Mexico City's Metro moves around five million people a day, and with those numbers comes every flavour of commuter imaginable. A recent piece from Mexperience takes a wry look at the characters you're likely to share a carriage with — and it doubles as a handy primer for anyone planning to use the system.

First, the basics: the Metro remains one of the fastest, cheapest and easiest ways to cross the capital, and it carries everyone from polite, helpful strangers to people who will test your patience at rush hour, when pushing and shoving in packed carriages is the norm. Tolerance, as the article notes, tends to fall in direct proportion to how full the train is.

So who are these people? The "Window Slammer" boards a nearly empty train on a cold morning and shuts every window in the carriage before sniffling territorially. The "Door Blocker" plants themselves by the entrance for the entire journey — bulging backpack attached — and boards just as the buzzer sounds, leaving everyone behind to shove or miss the train. The "Seat Reliever" applies quiet moral pressure on seated passengers by standing pointedly in front of them, bag pressing into their knees, until they give up the seat.

Then there are the noisier specimens. The "Worrier" repeatedly asks anyone between them and the door "¿Va a bajar?" — are you getting off? — even while the train is still at the previous station. The "Loud Talker" narrates weekend exploits and office drama to a friend offering only the occasional "ah-ha." The "Earphone Hummer" sings along to music that's audible but not quite discernible, complete with foot tapping and the odd shouted "all right!" Finally, the "Traveling Texter" types with both thumbs, leans across the pole space, ignores people trying to squeeze past, and — critically — isn't holding on.

Beyond the humour, the piece carries a genuinely useful message for visitors: Mexico City's Metro is still often the smartest way to get around, and knowing the unwritten social rules makes a ride far smoother. Expect crowds at peak times, keep your backpack in check, move down the carriage when boarding, give up seats to those who need them more, and hold on — even if you're mid-message. A generous dose of patience goes a long way; on a system this busy, everyone's having the same day you are.

For travellers, this is light reading with real value. Riding the Metro is one of the most affordable and authentic ways to experience Mexico City, with stations decorated with murals and archaeological exhibits at some stops. The character guide is really a courtesy guide in disguise — a reminder that local etiquette matters more than any timetable. If you'd rather see it before you go, YouTube has plenty of first-person videos showing exactly what a typical ride looks like, from platform queues to carriage dynamics.

So next time you're in the capital, hop on a train, brace yourself for the door blockers and the hummers, and consider it part of the experience. It takes all kinds — and you're one of them.

Thanks to Mexperience for the original piece.