Yes, I took a semester-long class for (among other things) understanding road signs in highschool, and my parents took several hours of their own time to coach me as well. Learning to drive and understand the road system is not a trivial task.
Yet for the metro, if you don't know what you're doing and you don't know anyone who knows what they are doing, you're essentially dumped in the deep end during all-swim. The maps and the keys for understanding the maps are all printed in high-traffic areas (of course, where they will be seen by the most people), and the other passengers are often quite annoyed by "noobs" who stand in those high traffic areas and gawk at the maps.
Yet for the metro, if you don't know what you're doing and you don't know anyone who knows what they are doing, you're essentially dumped in the deep end during all-swim. The maps and the keys for understanding the maps are all printed in high-traffic areas (of course, where they will be seen by the most people), and the other passengers are often quite annoyed by "noobs" who stand in those high traffic areas and gawk at the maps.