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PERSONAL SPACE
Madrid is putting up signs to stop 'el manspreading' on its buses
The company said that this would be similar to what already exists in other transport systems worldwide.
THE CITY OF Madrid has introduced a new sign to its buses this week.
On Tuesday, the Spanish city revealed that it would be adding signs to all its buses in order to deter ”men who open their legs excessively and occupying the seats next to theirs”.
Here’s what they look like:
It said that the sign would remind people to “maintain civic behavior and to respect the space of everyone on board the bus”.
“This new information icon is similar to what already exists in other transport systems worldwide to indicate the prohibition of maintaining a body posture that bothers other people,” Madrid transport company EMT said.
EMT says it’s worked with the Gender and Diversity Policy Area to incorporate the proposal of ‘Mujeres en Lucha y Madres Estresadas’ (or women in difficulty and stressed mothers), which has just launched a campaign to ask for signs to help stop ‘manspreading’.
The new information panel for Madrid’s buses includes rules such as giving up your seat to those who need it; and request your stop well in advance.
It also has icons to represent rules and guidelines we don’t have on our buses here – like don’t wear backpacks when you’re on the bus; and moderate the volume of your voice when on the phone.
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