How to behave in the subway: life and time-tested tips

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Why do traffic jams and crowds of people appear in the metro? After all, it has been completely empty since the morning.:) How so? Here are some guidelines for behavior in the metro. Whether or not to follow them is up to you. But just watch what is happening. You will learn a lot of interesting things!

Have you ever wondered why traffic jams and crowds of people appear in the subway? After all, it has been completely empty since the morning.:) How so? What's happening? What is the reason?

Now it is already the ninth year that I have been using the Moscow metro (I am a visitor). And it just so happened that I involuntarily paid attention to a bunch of different little things in the movement and behavior of people in the subway. At some point, I began to collect my observations in the form of recommendation notes. I am sincerely convinced that if the majority of people follow them, the number of traffic jams on the subway will decrease and it will become more enjoyable to use it.

It is up to you to follow the recommendations or not. But the minimum I ask of you is just to watch what is happening. You will learn a lot of interesting things!

0. Entrance / exit from the metro

• Use clear passages / doors, don't just follow the crowd.
• Hold the door for the next person.
• If a strong draft tends to close the door, it is better to open it in the opposite direction (so that the girl / woman following you will not be carried away with the door).

1. Cash desks / ticket machines

• Prepare money in advance while you are in line.
• If you are issuing or renewing a travel card, it is also better to get supporting documents in advance.

2. Turnstiles

• Get your tickets in advance.
• Go to the free turnstiles, do not stand behind the crowd.

3. Escalator down

• Skip the "obstacle on the right" before entering the escalator.
• Get up one step at a time to avoid tripping or stepping on someone's heels.
• When entering the descent onto the escalator, it is better to walk along the left lane than to stand in the second lane to the right.

4. Metro station / crossing

• Do not go against the flow: for the most part, right-hand traffic at all metro stations and crossings.
• Do not get in the way of the flow of people.
• Don't overtake the crowd along the edge of the platform: one careless move and you're on the tracks.
• Hold your phone firmly, do not look into it when crossing crowds.
• In a crowd at a bend in the corridor, take the outside (it usually goes faster).
• Stay to the right with heavy bags or trolleys.
• Watch your feet in the crowd to avoid stepping on your feet.
• If you are not in a hurry, keep a medium / slow pace.
• Do not play "checkers", do not cut people abruptly, otherwise they will step on your own feet.

5. Carriage: entry / exit

• Standing on the platform, move away from the doors in advance.
• First, they leave the carriage, then enter the carriage (the first stage is for a person leaving the room).

• Hold the doors to the subway car for last minute visitors.
• Do not stop as soon as you enter the carriage. Go to an empty seat, do not bother others to enter the car.
• Do not walk in a crowd along the carriage to the other end of it unless absolutely necessary - a meager saving of time.
• Prepare to go out in advance.
• Get ready to be rocked against the train's movement at the start and at the stop. Hold onto handrails, friends, or stand firmly along the path of the train, not across.
• Remove bags / backpacks from your shoulders.
• If possible, keep your distance from other people, do not get into their comfort zone.

• Do not talk on the phone in a subway car: the connection will be bad, you will yell into the phone, and it may even be interrupted. Better to notify you that you will call back, or write an SMS.
• Do not stretch your legs far out while sitting unless you want them to get crushed or get dirty.
• There are empty seats in the carriage in the middle of the carriage, at the opposite door, in the places where the carriages dock.
• If possible, remove bags, luggage under the seats, put next to the seats near the platform by the doors.
• Do not get up immediately after exiting the carriage in the arch to see which side is your transition / exit to the city. The crowd is following you. Better step aside first.

6. Escalator up

• In the crowd to the escalator, take the left side: it goes the fastest.
• Occupy BOTH (!) Sides of the escalator when going up. Observe, a scanty number of people are walking upward. And due to the fact that everyone strives to stand in one right lane, an enormous traffic jam accumulates.
• A possible exception from the previous point is stations near important transport hubs, railway or bus stations. There is a high probability of a large number of people in a hurry. But in any case, it is worth acting according to the circumstances.

These recommendations, I think, are quite suitable for other cities, for example, St. Petersburg. Perhaps with a little adaptation.

If you have any additions to these recommendations or comments (for example, the rules do not always or do not work everywhere), then you are welcome to give feedback.

P. S. In addition to the above, to enhance the effect - a funny but extremely accurate classification of metro passengers (be careful, profanity!).