The first step is always admitting there is a problem.
Now if you’ve ever ridden public transportation, you may be familiar with the term “manspreading.”
The term refers to when someone on public transit take up way too much space.
Take these handy examples of people complaining about said “manspreaders” on social media:
“Don’t be this guy. Never be this guy,” one tweeted.
“Pro level manspreading,” another photographed.
“On the left is a middle-aged man. On the right is an elderly woman. They are not together #manspreading,” Barbara tweeted.
Alison Park tweeted of the MTA transit system in NYC: “This kid is straight poppin a squat on the 7 train. It’s amazing how we just expect younger generations to behave differently w no intervention and less and less critical mass content #manspreading #stopthespread.”
It even happens on airplanes, too.
Why is it such a big deal?
Some people say it’s just being mindful of others around you.
Places like BART, Muni, and other public transportation systems around the U.S. and world — they’re all public places, and shall we all agree that taking up two seats with your legs spread apart isn’t ideal?
Here’s how Madrid, Spain is combating “manspreading.”
The Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid (EMT) added posted signs inside all of its transit vehicles.
The “No manspreading” sign will accompany “No Smoking” and “Please give up your seat to the elderly” signs.
Spanish transit officials say the point is to “remember the need to maintain civic behavior and to respect the space of everyone on board.”
That simply means — take up only one seat!
Do you want to see these signs on your public transit?
