Madrid‘s public transportation manspreaders are getting a stern reminder to keep their limbs to themselves with new signage addressing the annoying habit.
According to the Guardian, the Spanish city’s Municipal Transport Company (EMT) has announced new signage addressing the spread—which they’ve aptly called “el menspreading,” defined as “an English term that describes the posture of men who open their legs too wide and take up neighboring seats.”
The new signs feature a selfish, red body with its arms and legs wide open, clearly blocking an available seat, with a red X indicating that the move is a huge transit no-no.
La @EMTmadrid añade una nueva señal a bordo del bus para evitar el #manspreading: “Respeta el espacio de los demás”. https://t.co/Xg5LFWb4TA pic.twitter.com/KSyeU45gAi
— Ayuntamiento Madrid (@MADRID) June 6, 2017
EMT’s initiative was born out of a partnership between Madrid’s city council equality department and a women’s group called the Microrrelatos Feministas collective, which launched an online petition for the signs to be installed.
Transportation systems in New York City, Philadelphia, and Seattle have similar signage to address the spread, all which echo the passive annoyance most fellow commuters hold when met with a manspreader during their commute.
“Dude, stop the spread please. It’s a space issue,” New York City’s signs read.
“Dude It’s Rude… Two Seats—really?” Philly asks.
Meanwhile, Seattle likens the posture to that of a sprawled octopus.
.@ColleenWasTaken We agree, one body, one seat. No #manspreading pic.twitter.com/8QQfrfOA8T
— Sound Transit – 🚆 🚈 🚍 (@SoundTransit) January 13, 2015
H/T the Guardian
