City Etiquette

Something that comes along with living in a city with a gazillion people in a very small space is learning day-to-day public etiquette, including appropriate public transportation behavior. In D.C. this was VERY noticeable and people were intense about Metro etiquette: Stand aside to allow people to exit the train before boarding. Once aboard the train, move to the center. Offer your seat to people who may need it, like the elderly, disabled or pregnant. If you don't want to walk up/down the escalators, stand on the right, single-file. If you do want to walk, walk on the left. If you didn't follow these guidelines, prepare to receive dirty looks from locals at best, and kicks in the shins at worst. (Okay, maybe nobody will actually kick you, but I can vouch for the fact that they will fantasize about it a little bit.) Basically, all these rules can be summed up into one: Be aware of your surroundings and try not to be in the way.

New York is a little more "anything goes." People are a little pushier and less rigid with the rules. But etiquette still applies. It amazes me sometimes how little people seem to think about how their actions may be impacting others.

Recently, a NYC artist by the name of Jason Shelowitz launched his own campaign to spread the word about proper subway etiquette. He designed the signs to match all-too-familiar official NYC subway service change signs, giving many the impression that these were official, MTA-sanctioned public service announcements (MTA actually ordered them all to be removed, as it is illegal to post signs in subway stations). He touched on some of the most irritating subway behaviors in a pretty humorous way. Basically, he said what all of us were thinking.

For reference and comparison, this is an actual NYC subway service change sign

Two signs from the etiquette campaign: Noise Pollution and Physical Contact. (Click to enlarge)

Hygiene and Nail Clipping (ewww, it is crazy that even needs to be mentioned)

Garbage and Eating

Entering Trains and Staircases

Don't they look a lot like the official subway signs? They caused quite a stir!

In addition to subway etiquette, I feel sidewalk etiquette needs more emphasis. I mentioned in my last post that there are days when walking in these crowds really tests my patience. There are just people EVERYWHERE. One of my biggest walking pet peeves is when people walk on a narrow sidewalk side-by-side in groups of three or more, so your only options are to A) step off the sidewalk into the street to go around them, B) stop and stand still and hope one of them moves around you, or C) lower your shoulder and barrel into them Tebow-style (depending on my mood, I generally choose options B or C here). I also take issue with groups of people (or even just one person, for that matter) who stop and stand in the middle of the sidewalk to talk, text, check their map, etc., thereby blocking the sidewalk for those of us who wish to continue walking. I understand you have things to do, but pull over and take care of your business.

Basically, I feel my daily walking experiences would be greatly improved if people would apply basic rules of the DRIVING world to the walking world. You would never just stop in the middle of the freeway to pull out your map for an in-depth analysis; you would pull over and get out of the way first. I understand New York is big and it can be hard to get your bearings, but either keep moving until you figure out where you need to be, or step to the side, get your life together, then merge back into traffic when you're ready. In a city of tourists (especially in Midtown where we live), this is a big problem a lot of the time.

Apparently I am not alone in this sentiment, either. Recently, a fellow New York pedestrian painted this on the sidewalk at 22nd Street and Fifth Avenue:

Tourist lane to the left, New Yorkers lane to the right!

(photo from here)

Aha! The walking equivalent of a "fast" and "slow" lane! Of course this is just making a statement and not actually enforceable, but I could get behind this concept. (Timely note: Although this sidewalk lane thing first appeared nearly a month ago, it was just revealed yesterday who was behind it! It was the work of comedy group Improv Everywhere. Read about it here.)

I'm sure this post is not doing any good in terms of refuting the surly, rude, pushy reputation New Yorkers hold. But really, we are generally nice and willing to help sight-seers find their way. We just wish that they would in turn be aware of how they're impacting the locals around them. And that extends to New Yorkers, too - we could all stand to be a little more considerate of those around us.

In the meantime, I'll just dodge the sidewalk-blockers and chuckle at these humorous statements about city etiquette!