NYC teen licks an entire subway railing for a buck

[mark1447 685]

On a dare, a kid in New York City licked an entire handrail at the entrance of the subway for a dollar -- and presumably all the benefits of YouTube stardom. This, it goes without saying, is gross. But we wanted to know exactly how gross it is.

 

“If anyone dares you to lick anything in public, lick a toilet seat,” says Charles P. Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. “It would be safer to lick a toilet than a handrail on a bus.”

 

Gerba has examined levels of germs in public places such as bus seats, bus handrails, indoor handrails and toilet seats. He found that about 50 different microorganisms live on a toilet seat while a handrail provides refuge for hundreds of thousands of germs.

 

“Americans are terrified of butt-borne diseases,” he says, explaining why toilet seats are so clean. Most people wipe off toilet seats or use seat covers, but we give little thought to the condition of railings.

 

“We’ve studied the microbiology on public buses,” Gerba says. “The handrail is fairly bad.”

 

Gerba found e-coli (a bacterium often responsible for food poisoning); MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a staph infection that’s resistant to most first-line antibiotics); and fecal matter on handrails. Fecal matter is on 50 percent of all handrails (people, it’s time to seriously wash your hands after using the bathroom). It’s not uncommon for handrails to have flu, staph bacteria, and respiratory and cold viruses, as well. Previous research in England found that people are more likely to get a cold from handrails than any other public surfaces.

 

Read More:

 

http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=new_post&f=12

 

Video:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SxqTUJhx9xQ

[alejr88 327]

Ewww. Remember kids whenever you use public transportation, always carry hand sanitizer.

[lilbluefoxie 820]

Ewww. Remember kids whenever you use public transportation, always carry hand sanitizer.

 

 

I carry hand sanitizer with me every time I go to the city because I used to come home with pink eye or get sick with some sort of ailment every time I would come home.

[Grand Concourse 2,690]

Hand sanitizer is good for occasional use. But ideally you should rinse your hands in water. Overuse of the sanitizer will just cause the bacteria to adapt to the sanitizer and become stronger.

[KeystoneRegional 246]

Yeah, I'd never want to meet this guy...

[CDTA 724]

Only a buck? FAIL.

[Astoria Line 1,064]

Kids are mad stupid these days smh

[B35 via Church 9,414]

licking a subway railing for a dollar = throwing away your human decency for free.

[Guest MTA Bus]

There is never a dull moment on the New York City Subway.

[buswizard 93]

Only ONE DOLLAR!!!!!!!!!??????!!!!! BlechHHHhhhhhhhhhHHHHhhH!

[Via Garibaldi 8 8,595]

I carry hand sanitizer with me every time I go to the city because I used to come home with pink eye or get sick with some sort of ailment every time I would come home.

 

 

LOL... From what? Our lovely subways? I always thoroughly wash my hands immediately after using the subway once I get into the office or wherever there is a clean bathroom to use. I can't imagine what this kid was thinking but God was he dumb for doing that.

[mark1447 685]

Kids are mad stupid these days smh

 

 

Not all kids are like this though.........

[User 2,251]

That is just asking to get sick.

[rr4567 173]

And just to think.......someone's ass was probably on that same handrail considering all the people who like to slide down those things nowadays.

[Via Garibaldi 8 8,595]

And just to think.......someone's ass was probably on that same handrail considering all the people who like to slide down those things nowadays.

 

 

lol... Don't say that!! Didn't you hear what the said about the poles on the subways and such being clean?

[Astoria Line 1,064]

 

 

Not all kids are like this though.........

 

 

I'm a teen my self but at least 90% of the kids I know are dumb. It was a generalized statement... Didn't mean to say all, I meant to say most are...

[ttcsubwayfan 2,060]

I thoroughly despair. I really do.

[VWM 404]

Faith in humanity lost

[rr4567 173]

 

 

lol... Don't say that!! Didn't you hear what the said about the poles on the subways and such being clean?

 

 

Yeah............. what the said.

[CenSin 3,250]

Where is that Simpsons episode where the Simpsons go to New York City and Bart attempts the same thing?

[Via Garibaldi 8 8,595]

Yeah............. what the said.

 

 

 

LOL!

[Grand Concourse 2,690]

Where is that Simpsons episode where the Simpsons go to New York City and Bart attempts the same thing?

 

I think it was a season 8 episode. Maybe the season premier. I haven't seen that in a while. I wonder if they still kept the twin towers segment where Homer needs to rush to the bathroom in the tower only to see another ticket being written up for his car? Edited October 7, 2012 by Grand Concourse

[CenSin 3,250]

I think it was a season 8 episode. Maybe the season premier. I haven't seen that in a while. I wonder if they still kept the twin towers segment where Homer needs to rush to the bathroom in the tower only to see another ticket being written up for his car?

 

I found it: http://wtso.net/movie/3-The_Simpsons_901_The_City_of_New_York_vs_Homer_Simpson.html. Skip to 10:55.

 

 

(Bart shakes a can full of coins. The can is labeled "GIVE.")

 

"Ladies and gentlemen: I'm sorry to disturb your pleasant ride, but unlike yourselves I was born without taste buds. Let me demonstrate."

 

(Bart licks the pole.)

 

"Egh! I went in over my head here. Thank you for your time."