Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photos: Tourist Takes Manspreading To Extreme New Levels
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 6, 2015
Modified Nov 6, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 6, 2015
Modified Nov 6, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
When you're traveling via subway with a number of parcels, you have to play something that we like to call Subway Tetris. This is where you try to fit your body and all of your crap into one seat and some surrounding space in the most efficient way, and in a way that will inconvenience the fewest number of people.
Tourists are awful at Subway Tetris. Below, witness a man we will refer to as Tourist Tom, today's bad subway etiquette mascot.

(Photo by Skip Suva)
Tourist Tom probably had a long day, which we will assume involved waking up late, checking out of a hotel in Midtown that he had a Groupon for, grabbing a hangover cure at McDonald's, and spending his last remaining hours searching for and eventually procuring the dopest New York City hat that Times Square had to offer. After that, Tourist Tom got on the wrong train to connect him to the train that brings people back to New Jersey, and promptly passed out like he was back at home on his futon.
These photos were taken last night, around 8 p.m., on an uptown B train in Manhattan. Our intrepid tipster, Skip, even got up close to capture the details of everything that Tourist Tom decided to put on his head/face that day.

(Photo by Skip Suva)
Everyone, don't be a Tourist Tom, perfect your Subway Tetris game.
Tagged
manspreading
subway etiquette
subway tetris
tourist tom
original
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
An excellent and diverse month of concerts are in store for October.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Oct 2, 2026 at 11:15 a.m. ET
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
There is now an (un)official verification process for those who can claim the title of city resident.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
October is spooky season at the movies in New York City
By
Emma Stefansky
At the Museum at FIT, an argument for dolls as the ultimate fashion influencers
By
Quinn Moreland
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .