So “manspreading” has apparently become a thing in New York City - but what the heck is it and why are public transport users so irked by it?
According to the New York Times, manspreading refers to “the lay-it-all-out sitting style that more than a few men see as their inalienable underground right.”
The problem is affecting all forms of public transportation in New York when men spread their legs in a wide stance while riding on the subway and buses, often taking up two or three seats for themselves.
While the issue might not seem like a big deal, New York transportation authorities point out that with an estimated 6.1 million customers per day, seating space on subways and buses can be hard to come by.
It’s so much of a problem that the city’s Metropolitan Transit Authority has launched a campaign to urge male riders to close their legs for the sake of courtesy.
Public service announcements will combat manspreading – as well as the use of oversized backpacks – with the message, “Courtesy Counts: Manners Make a Better Ride.”
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