Andrea had occasion to ponder that question while on the Red Line this morning.
How do we get through to the challenged commuters who won’t move to let people on or off the T? They actually think they’re in the right.
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Depending ...
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 1:43pm
Depending upon the driver I'll wait until the train stops to stand up. Some stopping methods on the T are too herky-jerky and I'd rather not almost tip over onto my fellow riders.
Nope
By fefu
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 2:44pm
I disagree with this. If I'm standing in front of someone holding onto a pole for dear life, and the person sitting down in front of me gets up to get off the train, I tell them "I'll move for you once the train stops." Said politely, no one has gotten pissed at me.
They get to sit down the whole time and expect me to risk falling over (I have balance issues) just so they can be the first one to the door? Nope. They have plenty of time to get to the door once the train stops. If being first to the door was so important, they could have gotten up and moved towards the door at the previous stop.
Don't get up before train stops
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 3:33pm
As a daily Red Line rider, I completely agree with this. Maybe it makes more sense on the Green Line to move to the door while the train's in motion, but it's extremely annoying when you're standing and holding the railing to jockey around the impatient seated person getting up before the train stops. These people are often fixed on getting to their destination immediately and have no consideration for the people standing in front of them (who I'm sure would gladly trade places with them).
Yup
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 3:46pm
In addition to being polite, they feel acknowledged. That's another reason they don't get pissed at you. I do something similar, but more of a look in the eyes and nod, letting them know I know their intentions to get off the train.
Exactly
By fefu
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 5:11pm
I can tell they're anxious about getting off the train, and I want them to know that I see them and plan to get the hell out of the way as soon as we come to a stop. It assuages their anxiety, and I remain vertical and not splayed out on the disgusting floor. A win win.
And then there's the NEW trend...
By Karl
Sat, 01/20/2018 - 8:50am
of waiting until the doors are closing to get off the train. If they are so retahded that they can't pay attention to where the train is, they should have to go up an extra stop or so and go back. They brought that themselves/
I take it you haven't been elsewhere
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 11:22am
Try NYC at rush hour.
Not only in Boston
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 12:42pm
https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-subways-thoughts-...
1. reasonably loud and clear
By tape
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 10:48am
1. reasonably loud and clear "excuse me"
2. if no response, I walk through you with my shoulder
">https://youtu.be
By THIS IS BOSTON!
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 10:50am
https://youtu.be/QkWS9PiXekE?t=2m44s
Only in Boston...
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 11:18am
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.
That's nice dear
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 12:24pm
So very nice.
You will find that, in the real world, these self-absorbed poorly-raised twerps will ignore you. If you are female, they will just say SHUT UP FAT BITCH.
Your move.
You don't get out of Boston much, do you?
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 12:35pm
NYC has plenty of these, as does Chicago, DC, SFO ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHX08CLyJTs
Only in Boston? Have you met the Internet?
By Jeff F
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 1:16pm
What you're saying is just another version of the same sort of weird Boston antipride you're slamming in the first place.
Not true
By Russ
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 2:16pm
The "manspreading" controversy has taken place mostly in New York through very similar social media posts. In fact, before the Gothamist's demise they regularly had stuff like this. The charge that this is a Boston phenomenon is wide of the mark.
I've only taken a few NY trains...
By Pete Nice
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 3:14pm
Seems the backpack/getting out of the way issue is a major Green Line problem.
But NY has 1000x as many wierdos around and the NY wierdos seem more angry for some reason.
same problem with elevators
By mg
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 11:44am
Really tired of people trying to push into the elevator when I'm trying to get out. The worst was when a motorized wheelchair tried to run me over, then gave me a nasty look for shouting "Stop" at them. Really people, use common sense - there will be more room for you if you let us out first.
Push through, if they catch
By Tray
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 12:15pm
Push through, if they catch an attitude I say well move!
Some people seem to be ...
By Lee
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 12:17pm
... new to public transit. I don’t let them ruin my day. I announce loudly, “COMING THROUGH” and if they don’t move I just push gently through them.
If I’m standing near the door myself, I step off the train to the side of the door and hop back on when it’s clear again.
Being a good example to the clueless sometimes helps change their behavior and as a bonus you can pat yourself on the back for doing your virtuous good deed for the day.
I say "excuse me" and if they
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 12:30pm
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.
First I say "Excuse me" nicely, then....
By The Frying Pan ...
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 1:41pm
I use my New York City voice. It's not singing. It's just speaking, but it is loud enough to be heard over the orchestra in an opera house. Works every time. :)
The key is the phone
By anon
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 2:10pm
If that phone falls out of the hand, they'll figure it out far more quickly.
Relax
By thr
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 2:37pm
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.
While we're on about rudeness
By fefu
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 3:01pm
Can we also complain about people who act like they are literally going to die if they don't walk right beside their friends on the sidewalk? Those who refuse to make room for others? Heaven forbid they fall back to single file for one lousy second to share the sidewalk. What is wrong with these people?
I've stopped moving for them, myself. It usually ends up in a shoulder bump, in which they act completely shocked that another person in the world exists.
It's really strange, and I've been to many big cities. The only people in other cities who seem to do this are tourists, but in Boston, it seems to be the vast majority of the population who think the sidewalk belongs to them and them only. Not in an aggressive way, just in a very clueless, narcissistic way.
Not only that
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 3:49pm
But they' look you in the eye when doing it, too. They're not effing around on their phones or only paying attention to the people they're walking with. They know they're not going to move - or they do at the very last second.
But they seem surprised!
By fefu
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 5:16pm
Whenever I get in this game of chicken, these people are always shocked that we make contact. It seems like they see you and even look you in the eye, but it's like they're looking THROUGH you. Like you're invisible. It's incredibly strange.
Red Rover City Style
By Chokmah
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 4:40pm
I was knocked down by a group of students walking four across who refused to make room for me on Newbury. As I approached, "They see me, they'll make room, this is really close...shit..." On my ass.
little tip
By anon
Sat, 01/20/2018 - 7:21am
Look ahead straight through them, like they're not even there. Like you, I stopped getting out of the way for people. This helps avoid having to shoulder them maybe 50% of the time.
To the people saying "but they do this in NYC too":
By rb
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 4:25pm
Your experience is probably based on watching tourists on the subway in tourist locations, i.e. Manhattan south of 86th St. Most of the population and much of the subway network exist outside lower Manhattan. And, yes, we count people who come from anywhere that doesn't have its own subway as tourists.
New Yorkers will not tolerate any of the "MBTA-acceptable" behaviors discussed in this thread where they work, live, and go to school. I had a 2-hour-roundtrip, bus-subway-subway commute to high school (Queens to Manhattan). Even quiet, 14-year-old me wouldn't put up with people blocking the doors.
They may not just be dumbasses.
By JPMom
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 6:33pm
They could also be pickpocketers. At least that's how they roll in Rome. Do the dirty deed, then jump off at the next stop. I've witnessed it more than once.
Didn't have this problem in Rome, but ...
By Michael Kerpan
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 8:56pm
... got nailed by a pickpocket in Naples (and I even sensed my standing neighbor was a pickpocket -- I protected my wallet/passport -- but he got my phone). (Subway was too crowded -- and I needed to use one hand to hang on to something -- so as to not fall over).
Say Coming Through loud and clear.
By beebalm
Fri, 01/19/2018 - 9:18pm
Say Coming Through lou and clear. If that gets no response yell Excuse YOU! surprised noone has mentioned this phrase.
Politely ask them to let you
By anon
Sat, 01/20/2018 - 5:09am
Politely ask them to let you pass. While yes some are rude most are just oblivious.
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