How to stay standing in the metro (without touching those nasty bars)
I’m no germaphobe, but touching those bars on the metro is nothing short of gross (especially in the winter when everyone seems to be sick). If you’re standing, stand hands-free. Here’s some tips to safely keep your balance.
- Position your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Distribute your weight onto the balls of your feet so your heels can pivot freely.
- Focus on a spot on the wall (an old ballerina trick).
- Keep your arms low, or on your hips.
- Allow your feet to shuffle a little bit, as the movement requires.
Don’t be like these guys (in the photo above). Bars spread colds. Photo by moyogo.
February 12, 2008 at 8:30 am
Please don’t actually do this. If the train comes to a sudden stop you could injure yourself.
If you’re worried about germs, try wearing gloves, hooking the bar with your elbow, holding an unusual part of the bar or just bringing some hand sanitizer with you wherever you go.
February 24, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I ride standing and hands-free regularly and still haven’t hurt myself.
March 13, 2008 at 12:24 pm
J’ai développé un truc qui s’applique tout aussi bien aux multiples poignées de portes publiques que l’on doit ouvrir: Il s’agit de tenir la barre plus haut ou plus bas que la hauteur moyenne qui se situe entre quatre et cinq pieds. c’est là que 99% des gens mettent leurs mains. Mais il ne faut pas virer fou non plus, on tousse et éternue aussi et on respire le même air fétide, alors mieux vaut se bâtir un solide système immunitaire…En s’exposant aux virus et bactéries des autres mais modérément!
Yves Lachance
April 10, 2008 at 2:58 pm
[...] When my friend first mentioned subway surfing to me, I shook my head and said, “yeah sure. I used to do that when I was a kid.” What I was thinking about was the light hearted game shown in the video above where you try to stay standing without holding on to anything. A lot like what Jesara describes in “How to stay standing in the metro.“ [...]