T etiquette question: How do you get door-blocking dumbasses to move?

I stoop to passive-aggressive maneuvers.

Loud, annoyed "Excuse me" then shoulder on through. Follow up with death glare for duration of trip.

Extremely frustrating especially for ladies who don't want to rub their chest all over some rando's arm, but what is to be done? Honestly I suspect this is half the reason these creeps do it -- because they get off on the unwanted contact and on making the victim inflict it on herself.

And yet, we got places to be. It is a conundrum.

I politely say "Excuse me" a couple of times. Usually on the second time, they move a millimeter. If they don't do anything at all, I employ my Purse of Doom and just walk right on as if they're not even there. That usually gets a pissed-off look out of the non-movers, but at that point I feel if they couldn't bother to move after my calm and polite "Excuse me," then they deserve my huge purse in their face/back/neck/stomach. C'est la vie on the T!

give them one "excuse me" and if they ignore you, make like a defensive lineman and bull rush the door. elbows and shoulders can be highly persuasive.

In 11+ years of daily commutes on the Red and Green lines I noticed this was pretty common: people who insisted on crowding the doorway even when they wouldn't be getting off for several stops. I do have some sympathy for people who fear getting stuck deep inside the train, whether as an inconvenience or out of some inner phobia. On the other hand, I've also been on subways in other places where the social convention is that you gravitate toward the exit as the train approaches your stop, and that other riders should accommodate that.

I've mentioned this problem to people with the MBTA, and I don't think it had much effect, aside from being one of the issues addressed in a courtesy campaign. I ended up developing my own courtesy rule when trying to board when people are bunched up at a doorway--a problem also aggravated by design of the newer generation of LRV's. Riders seldom follow instructions from drivers to go to the rear. What I do when I'm trying to get on is say, "May I step to the rear, please?" This actually works pretty well--as long as you're not getting off for a while.

The problem here is much more than an issue of courtesy or civility. People who crowd the doors slow down the flow of passengers. That certainly was the case when I hit the jackpot while I was on the Orange Line and one of the two doors where I was trying to get off didn't open. Not only was a lugging a travel bag, but the other half of the doorway was blocked by a passenger who was oblivious to the possibility that someone heading for South Station might want to get off at Downtown Crossing.

Start picking your nose really deeply then tap them on the should with your booger-covered finger (make sure it's smeared all over their coat) and smile and say, "Excuse me. Thank you!!" and smile.

https://youtu.be/QkWS9PiXekE?t=2m44s

Only in Boston do we take photos of behavior we don't like, get righteously angry about it on the internet, stew over it in our mind, plan out passive aggressive reactions that make our dis-empowered selves feel powerful and validated, and then ultimately....actually do nothing about it.

Here's a radical idea: just say something.

I know....not the Boston way. Stop assuming everyone has bad intentions and is purposely doing something wrong and trying to take advantage of everyone. Sometimes, a lot of the times, people are just clueless and distracted and are happy to correct their behavior with a kind, yet assertive word. You'd be surprised how effective it is.

Push through, if they catch an attitude I say well move!

I say "excuse me" and if they don't move I push paste them and they unfortunately usually get hit with my bags b/c I always have 1 or 2 with me.

If that phone falls out of the hand, they'll figure it out far more quickly.

I truly believe in train etiquette and social awareness in general but some of the people that write these comments need to relax. I've taken the green and red lines every day for over 10 years. Being polite and treating people with respect will take you a long way and honestly will probably reduce your stress.

Although, if there is one type of person I will never understand it is the person who gets on the train/bus before everyone is off, I usually just shake my head because that's just the most simple rule to follow. I give a little more lenience to people who stand near the door. I rarely come across someone who doesn't move when you nicely say "excuse me" or just look at them with the indication you're getting off. If they don't hear/listen then I say it a little louder or just move through them. I get the people that don't want to move farther in the train because they're getting off at the next stop or they're claustrophobic but I think it's a nice rule to follow that if you're going to do this you make room for people to move into the middle of the train. If you're blocking people from moving in entirely then you should move. I honestly have never minded backpackers. If people want to keep their stuff on them then so be it. Like someone said before, I've seen more people trip on them then anything.

At the end of the day, everyone should pay just a little more attention to where they are on the train and where other people are. If you can make space, then help make space, but getting angry and violent towards others on the train is just scummy and stupid. Just shake your head at these people and keep going knowing you're a respectful and polite human who does the right thing.

Politely ask them to let you pass. While yes some are rude most are just oblivious.