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"But we don't require passengers to show their IDs or verify their contact information. These umbrellas are loaned out of love. We hope people can cooperate with us," said a subway worker at Lujiabang Road Station.
A metro employee surnamed Fan at People's Square Station, the busiest in the city, estimated that at least half of passengers give false information, which they discover when they call to remind them to return the umbrella.
China Daily talked to eight Shanghai residents. All said they would return the umbrellas.
"The large Shanghai Metro logos and the slogan 'Umbrellas for Love' which is emblazoned on them, makes it obvious that they may have been stolen," said Wang Qi, a 53-year-old housewife. "People would have to have some nerve to hold on to them in streets."
However, two of the people interviewed said they would refuse to give their real information.
"I'm not worried about them contacting me to get the umbrella back, I'm afraid that I'll be bothered by junk messages after advertisers get my phone number," said Zhou Shuwen, a 25-year-old office worker.
Passengers who give false information or do not return the umbrellas are not necessarily acting immorally, according to some sociologists.
Apart from those who intend to keep the umbrellas, there may be many reasons people do not return them, said Zhang Youqin, a professor of sociology at Xiamen University.
The passenger might be on a business trip in Shanghai and rush to catch a flight, Zhang said. "He didn't give it back, but he felt grateful, and maybe embarrassed."
However, she thought that if other provinces and cities followed the practice, an honor system would evolve among them.
Hu Shoujun, a sociology professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, suggested a deposit to deter those who want to keep the umbrellas.
This is what Guangzhou has done at seven of its subway stations since 2008, seeking a 20-yuan ($3) cash deposit, almost equal to the cost of an umbrella.
Hu said this was a smarter practice and a necessary one in the long term.
"Circulation of the umbrellas can only be achieved with a high return rate," he said.
Wang Xinwei and Wang Danfei contributed to this story.
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