Subway Etiquette and Safety: From Straphangers to Pole Huggers
Yesterday I gave you the basics on how to navigate the Big Apple on the New York City subway. Today, I cover the dos and don’ts of riding the subway to make certain that your ride is safe and pleasant.
Etiquette Manners are always important. Though you may not see everybody follow these guidelines, they should! 
- Don’t take up more than one seat. Only lay down on the bench if you’re dead.
- Don’t ever stand in front of the doors. When standing on the platform waiting to board the train, stand to the side of the doors. When on the train, move to the middle of the car to stand.
- Don’t be a pole hugger. The pole is meant for more than one person to use. You hold the pole, not wrap yourself around the pole. One hand on the pole is sufficient.
Don’t bring large luggage or strollers on the train. If you have large items or excessive luggage, take a taxi. - Do give the guy in the “map seat” a break. Get a pocket subway map to plan your trip.
- Do hold your backpack in front of you so you don’t hit people with it.
- Don’t be obnoxious on your cell phone. Save your conversation for when you’re out of the station.
- Don’t listen to your iPod on maximum volume. We don’t all share the same musical taste.
- Don’t read large newspapers, like the New York Times on the train, its too big. The New York Post, and the NY Daily News are of appropriate size to read on the subway.
- Do buy your own New York Post so you don’t have to read over the shoulder of another passenger.
- Don’t bring your pet on the subway. The other day I saw a 50 lb. dog with its own seat on a packed subway car. Everybody was scowling before the clueless owner moved the 50 lb. dog onto her lap.
- Do give your seat to somebody in need, like the elderly or pregnant. It’s just the right thing to do.
- Don’t hold the doors open. It delays everybody and everybody hates that.
Safety For some, riding the the New York City subway is a frightening thought. The subway can be a perfectly safe experience if you follow common sense rules.
Don’t ride in a subway car alone. Besides, it’s just a little spooky. - Do ride in a conductor’s car when there aren’t many people on the train. You know these cars from the others because the conductors poke their head out the window at stops.
- Do take your time and don’t run. According to the new posters in the stations, most people who are injured in subway-related accidents are victims of a fall when hurrying to get to a train.
- Do keep your valuables close to you at all times. Men: wallets in front pocket. Women: a zippered purse.
- Do be aware of your surroundings when you are riding the subway at night, especially when exiting the station.
- Do ride inside the subway cars. This means don’t ride on cars, between cars, or ride holding onto the outside of the doors.
- Don’t lean on the doors. They’ve been known to unexpectedly open when the train was in motion.
- Do follow the instructions of the conductor in an emergency.
- Don’t attempt to hold the doors open. You really shouldn’t put that much trust into the 100+ year-old subway.
Photo credit: sleeping/drunk/dead guy on subway Varmazis via Flickr; “Map Seat” Jakob via Flickr; dog on subway Micahel Brandon via Flickr; empty subway car Chung via Flickr.
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13 Comments
These are great tips and would apply on any major subway system in the world. I know a few Tokyoites who could use a reminder on train etiquette!
I agree with all of them except one – the luggage entry. Coming from experience, the subway costs 50 times less than it does taking a taxicab.
who the hell are you? why don’t you mind your own business? “give the map seat person a break”? wtf? that’s what the map is for! “don’t bring a backpack on the train”? wtf? you pay for my cab all the time!!! i hate people who try to tell others what to do! why don’t YOU take a cab all the time…then we’d be quit of your whining!!!!
PHIL– Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I am always on the train with my luggage– one rolling suitcase + one tote bag (both of which I carry onto the airplane). I am really referring to those people who bring multiple, huge suitcases that could double for a body bags. I also try to miss rush-hour because of the killer looks I get from other passengers.
JAMES– Thanks for your comments about the “map seat” I’ll try to remember what you said next time somebody is three inches away from my face looking at the map. And I’ll be happy to let you know “WTF”– I never said that you shouldn’t bring a backpack onboard. I said “no” to big luggage and “carry your backpack in front” so you don’t unknowingly hit others with it.
It’s alright, James is probably the type that gets into screaming fights on the Subway all of the time.
I think these were very good tips, thank you.
I like the pole hugger tip. I get so annoyed when I see that.
I would add escalator etiquette…stand on the right and WALK on the left.
James — suck it up and pay. What do you do, haul around elephants in boxes all the time so all that cab fare adds up? The days you have lots of crap, take a cab! Not hard!!
Besides, you even get to watch TV in them nowadays. Lol.
I hug the pole.
As long as there’s not many people around.
I’m lonely.
As a conductor on the subways…your Etiquette rocks!!! especially about holding the doors, people assume that the train wont move if they are holding the doors…in case of a mechanical failure or if the train is on a hill and the train operator decides to release the brakes, its very possible for a train to move with the doors open!
Long time New York residents tend to know how to ride the subway and read the New York Times. It’s all in how you fold it. Generally a good list. I have a particular peeve with pole huggers.
In regards to the newspaper size…to those of you who have been around riding the subway for quite sometime…it is not the size of the newspaper, but the way you fold it…folding the new york times and reading it on a train is a dead art…where did the real business men go?
i will totally hug the pole as long as there aren’t too many people on the train! if there are a lot of people on the train i will hold the pole with one hand. if the train is pretty empty and i’m tired i will take a seat. i’ve never seen a pole hugger on a full train.