Minding Manners Underground: Slogans to Stop Subway Rudeness” “Elevate Etiquette: Slogans for a More Polite Subway Experience” “Subway Civility Starts Here: Slogans to Combat Rudeness

The MTA recently launched a campaign called “Courtesy Counts” to address the lack of manners on public transit. The campaign includes reminders such as “Watch Your Backpack” and “Seats are for Butts, Not Your Bags.” Despite its good intentions, the campaign falls short compared to the agency’s previous impactful slogan “If You See Something, Say Something.” There is a need for memorable slogans to combat daily transit indignities, and suggest some no-nonsense New York attitude phrases. Examples include “Hug Your Loved Ones, Not Our Poles” and “Stand Clear of the Open Doors, Damnit.” The article’s author, Hester, is the director of editorial projects and partnerships at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.