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Madrid has become the latest city to tackle the phenomenon of manspreading, launching a campaign asking male public transport users to keep their legs to themselves when riding the subway.
Not familiar with the scourge of manspreading? In 2015, the word was officially added to the Oxford Dictionaries and is defined as: "The practice whereby a man, especially one traveling on public transport, adopts a sitting position with his legs wide part, in such way as to encroach on an adjacent seat or seats."
Following New York's lead, transit officials in Madrid have also launched an offensive, posting signs on public transport this week asking gentlemen to be more respectful of others and refrain from taking up more than one seat.
The new signage is part of a wider etiquette campaign, which also reminds passengers to refrain from putting their feet on the seats and eating or drinking. Transport users are also requested to use headphones when listening to portable devices and give up their seats to the elderly, passengers with babies and the disabled.
What started as a shaming campaign on social media in New York a few years ago, was adopted as an official public service reminder on the city's public transit system in 2014, with signage that read, "Dude...stop the spread please. It's a space issue."
Paris also launched a set of metro-riding etiquette guidelines called the 12 commandments, which reminded riders to be courteous, carry heavy bags for elderly riders, and be mindful of the volume of their music and phone conversations.
(CGTN)
