They only keep going back and forth on trivial matters.

12·9 Guangzhou Subway Knife Attack Incident - Baidu Baike

Casually searching, there have been quite a few subway stabbing incidents.

The occurrence of these cases cleverly proves:

Subway security checks are indeed very necessary.

At the same time, subway security checks are also completely unnecessary.

Views on Subway Security Checks - A Discussion

It’s rare to see authoritative media outlets like Phoenix News responding to public opinions from the perspective of social efficiency. Interestingly, the problem statement for this issue, “Subway security check supporters have an obvious misconception; they seem to equate security checks with ‘security,'” is almost verbatim from a previous response I provided.

I appreciate the author’s recognition.

Since this is a new question about subway security checks, I’ll conduct a survey here:

Regardless of whether you are a supporter or opponent of security checks, please state your position and indicate whether you live in a city with a metro system and use it regularly. Furthermore, specify when and where you first rode the subway and if you have experience with metro systems in developed countries abroad.

Providing corresponding evidence would be preferable.

No matter your stance, you must have seen and ridden the subway to be more convincing, right? And having seen subways at different times and in different regions, their varying appearances can also add credibility.

Let’s take a look at those who support security checks.

Do they genuinely fear even the slightest risk and are willing to pursue a sense of self-security at any cost? Or are they simply taking advantage of others’ generosity, not using the subway themselves, but feeling a cheap sense of pride when they see people obediently going through security checks?

Do they personally experience the annoyance of security checks, day in and day out, and believe that enduring this daily inconvenience is worth the nearly non-existent increase in safety in these thousands-of-square-meter non-flammable iron boxes? Or do they only imagine that security checks can prevent the vast majority of dangers, and that opposition to security checks is just a $500,000 endeavor?

It should be noted that, in the question “Why do so many people complain about subway security checks?” under recent answers, the influx of security check supporters in the past half month has almost created a one-sided “must have security checks” situation, according to chronological order. Considering that many highly upvoted answers previously mostly opposed subway security checks, can the ratio of supporters and opponents of subway security checks, among netizens who can provide evidence of regularly using the subway, still be maintained at a 3:1 ratio here?

Let’s start by leading by example.

My Position: I strongly oppose the establishment of regular and indiscriminate security checks in high-traffic, everyday urban rail transit.

IP Hubei, which is, of course, in Wuhan. Due to the epidemic, I now commute by car, so I don’t use the subway daily. However, for business purposes, I occasionally take the subway to different parts of the city, and on weekends, I use the subway to travel to downtown areas. I recently recharged my Wuhan Tong card at the subway station TVM and took a snapshot of the transaction history.

Additionally, my earliest subway ride was in 1996 when my father took me to Beijing for a business trip, and I also took the subway when I traveled to Shanghai in 2006. Unfortunately, I did not keep any receipts from those subway rides.

Regarding foreign countries, I have traveled to Japan, France, Italy, and the UK, all of which were self-guided trips for tourism, involving the use of subways and other rail transit. As a Japanese railway enthusiast, I once left my companions and spent a day exploring Tokyo alone, spending a significant amount of time at train stations and on trains.

As for personal collections, I have ROMA PASS (although I lost the magnetic ticket), Milan Metro tickets, Vesuvius Railway tickets (to Pompeii), single-use Paris Metro tickets (the kind you buy in packs of 10), JR Tokyo Area PASS, Shinkansen tickets, Suica cards, Osaka Metro one-day passes, London Underground Zone supplement tickets, UK train tickets, and my Shanghai public transport card (which probably still has a balance).

The latter two have some collectible value. The earliest paper ticket for Wuhan “light rail,” as well as the coin-like single-use tickets issued by Wuhan Rail Transit Company’s LOGO, dating back to before the name change to “Wuhan Metro Group” in 2010. These types of tickets were used for a long time, and I even purchased one on the Line 2 platform in 2013. However, as the network expanded, these old-style tickets were significantly diluted, and even if they were not invalidated, they have become quite rare.

Scenario: Subway Incident in Tokyo

For instance, in Tokyo on platform 226, I, wearing a coat and without a bag, carrying two 100-milliliter bottles of Sarin spray, board the subway during rush hour, and proceed to spray it into the crowd.

How would security personnel respond to this situation?

Could I become a hero resisting Japan?

Self-Questioning and Self-Answering on Phoenix News

Phoenix News engages in self-questioning and self-answering, and then states, “This article is a special original contribution by Phoenix News Commentary Department and represents the author’s standpoint.” Astonishing. Is it a conscientious media or an unscrupulous one? Furthermore, they claim that this is the quality of articles currently on Phoenix News? It appears that their funding has been reduced significantly.

“Security Checks Are Just One Part of the Entire Subway Security System”

Your breathing is just one part of the life support system, so maybe you should stop breathing, no problem.

To those who support the cancellation of subway security checks, we understand your intentions. How about making an agreement? If an incident occurs due to the cancellation of security checks on the subway, you will be responsible for full compensation, what do you say?

Furthermore, doesn’t your subway have air conditioning?

Subway Security and Government Responsibilities

This security check was not in place from the beginning.

Our country’s government has a responsibility to protect the safety of its people.

To reduce such expenditures, two conditions must be met:

1. The people authorize the government not to protect their safety.
2. Western countries no longer provide funding to certain extremist organizations.

====

I suggest holding a vote.

People who take the subway should vote with their real-name identification.

Those who believe in having security checks and those who do not should each vote.

== The cost of the vote should be covered by the subway company, with supervision by National People’s Congress representatives, journalists, and various public welfare associations.

In the event of certain harm incidents in the future, compensation will be collectively contributed by those who voted against security checks.

With many people contributing, the amount of compensation needed would likely be minimal, perhaps just a few cents.

====

Similarly, many things can actually be solved by spending money.

The Unsung Heroes

Great warriors don’t seek fame, and skilled doctors don’t need a dazzling reputation.

Those who have experienced certain events in the past year understand that any preventative work that runs smoothly is often hard to perceive in terms of effectiveness, while the costs are evident, and the consequences of failure are significant.

As a result, it is easily attacked by public opinion and even labeled as “redundant” or “wasting resources.” Only when it is abandoned do we realize that the cost is much greater than imagined, both in terms of money and human lives.

Let’s not embark on another winter of panic.

Your Subway Security Checkpoint Is Outdoors?

Is your subway security checkpoint located outdoors? Asking such a question either implies a complete lack of experience with subways or is intentionally misleading.

Before discussing whether subway security checks are necessary, it is advisable to first consider whether surveillance systems should be dismantled and then inquire about the relevance of ticket barriers. You should be quite familiar with this matter – wasn’t it just like this in your area a few years ago?

A Simple Cost Calculation

For an ordinary subway station (non-transport hub, commercial center, etc.), there are typically 4 entrances/exits, with every 2 entrances/exits sharing one security checkpoint. This means that each subway station has at least 2 security checkpoints.

Let’s first consider the labor cost. Each security checkpoint requires at least 3 security personnel (holding metal detectors, monitoring screens, checking liquids). Let’s assume the monthly salary for each security personnel is the classic Zhihu monthly salary – 3000 CNY.

Next, let’s look at equipment costs. Each security checkpoint is equipped with at least 1 metal detector gate (2 for large stations), 1 security scanner, and 1 liquid detector. I’m not very familiar with the costs of these devices, so we won’t calculate this part for now.

Now, let’s spend half a minute searching “China subway” on Bing.

According to official data, as of the end of last year, the total number of subway stations in China was 5609. Considering the impact of newly constructed subway lines and additional security checkpoints at large subway stations, let’s round the total number of subway stations to 6000.

Therefore, through a simple mathematical calculation, we can determine that the annual labor cost for subway security checks in China should be:

360 million CNY

Consequently, the total annual expenditure on subway security checks in China should be 1.314 billion CNY, which sounds quite auspicious.

Above.

Necessary.

This can demonstrate our high level of obedience, where all actions and words follow commands. We are willing to sacrifice personal interests for the collective good, always remembering that we are a small cog in the socialist cause.

In this way, public servants can serve the people more confidently without worrying about unreasonable demands from the people.

Under a cold wave? Don’t you have air conditioning in your subway? Are you all waiting in the cold for security checks?

Security checks significantly increase the cost of damage and crime, making destructive and criminal behavior unprofitable and unnecessary. This indicates that the security check procedures are quite effective and reliable. If security checks were suddenly canceled, reducing the cost of destructive and criminal behavior, it would inevitably lead to the broken windows effect.

Consideration for Issuing Trusted Commuter Cards

It is possible to issue trusted commuter cards to individuals who meet specific criteria, such as those with employer endorsements (from both public and private enterprises, government agencies, etc., as long as they meet certain criteria) or endorsements from local neighborhoods (for retirees), clean criminal records, and no history of dishonesty. Trusted individuals could then enjoy a dedicated, expedited entry into subway stations without security checks, given that the majority of people are unlikely to cause any trouble. The eligibility could be reevaluated semi-annually, with a simple endorsement from the employer.

The trusted commuter cards could be linked to WeChat or Alipay accounts, eliminating the need for physical cards. However, lending your trusted commuter card to someone else would result in immediate placement on the dishonesty list, monitored through facial recognition. Failure to report changes in employment status promptly would also result in inclusion on the dishonesty list.

If the term “trusted individuals” doesn’t sound appropriate, it could be renamed as “Simplified Commuter Cards.”

Let’s Be Direct, What Do You Want?

Just say it, what do you want to do?

Phoenix News, Well, That’s Okay

Phoenix News, well, it’s no big deal.

I Think It’s Still Necessary

I think it’s still necessary, even though it may seem like it’s preventing the innocent rather than the guilty. Many accidents are not intentional. In the 1990s, when I was studying at a university in Beijing, I had a dormitory mate who worked at Yanshan Petrochemical. Every week, he would bring a small bottle of liquefied gas, about the size of a pesticide can, and use it with a small gas stove for hot pot parties in our dormitory. At that time, there were no security checks in the subway, so everything went smoothly. However, in hindsight, it was quite dangerous. With subway security checks in place, situations like this can at least be significantly reduced.