We hear it practically every day: “Please allow passengers to exit the train before boarding.”
And yet–without fail–the train pulls into the station, the doors slide open, and we’re met with a wall of human shoulders trying to push their way in. It’s a full-contact sport that every New Yorker loathes.
Now, a new proposed rule from the MTA could finally put an end to the chaos…by fining impatient commuters who try to board before letting others off.
Find the exact details below:
What is the MTA’s new proposed rule?
The MTA’s latest proposal targets what they’re calling “exit blocking”–aka forcing your way onto the train while people are still trying to get off.
Under the new guidelines, any passenger who attempts to squeeze onto a car before exiting riders have cleared a path could be issued a summons.
It’s the “Get Out of the Way” tax New Yorkers have been dreaming about for decades.
How much is the fine?
According to the proposal, the penalty for exit blocking is set at $25 per offense. While that’s cheaper than a fare-evasion ticket, the MTA suggests that the goal isn’t revenue–it’s “flow.”
By penalizing the people who block the doors, the agency hopes to shave precious seconds off “dwell time” (how long a train sits at the platform), potentially leading to faster commutes across all five boroughs.
How will the MTA enforce this?
To manage the rollout, the MTA would debut the “Passenger Flow Compliance Task Force” (PFCT).
These plainclothes agents would be stationed at high-traffic hubs–think: Grand Central, Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr, and Times Square–specifically to monitor boarding etiquette.
If you’re caught pushing onto the train before the doors are clear, an agent will be there to hand you a $25 ticket.
The proposal mentions that repeat offenders could eventually face higher fines, though the logistics of tracking boarding behavior remain–in true MTA fashion–a bit mysterious.
What else should you know?
Before you start cheering (or panicking), there is one crucial detail to keep in mind: none of this is actually happening.
If you’re reading this on April 1st, you’ve officially been got. There is no task force, no $25 etiquette fine, and unfortunately, no immediate cure for the person standing right in the middle of the doorway at 8:30 am.