The New York City subway is a dangerous game. Quite possibly the most dangerous game ever.

Maybe you're not a tourist; maybe you've been here for years, and you're exceedingly confident in your subway skills.

But everyone pulls a shady move every once in a while; adapting to your environment might even require as much sometimes.

But for the rest of the time that survival doesn't require stepping on people, here are 6 essential tips to help you master the concrete jungle.

1. Download the app

Standing in the Union Square Station looking at the map of all the subway lines makes you look like a total squid. Nobody wants to look like a squid, so download a New York City map app and be lost in secret.

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There are tons of map apps that can help you navigate the NYC subway. We're not Apple or some kind of big tech company (well, yet), so all the apps seem like they do the exact same thing to us.

Pick one. It's a win-win situation. Well, as long you don't have to pay for it.

2. Listen to tunes

Lots of people leave their phones on the subway. This seems preposterous to us. We don't really know how it happens, but you should never, ever lose your phone on the subway.

But if you’re listening to tunes on your phone, then it seems you wouldn’t accidentally leave it on the subway. Also, listening to tunes will really help you ignore people.

3. Practice decent escalator etiquette

We can all agree that escalators are the number one cause of obesity in America. That’s probably not true, but you get what we mean.

Anyway, New Yorkers will get very salty with you if you don’t know that you walk up the left side of the escalator and stand to the right.

There’s nothing worse than a hand-holding couple clogging up the escalator traffic. One time this dude lost his voice screaming at some guy for holding his girlfriend’s hand on the escalator in the Herald Square subway station.

That's real New York.

4. Carry your backpack in your hand

If you’re wearing a huge backpack on your back in a packed subway car, you have no respect for the rules of society.

Also, you look like a high school freshman who hasn’t quite grasped the concept of a locker yet (apologies to any actual high school freshmen who are better than this).

No matter how old you are, if you bring a backpack onto a crowded subway, just grab the top strap and hold it at your legs in front of you.

5. Stand away from the doors

Let all the people get off the train before you try to get on. This one should go without saying, but apparently not everyone knows this.

When you’re running late to work, playing chicken with some dude while you’re trying to get off your train is the last thing you want to do.

This is especially important in diabolically crowded stations like Penn Station and Grand Central.

6. Don’t clip your toenails or fingernails

I was visiting Fordham back in the day, and we were drinking at Mugz’s Sports Bar (2476 Arthur Ave). I met this St. John’s girl there (she was also visiting Fordham friends).

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Afterwards, on the drunken, late-night journey from the Bronx to Queens, this subway car we were on had only one other passenger. That other person happened to have his shoes off. He also happened to be clipping his toenails.

The craziest part was that the whole time he was staring yours truly down like we were invading his privacy or something.

If you want to survive the subway, just don't be this person.

Check out 10 Basic Ways to Life Hack the Hell Outta This Expensive City. 

[Feature Image Courtesy: NY Daily News]