The Red Line was horrible today because of single-tracking and mobs of tourists on it, which I can deal with, but I can’t deal with men invading my space on the train.

I stood for a good part of the ride, and when the train finally got to Dupont a seat became available for me. I was going to take the free seat, but instead of moving over this man (who was a tourist with his son) maintains his seat in the aisle. Annoying. I chose to be active and told him “Excuse me.” He moves aside so I can take the window seat.

I thought it would’ve been an event-free ride home, but then this man aggressively spreads his legs out and knocks his foot into mine hard. I tap his foot back. He moves temporarily, but then once again aggressively opens his legs and hits my foot. I had to fight fire with fire, so I aggressively knocked into his foot hard. He gives me this “What the hell?” look.

I pointed at his foot and said “You keep knocking into me. Keep your foot THERE!” while pointing at that imaginary border between the two seats. He crossed his arms and pouted in his seat like a little kid, while his son looked at me in shock. The man, for the rest of his ride on the train, compacted himself in his seat and sulked. Now he knows what we women feel like when these men aggressively take up space on the trains, to our discomfort. He and his son got off at Metro Center, and the rest of my train ride went fine.

Ladies, if a man ever tries to do that aggressive leg spreading and knocking into you nonsense, don’t just sit there and take it. Call them out on their behavior. If the situation’s too uncomfortable for you to deal with, feel free to get up and move. Even if you’re at a window seat, you’re not “stuck.” Tell that creep “Excuse me” and you can move on away from that situation. You have options, you have choices. You don’t have to put up with that.

Location: Red Line towards Glenmont

Submitted by D

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