Not really. I already have Verizon because it works underground. More service down there will just mean more people talking on their cell phones who aren't me!

Anyone up for an Amtrak-esque "quiet car" on Metro? I don't want to hear your loud phone-talking anymore than you want to hear mine.

Of course I'm looking forward to it. Now even more people can air their private lives with the rest of the world regardless of what language they speak!! I totally agree with Was Buf. I hope Metro will have a quiet car. At least I try to do my part by texting/messaging.

Yes and no. Yes, because it will be great to send a text when metro is delayed or I'm running late. No, becuase I really don't want to hear everyone's conversations on my commute.

Why not? Teenagers and kids sit onthe train and cuss up a storm with each other in front of older women, why shouldn't they be afforded another group to be obnoxious with.

Years ago, I remember what it was like before cell phones/twitter/etc. As strange as it is, I do not need to give my familiy or friends constant updates as to my status and life continues without issues. Why is that not true for everyone else?

GOD NO! I was hoping that cell phones would be banned from Metro.

Oh, boy. Now even more mindless yammering to add to the cell-phone chattering cacophony already on public transportation.
A "quiet car" on each Metro train is a good idea.

Every time you tell a loud cellphone-talker to shut their piehole, they start acting like a retarded monkey whose banana was taken. Then there's the oblivious Blackberry users who just can't wait until they get to work to check their e-mail and lean against the poles causing the rest of us to consider punching them in the back of the head to remind them that it's "Mass Transit," not "Me Transit."

Considering all this, I can't wait for more cellphone service. Maybe people will actually start throwing feces!

Oh yes, like a heathen awaiting the Rapture!

If my Blackberry isn't searching for a signal, it will save battery life. Although I don't like to use the phone on metro, I do check email or my schedule.

Absolutely. This will make logistics and coordination so much easier. Metro environment is perfect for text messaging. For chatters? Not so much.

It's a good thing, but I'm not looking forward to having to listen to even more riders' cell phone conversations. Some people can't go 15 minutes without talking...pretty annoying!

Just a question for those concerned with "loud cell phone talkers" Why is it any different than if they were talking to a friend sitting next to them? Does it really matter that you only hear 1/2 the conversation? That's the only difference I can find, yet there is such a backlash against people using cell phones in all kinds of situations no one would want to ban them from talking to a friend.

I hate hearing other peoples calls so mine are keept as short as possible I always answer with "I'm on the metro", people that know me pass critical scheduling or logistic info quick or if it a social call they know that I want them to call me back later.

80% of the metro cars are kind of quiet.now what's going to happen if 95% will be as commuting in a high school metro system?...uncomfortable.

Instead of a quiet car, how about a loud car--say the first car on the train--all others quiet. At least if the train has a problem, those yacking can take the brunt.

@Johnny:
The problem is not whether one is having to listen to people talking to their neighbors versus talking on a phone. The problem is that too many people are apparently under the impression that the person on the other end of the phone can't hear them unless they yell. The last thing I need, whether you're talking to a seatmate or over the phone, is to have you booming out the details of your latest colonoscopy to a car full of people who couoldn't care less. I'm not asking you to ditch your phone; just learn to talk on it quietly (or get a better phone, if your problem is a bad connection).

It'll be useful in telling someone that I'm going to be late because of metro delays, but I'm not looking forward to hearing people's mind-numbing conversations on an even-more regular basis.

Listening to "Whatcha doin?" at 6am sounds great to me. I wish we would adopt the rules that Japan has: no cell phone use on any trains. Hooray for quiet time.

How about everybody shuts their pieholes on the metro, including the dirt bag, scummy, unwashed ghetto kiddies who purposely try to annoy everyone else to the point of harassment? If it's not an emergency, shut it! Don't like that, take PRIVATE transportation and drive!

Infradig got it right. Most people on the Metro speak in normal voices to the people standing or sitting next to them. I have rarely heard anything personal discussed. However, get a person speaking into a cell phone and YIKES, the decibel level skyrockets. Of course, its not just in Metro, I've heard amazing things announced into cellphones by people walking down K St that one didn't want to hear. Please, people, keep details of your surgery, love life, personal hygene etc TO YOURSELF! One of my favorite moments was the young VIP racing across K St who couldn't be bothered to focus on where he was rather than the conversation. Sure enough the curb took him by surprise and he splatted onto the sidewalk. Really, people, SHUT UP AND WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!

another person, your suggestion is pure (evil) genius. I like it!!

And Infradig nailed it. If the person on the other end can't hear you over all the ambient noise on either end, then hang it up. It makes me long for the days of pay phone booths (sans the hobo pee stink)

Verizon Guy: "Can you get me to work on time, now?"

For those of you who don't like loud conversations, that's what personal music players are for! I'd like it just for very quick "I'm on the Metro" conversations or possible making quick plans.

another person--your evil genius plan has one flaw--if we get another accident like we did in June, or the back cars derail, innocent people will pay the brunt.

If used for emergencies only -- conversations prohibited!

No. It'll just be another annoying thing for me to try to tune out. Like listening to people who don't know how to chew gum with their mouths closed.

I don't care either way. I don't even have a cellphone.

God No!! Thank God I built a jammer which I will probably now carry with me to shut off the inane "not much..what you doin" and ghetto slang conversations!