A couple of people have written in regarding my post on violinist Joshua Bell’s D.C. subway performance. Many suggest that he might have been better off playing on the actual platform where people wait to board. This might seem reasonable to someone living in New York, where pretty much anything goes on the subway (it’s not uncommon to see full bands play in subway cars). But Washington’s Metro system is far more strict: They don’t even allow you to drink your coffee on the train in the morning, much less let musicians play on the (often very crowded) platforms.