"Don't look at your phone at the escalator exit"... Mr. Moon proposes 2026 public transportation etiquette

As technology and culture change rapidly, behaviors that were taken for granted in the past can become causes of new conflicts. Mr. Moon from the YouTube channel BDNS recently pointed out various situations occurring when using public transportation and proposed "2026-style public transportation etiquette" needed in a changing era.

"Put your smartphone away for a moment"... Rules for using subways and escalators

Mr. Moon first delivered precautions regarding smartphone use when using the subway. While enjoying content while moving is a freedom, he advised refraining from using smartphones during the short moments of boarding and exiting, such as when subway doors open or when taking an elevator. The intention is to ensure safety by looking straight ahead during boarding and exiting so as not to obstruct the flow of traffic.

He especially emphasized the dangers of using escalators. He explained that the act of walking while looking at a smartphone at the point where an escalator arrives can cause collisions with people following behind. Mr. Moon added, "Looking at your phone at the escalator arrival point is like a car's brake lights not working," and noted that after stepping off, one should move quickly for at least about ten steps to secure the flow of traffic.

He also presented specific situations regarding seat manners in the subway. He warned against the behavior of people around a seat moving hurriedly to occupy a vacant spot when a passenger scheduled to get off at a specific station leaves their seat. He expressed the opinion that unless the seating situation is very loose, it is considerate to wait until that passenger gets off.

"Increase bus efficiency and put kickboards back in place"... Shared mobility manners

For bus use, he presented "efficiency" and "order" as keywords. He explained that if the front of a bus is full during commuting hours but the middle space is empty, having passengers move toward the inside to make space is the way to save everyone's time. Additionally, he pointed out that the act of "cutting in line" by boarding a newly arrived bus without waiting in line at the stop causes unfairness to other passengers who follow the rules.

Points were also made regarding shared mobility such as electric kickboards and shared bicycles. He mentioned that an electric kickboard parked in the middle of a sidewalk not only causes great inconvenience to pedestrians but can also completely block pedestrian passage if it is difficult to move due to the payment system. He also emphasized that for shared bicycles, there is a need for the habit of parking them tightly next to utility poles or street trees so as not to obstruct passage.

"Express buses: calls within 5 minutes, trains: food consumption tolerated"... Differences in long-distance travel

The distinction of etiquette based on the environmental differences between express buses and trains, which are long-distance means of transport, also drew attention. Mr. Moon suggested that in the case of express buses, call manners should differ depending on the lighting conditions. He explained that for a daytime bus during daylight hours, it is proper etiquette to finish urgent business briefly within 5 minutes, and for a late-night bus operating with lights turned off, it is a social rule to replace any urgent business with a text or KakaoTalk message.

When adjusting the backrest of a bus seat, he requested consideration for the space of the person behind by reclining it at a minimum angle. He added that if the space for the passenger in the rear seat is narrow, a process of asking for understanding in advance is necessary.

Regarding food consumption, he cited the environmental differences between trains and buses. He analyzed that trains have had snack bars and tables since the past, and because it is easy to use the restroom and there is less shaking, the atmosphere is relatively tolerant of food consumption. On the other hand, noting that express buses often do not have tables and it is difficult for passengers to move when smells spread, he suggested it is desirable to limit consumption to light snacks like food from a rest area.

Source: original video (YouTube)