No more "manspreading" on Madrid metro

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Madrid tackles 'el manspreading' on public transport with new signs 

Transport authorities in Spanish capital want to encourage men to respect boundaries on bus seats and keep legs closed 

Madrid’s transport authorities are taking a stand against seated male selfishness with a campaign to tackle the social scourge that is manspreading.

Fed up with men whose thighs fail to respect the boundaries of bus seats, the Spanish capital’s Municipal Transport Company (EMT) is to put up signs discouraging the practice.

The EMT – which explains that “el manspreading” is “an English term that describes the posture of men who open their legs too wide and take up neighbouring seats” – said the new signs are intended to remind people of the need to respect the space of all bus passengers.

Would-be manspreaders will hopefully be deterred by small pictures of a thoughtless, faceless red man invading the seat to his right.

“This new information sign is similar to those that already exist in other transport systems around the world to stop people adopting a posture that makes others uncomfortable,” the company said.

The EMT came up with the initiative in partnership with Madrid city council’s equality department and the Microrrelatos Feministas collective, a women’s group that has launched an online petition for such signs to be installed.

Their petition, which has more than 11,500 signatures, says: “All public transport has stickers explaining that room needs to be made for pregnant women, people with buggies, older people and those with disabilities, but there’s something that affects all of us practically every time we use public transport: manspreading.”

Similar initiatives have been launched around the world. Three years ago, the New York subway system began a crackdown on the problem with a campaign called “Dude, stop the spread please. It’s a space issue”.

Seattle’s Sound Transit agency, meanwhile has used a sprawling self-centred purple octopus to plead for public transport courtesy.



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Comments

Anonymous said…
Related to the text, the first time I heard about manspreading was some months ago from a group of politicians un Tarrassa. They claimed that It was an invasion of other people space(usually women) and It should be regarded as a male microaggression.
I didn't know that bad manners were exclusive male behaviours. I am not sure if they mean that women don't behave in such way or that a similar female conduct would be labelled with another term as handbagspreading or similar.
Wednesday, 14 June, 2017
Graham said…
Hi Daniel,

At least, I reckon it's Daniel who wrote the comment. It sounds like him though I may be mistaken.

You are beginning to display the characteristics of a grumpy, old man with such a comment. Maybe, my moaning is rubbing off on you. LOL

I agree. The world has gone mad if "manspreading" is considered in any way aggressive.

I told you about the run-in with the woman on the crowded underground, who leant on the pole so that nobody could hold onto it. I dared to protest and I ended up being viewed as the bad one.


Related to the text, the first time I heard about manspreading was some months ago from a group of politicians in Tarrassa. They claimed that it was an invasion of other people's space(usually women's) and it should be regarded as male microaggression.

I didn't know that bad manners were exclusive to male behaviour. I am not sure if they mean that women don't behave in such a way or that a similar female conduct would be labelled with another term as handbagspreading or something similar.

Monday, 19 June, 2017
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