Historical version 13 of Tube Etiquette (view current version)
- Tube Etiquette Poll (from thetube.com - lets you vote for what you most dislike, and see what others have voted for)
- Underground Etiquette (a good-humoured approach from independent website Going Underground -- turn off javascript and popups before you visit, for the best experience...)
Why is tube etiquette important?
You may be suffering in a hell hole, sardine can of a tube carriage. But everyone else is too. Do you want to inflict any more discomfort on your fellow sufferers, than they are already enduring? What about them towards you?
On the tube
- If you are wearing a rucksack - take it off and put it on the floor. You will hit people with it when turning around otherwise and waste space which could be used by people wanting to breathe. Don't put the rucksack or any bag on a vacant seat; use the floor or your lap.
- Try to wash first. I know that you will end up sweaty after a day at work, or a journey on the underground in summer, but it's worth mmaintaining standards of personal hygiene.
- Keep your personal stereo personal. You like the music, but your fellow passengers may not, so don't pump up the volume.
- Falling asleep on the tube is acceptable (provided you don't allow your head to drop onto someone else's shoulder; obviously a partner's shoulder is acceptable). If another passenger is asleep, don't wake them, unless the tube is at the end of the line: most of the time, they know what they are doing; many people have waking up for their stop, down to a fine art.
- Regarding drinking alcohol on the tube, don't. You will be shunned as a wino, and may even get into trouble with LT staff and/or transport police.
- Don't leave any bag or bags unattended, especially since 7/7 and the state of heightened paranoia operating. This causes delays, and could get you arrested as a terrorist or a hoaxer. If you do see a suspect, unattended bag, pull the red alarm handle when the tube is in a station, and point the bag out to members of staff. See Tube/Alarm for an instance when I carried this out. --IvorW
- Offer to give up your seat to anyone who is obviously disabled, infirm or pregnant. Quite often the offer will be refused, but will lead to good feelings on both sides.
Rush hour
When travelling at peak times, the tubes will be crowded, and consideration for others becomes more important.
- "Excuse me", "Sorry" and "Thank you" go a long way to encouraging civilised behaviour, and in others around you.
- Occupy the aisles, don't just hog the space by the doors. It may be harder to get out, but nobody will thank you for squashing into an already overcrowded space.
- Get out of the way, if people need to get past.
On the platform
- Always allow people to get off before you board.
- Don't crowd the same part of the platform. Spreading out will ensure everyone gets on more efficiently.
- Don't block the entrances and exits.
- Stand behind the yellow line. The space in front of the line can be useful for getting along the platform quickly.
In general
- Don't stand in the middle of a thoroughfare, be it the top or bottom of an escalator, a staircase, or in front of the ticket barriers. Stand to one side.
- Stand to the right on escalators. This will allow others in a hurry to pass on the left.
- obey direction signs on stair cases and walkways, although you may not agree with the one way system that LT have set up.