The Strange People You'll Only Meet On the Subway

The subway is one of the most common means of communication for people, especially in cities. Not only is it easy and accessible, it is also affordable and fast. It is also where you can get to encounter and meet colorful and interesting characters.

Because of its easy access, and its relatively isolated means of transport (traveling underground), the most unusual characters choose the subway as a means of travel. This means that on any given day you can meet some of the most intriguing and interesting people in a subway car. Here are just a few examples.

Getting Some Shut-Eye

Some rides on the subway take so long that passengers can’t help but fall asleep. This passenger is completely knocked out.

Unusual Blindfolds

Passengers at the subway will use and do anything to get comfortable. And they will use anything lying around to get some sleep.

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Travel with a Friend

It’s always better to travel the subway with a friend so you don’t have to worry about falling asleep on top of a stranger.

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Didn’t Quite Make it

While most passengers on the subway fall asleep on the chairs in the train cars, others don’t quite make it that far.

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On Wheels

Some passengers bring along everything with them on their commute through the subway. This guy decided to bring along one of the wheels of his car.

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Spreading Out

When the subway is not that crowded, people can spread out and get comfortable. This passenger has taken that to heart.

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It’s All About Balance

When falling asleep in public places, it takes a lot of balance not to fall over and still keep account of all your belongings.

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Halfway There


Some sleeping passengers on the subway fight a losing battle against gravity. This passenger is just a sudden stop away from falling on the floor.


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Yoga Time


While some get some sleep, other passengers use their time on the subway to get a few mins of yoga and exercise. She even brought her own yoga mat.


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Getting Comfortable


Then there are those passengers that just can’t find the right spot to get comfortable on the subway, as seen with this awkward sleeper.


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Care Bears Commute

It can be cold on the subway, but wearing an entire care bear costume can certainly keep you warm on your trip.

Nose Lift


This sleeping passenger doesn’t seem to mind his nose sliding along the pole of a subway car. Hopefully, he doesn’t have a cold.


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Leaning Over


Here we have another case of a sleeping subway passenger losing his battle against gravity. Luckily he had no one seated beside him.


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Boxed In


This commuter found an ingenious way of staying upright during his travel and used a cardboard box as a back support.


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Ninja Commute


All sorts of characters take advantage of the transit system. Including what looks to be a pair of ninja’s taking the subway.


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Detachable Derrieres


This pair of commuters has some interesting accessories. Either they lost a bet or they did not want their pants to touch the chairs on the subway.


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Snuggle Time


This pair of commuters got so comfortable that they even took time to snuggle during their nap time at the subway.


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Flexing your Muscles


Not for nothing, but this subway passenger took the time to show off his acrobatic skills. What’s hilarious is his facial expression to show as if he’s not doing anything special.


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Travel Serenade


This sweet little passenger received her very own serenade from one of her fellow commuters.


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Gothic Companions


Goths have pets, even if it is an ominous black bird. This one decided to bring her companion along with her on the subway.


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Getting your Message Out


Some people are subtle and get their message out through their carry-on bags.


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Face Off


Despite the number of costumed characters we see in the subway, it is rare to encounter a face-off this epic. Batman versus Darth Vader!


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Peek-a-Boo


This woman with an evil stare is quietly trying to hide the furry critter she hid inside her coat.


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Terrifying Costume


While most costumed commuters have funny and cheerful costumes, there are some that appear in horrifyingly scary outfits.


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On a Leash


This subway passenger decided to bring his small pet with him to the subway and kept him on a leash.


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Carry on Companion


While pets are not allowed in most subways, there are those that allow them as long as they are carried.


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Celebrity Sightings


Even famous British actor Ian McKellen takes the subway.


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Here’s to you!


A couple of subway passengers say cheers to each other with their very own small subway drink.


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Where the Wild Things Travel


This group is dressed as the colorful characters from the book/movie “Where the Wild Things Are”


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Quite a Mouthful  


This passenger didn’t want to fall over in the subway and found a way to keep a hold of things.


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Go Go Power Rangers!


Even the mighty morphing Power Rangers use the subway.


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Hairy Situation


This passenger with an unusual haircut takes the subway. It’s no accident that he doesn’t have anyone seated near him.


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Read and Learn


This commuter reads some very interesting subway literature. Hopefully, the woman beside him didn’t notice.


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Extremes


The subway is open to all kinds of people, even those at the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of culture and fashion.


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Protect your Head


This commuter chose to wear an interesting item for head protection. While it may not offer any protection from falling objects, it might help with rain.


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Safari Commute


Although most costumed commuters choose the subway for its anonymity, this passenger may have a hard time getting in the subway gate.


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Live Long and Prosper


Even Vulcans take the subway, as is shown by this commuter in a Spock mask.


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Surrounded by Cosplay


This passenger seems to be enjoying the fact of being surrounded by these cosplayers dressed as plague doctors.


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Bag of Canine


We have another commuter that chose to take along his canine friend to him in the subway.


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Cheese Plate Preparation


Most people take the subway so they can get things done while in transit. Such as preparing a plate of cheese..?


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Ingenious Arrangement


This resourceful passenger made the most of the subway and got some sleep. He’s so comfy he might even miss his stop.


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Harping on Holidays


Some passengers like to bring their own music. But this subway commuter had something special with him: a harp.


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Rhino in a Train


This subway commuter decided to ride the subway with his enormous Rhino costume on.


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Check out Those Hooters


These passengers took along a flock of owls with them in their subway travels.


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Soldier Boy


This subway passenger was dressed a little green toy soldier.


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Obama Doppelganger


This subway passenger is not in costume, but he looks a lot like a former American president.


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Awkward Position


One of the worst things about the subway is getting into awkward positions near people (and their exposed parts)


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It Comes with Legs


This resourceful commuter decided to put holes in her bag to allow her dog to walk and stand when she was tired of carrying him.


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Table for One


This subway commuter decided to have a meal during his trip, and he even brought his own table.


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Anti Gravity


Most people prefer to stand in the subway. This commuter preferred to stand on the ceiling of the train car.


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Peeking Pussycat


This is an inappropriate shot of a passenger sneaking in her cat while riding the subway. There are a lot of dirty jokes that can be made from this photo.


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Seeing Double


Not only did this pair dress in the same outfit, but they seemed to have fallen asleep in the same position.


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A Walking Optical Illusion


While there are some colorfully costumed characters in the subway, there are also those that wear intricate optical illusions as outfits.


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Sphere of Safety


This woman decided that creating a sphere around her in the subway using these toys would be protection enough in the subway.


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Innovation in Transit


This resourceful commuter used a plunger to keep his head upright when he falls asleep on the subway.


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Rats in your Hoodie


This subway passenger decided to bring along his pet rats in his hoodie during his commute.


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Mind the Gap


While most costumes are manageable, there are some that have can be difficult to handle, especially in the tight spaces of a subway train.


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Lost in Time


Other costumes are simple and can just be from another era of time.


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Fallen Feast


This is what happens when you lose consciousness (and balance) while carrying food in the subway.


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Napoleon Bonaparte


Other commuters prefer to dress as historical figures from the past.


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Doctor Who Companion


There are also passengers that like to cosplay characters from TV shows, such as Doctor Who.


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Tribal Design


This commuter decided to wear an African tribal costume on his daily trips in the subway.


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Make your Own Hand Holds


This ingenious woman decided to make her own hand hold when she travels through the subway.


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Contortion Artist


This subway woman must be a contortion artist with the way she is crossing her legs.


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Tomato Overload


This passenger is dressed up as a giant tomato. You have to wonder what his friends are dressed up as. Lettuce? Bacon?


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Chicken on a Leash?


Pets should always be kept on a leash in public, but a chicken? Aside from the fact that it can’t fly away, why would you bring a chicken to the subway?


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Mario Cart Cosplay


This group of friends dressed up as the popular game Mario Cart. Hopefully they won’t be racing around the subway cars.


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Dragon Ball Commuter


This commuter is dressed up as Son Goku from the animation series Dragon Ball Z


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So That’s Where Wally Went


People will have a hard time finding Wally if he’s riding the subway.


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Big Foot Sighting


This commuter is in full costume as a big foot or a yeti. Either way, he doesn’t seem to mind taking the subway and being spotted.


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Hit Man Cosplay


This subway passenger is dressed up as Hitman from the game of the same name. Either that or it’s just a bald guy in a suit with a red tie.


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Angel Among Us


This subway commuter is dressed up as an angel. Although her facial expression says she’s not that excited to be photographed.


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Rock Star Attitude


This elderly costumed player is dressed up as a rock star while riding the subway.


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Table for Four at Train Car


These commuters decided to enjoy their dinner at the train with their very own table (complete with table cloth).


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Master of Disguise


This young commuter seems to be hiding from something or someone if he’s risking sunglasses and a mustache in the subway.


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Marvelous Reunion


These costumed characters are dressed up as their favorite Marvel Superheroes


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Limited Parking Space


This commuter decided to save up on gas and use the subway. He also decided to bring his car along with him on the commute.


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If Only Saying it Made it True


If only writing down the brand made it authentic. But apparently that’s what this Gucci owner thought she could pull off.


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Swamp Thing


This costumed commuter is either dressed as the swamp thing, or got his costume shredded on his way home.


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Admiring the View


This passenger decided to take her dog with her on the subway. And she brought along a special bag with a porthole for her four legged friend.


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Interesting Toys


This child has some very interesting toys. We have a feeling that those really belong to his mother or even his father.


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Who You Gonna Call?


This commuter is dressed as a Ghostbuster. Hopefully he’s meeting with the team to banish some ghosts from the subway.


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Peeking Through


Here we have another commuter who managed to sneak in her pet in her jacket to ride the subway.


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Exercise or Entoxication


This commuter is either very drunk or very serious about getting his daily reps in. Those subway hand rails are really useful for pull ups.


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Commitment to the Costume


This costumed commuter either fell down and can’t get up because of her costume, or she’s really committing to her character.


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Costumed Commuter


We don’t know what this commuter is dressed as but we’re hoping he’s going to a party where others will also be dressed the same way.


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Anatomically Correct


This commuter decided to wear his/costume through the subway. Luckily there aren’t a lot of people to witness his unique anatomy-based costume.


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Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman


This commuter is dressed up as the superhero Spiderman. He even decided to travel the subway the ay Spidey would.


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Stop Hitting Yourself


This commuted took a picture of a fellow passenger hitting himself on the head. We don’t know why either.


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Late Commute


These commuters are settled on getting some sleep in a very empty subway car.


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Gotta Catch Them All!


This subway commuter is hanging on to the Pokémon Doll he managed to snag.


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Touching Up


This subway passenger is touching up his face paint before getting off the train.


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Shoulder Pal


This commuter brought his pet parrot with him while traveling through the subway.


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Creepy Costume


While the dress and the wig(?) makes sense, hanging dismembered doll heads is just a little bit too creepy.


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Peculiar Costumes


While this does look strange, this commuter is dressed as a villain in the book/movie Miss Peregrine’s Home for the Peculiar Children.


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This is Sparta


This commuter decided to wear the costume with the least amount of effort.


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Bunny Hopping


This subway character is patiently waiting for his stop dressed as a bunny in a swimsuit. At least he also has the matching purse.


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Bedtime Story


This subway passenger seems to have fallen asleep while trying to read a book.


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Trending Topic


These subway passengers all seem to leaning the same way when it comes to sleep…literally.


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Undergarments


While it is not wrong to wear your preferred underwear, it is advisable to wear them under other clothes, especially when you’re traveling through the subway.


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The More You Know

  • Fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.
  • Bubble wrap was originally intended to be used as 3D wallpaper.
  • In 1966 and 1967, soldiers testing Agent Orange in Canada were told the chemical was completely safe and sprayed it on each other to cool off.
  • Peanuts grow underground.

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.