MANHATTAN — What time is it?
According to the MTA, time to turn off the boombox.
New signs featuring a gravity-defying subway dancer have appeared in cars, as part of an ad campaign launched earlier this month aimed at reminding riders of common straphanger etiquette.
In a new poster, spotted on an uptown A train Tuesday morning, the MTA takes on ubiquitous "showtime" dancers with the illustration of a stick figure performing the seemingly impossible move of gripping the pole with his arm while holding his body horizontally.
"Poles Are For Your Safety. Not Your Latest Routine," the ad reads. "Hold the pole, not our attention. A subway car is no place for showtime."
The new illustrated placards feature reminders like “It’s a subway car, not a dining car” and “Dude. Stop the spread, please,” in reference to men spreading their legs too wide while sitting down.
In the transit authority's newest sign, the other figures on the train appear to be unaffected by the dance moves — much like real-life New Yorkers.
Many took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend the dancers.
“Lame! I love showtime!” wrote @noahjnelson.
"These guys used to be on the E train all the time. "SHOWTIME, EVERYBODY, SHOWTIIIIIIIIIIME," added @GabeBNYC.
Others said the acrobatics were a common sight on the subway.
"Take subway w/ me in middle of the day sometime. I see it often," tweeted Uptown-based shop Brazen Lingerie. "Maybe not the place, but they're providing entertainment."
