Q. Do I really NEED a Metrogrip^® to ride the train/bus?
A. Of course not. We buy things everyday that we don't necessarily NEED. And there are other ways to minimize contact with handrails. I, myself, used to be a "door leaner". I don't have good enough balance to "surf" the trains. You could use a tissue or napkin, or stretch your sleeve over the pole, or...

Q. But wait! Can't I just wash my hands after I've touched the handrails?!?!
A. Ideally yes! That would be great! If everyone washed their hands immediately after touching the handrails (or after eating, using the bathroom, etc), Metrogrip would have never needed to be conceived of. But the hard fact is that most people after they've touched that handrail and gotten off the train, go to their destinations and forget about washing their hands. They shake hands, touch keyboards and time cards, get coffee, and touch their faces/eyes/noses/mouths with their dirty hands, all before ever going to the bathroom to wash them.

Q. So what? Germs are everywhere. There are dirtier things.
A. Sure there are dirtier things, but personally I'm not looking to touch those either! This is just one less thing to worry about. Besides, would you want to wipe a piece of bread across the subway handrail and then eat it? Pretty gross visual right? So why would you want your hand, which will throughout the day probably touch your mouth, nose, face, and eyes, wiping across it?

(By the way, did you know that in a segment done by Matt Lauer of the Today Show, they examined the germs found on public handrails and found appalling things including fecal matter? Hint: Check our links section.)

Q. But we need to get sick once in a while, don't we? It toughens our immune systems! Besides...I used hand sanitizer.
A. True. Our systems do need to be introduced to a germ first in order to fight it the next time around. But what about the common cold? Viruses are incurable. You're always going to get a cold and there's nothing you can do about it once you get it except let it run its course. Most alcohol-based hand rubs kill off bacteria, but have NO effect on viruses! And did you know that most bacteria is actually harmless? The ones that ARE harmful can be treated with antibiotics. Also, the close encounter rush hour commutes are ideal for the spreading of germs.  They're much more high-risk of airborne and hand-contact contagion as there's so many more people in such small spaces!

Q. But I thought stainless steel couldn't harbor germs?
A. Check out this study which shows that stainless steel DOES in fact harbor germs even after being washed. It's electro-polished steel that harbors very minimal germs.

Q. Ok, so the strap touches the handrail, then you put the strap in your pocket. Aren't you just taking the germs with you?
A. Good point. Well, the anti-slip sleeve WILL touch the handrail. If you fold it, technically the anti-slip sleeve should fold into itself without you ever having direct contact with the portion that touched the handrail. There must be SOME germs that will get into your pocket but it's a very small piece of neoprene rubber which rests on the pole. Metrogrip^® won't ELIMINATE germs but will REDUCE greatly the amount of germs that will end up on your hands and then into your eyes, nose, mouth, etc. Plus, Metrogrip^® is completely machine-washable. So technically, if you throw your jeans into the wash along with your Metrogrip^®, both will come out wonderfully clean and ready for their next use.