Discover Subway Etiquette's Long, Difficult History

Jen Carlson

Published Feb 27, 2015

Modified Feb 27, 2015

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Jen Carlson

Published Feb 27, 2015

Modified Feb 27, 2015

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Just like the Peach Pit, the New York Transit Museum is going After Dark. Amongst their upcoming evening programs in March is an event that will focus on subway etiquette.

On March 10th, in the shadows of the Museum’s 1936 decommissioned subway station, you'll be able to explore the history of bad etiquette with NYC Transit Assistant VP for Marketing Connie Depalma, NYC Transit Director of Graphics Rick Stewart, and other representative experts.

The MTA just launched their latest campaign, with signs targeting manspreaders, seat hogs, and Showtimers... but that doesn't mean it's effecting change. Why just the other day we saw Tom Hanks taking up enough space for two Tom Hankses.

And nothing has changed in the past 65 years. The panelists will present the old Subway Sun etiquette advertisements from the 1940s, which included finger-pointing at seat hogs, litterbugs, and door blockers. These issues will clearly plague us until the End of Days.