11 Unwritten Rules of Etiquette on the New York Subway

Millions of people use New York City public transportation every day. With so many riders, all sorts of situations can arise. Gothamist tells about 11 simple rules of etiquette for comfortable metro rides.

1. Remember: bags are not people

Your bag is not a person, so it doesn't deserve its own space.

2. Don't take pictures of your fellow travelers

Rarely does anyone feel thrilled about being photographed in public by a stranger without warning. Does anyone feel prepared to be photographed in Metro? But if you have a good reason to take a photo of someone, just remember to ask permission first.

3. On the escalator

Escalators work like highways: fast lane on the left, slow lane on the right. You wouldn't park in the fast lane when you were driving, would you? So no matter how tired you are, just pay attention to where you are standing.

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4. Leave the scissors at home

Please trim your nails in a private place, out of sight and sound of others. However, health and safety always trump etiquette. If you have a real nail emergency and you just have to trim them in public, well, then go for it. But do not, under any circumstances, leave your nail clippings on the floor. train.

5. If your food requires cutlery, don't eat it on the subway.

Many transit systems around the world prohibit food and drink. New Yorkers are very lucky to be able to ride with a drink or snack. But with great privilege comes great responsibility. It’s important to keep your crumbs and smells within your personal space. A cup of coffee with a lid or a pastry in your hand and the crumbs land back in the bag? No problem! And hard-boiled eggs with the shells thrown onto the subway floor along the way? Please don’t do that!

6. Gluteal Grip

Standing on the subway is not the easiest thing. But when someone rests their butt on the handrail, and other people then hold on to this place, it is very, very ugly.

7. Sneezing

Many people sneeze directly into their hand and then immediately touch the handrail. Avoid this!

8. Pay for travel

Paying for your ride makes life on the subway so much easier. We've all been in a subway car with a broken air conditioner. It's hell! Paying for your ride helps make our ride more comfortable.

9. Avoid spoilers

Quite often we are a few centimeters away from other people in the train car. In such a situation, it is impossible to avoid conversations with strangers. Not all of the hundreds of people around you had the opportunity to see yesterday's episode of the cult series and may be very disappointed that you blurted out all the juicy details of the plot.

10. Remember: a doorway is not a battlefield.

Often, instead of letting passengers out of the train car first, people try their best to get in. As a society, we don't have to agree with everything, but we do have to accept the universal laws of physics: it is impossible to walk through solid objects, including other people.

11. If you are going to listen to music or watch a show, put on headphones.

We all have different tastes. You shouldn’t like the same music, games, or videos that someone else likes, and vice versa. Riding the subway is already sensory overload. When we hear terrible music coming from a phone or speaker, or someone is scrolling through TikTok, it’s too much.