Showerthought: Why does everyone crowd the subway doors before letting people off? It's a basic rule that makes the whole line move faster.

3 comments

3 Comments

The 7 train in Queens is the worst for this... I saw a guy last week try to push past a woman with a stroller to get on. He ended up dropping his phone on the tracks. It's like people forget how to act the second they get to the platform. That basic rule just flies out of their heads. Makes the whole trip more stressful for everyone.

nancynguyen29d ago

Is it really that big of a deal though? People are in a hurry and sometimes they mess up. The guy lost his phone, that's punishment enough. We all get a little pushy when we're tired or running late. Maybe the rule is good but acting like everyone who breaks it is a monster seems over the top. Don't you cut a corner sometimes when you're stressed?

hollyl451mo ago

Actually, the basic rule is to stand clear and let people off first, but it's not really about making the line move faster. It's about not being rude and blocking the way. That story from @victor_jones99 about the guy on the 7 train is a perfect example of why the rule exists. People get so focused on getting a seat that they stop seeing other passengers as people. It just creates a total mess and slows everything down anyway.