Prior to these, the subways had "pew" seating that had a uniform contour along their lengths. The orange and yellow seating was dished in for each place following Japanese examples. Unfortunately, Americans are wider and spill over the edges.

The iconic orange and yellow seats found in older New York City subway cars (like the R46 and R62 models) were a deliberate design choice from the 1970s. According to the New York Transit Museum, this color scheme was meant to "temper" the gritty, industrial feel of the subway system with warm, "nature-inspired" tones that were popular during that era. Psychologically, designers hoped the vibrant colors would make the underground environment feel livelier and more welcoming during a time of significant urban turmoil. Additionally, the varied colors—ranging from bright yellow to deep orange—helped to visually define individual seating spaces in an era before molded "bucket" seats were common. In 2026, as the MTA phases out these vintage cars for the new R211 models, the orange seats are being replaced by a sleeker blue and gray palette, marking the end of a specific aesthetic chapter in NYC transit history.