Subway Gripes
New York’s complex subway system was one of the first in America (only behind Boston, as far as I know), and dwarfs all other American systems in both usage and overall equipment. Considering that, it is incredibly efficient and well-run. But, it is not without its issues and problems. Below are some subway complaints that have been made before, but have really pissed me off over the last week or so.
- What the hell is with the public address system at the stations? The other day, there was some announcement that went on for maybe 45 seconds, and the only word I heard was “Brooklyn.” I am a native NYer and fluent in English. How can they expect a non-English speaking tourist to understand?
- I live in SoHo but work in Murray Hill, so I use the 6 Train most frequently. I notice that often on the 6 (and probably with other lines too), they randomly turn it into an express. So as we are at the stop at Union Square, everything seems fine, and then AS THE DOORS ARE CLOSING, you will hear an announcement from inside the train, barely audible and spoken with the conductor standing WAY too close to the mic, saying that the next stop will be Brooklyn Bridge. This info would have been significantly more helpful if I was informed while the doors were open. Regardless of timing, isn’t the whole point of a local train that it makes all of the stops?
- Why does the Spring Street stop smell so bad? I mean, lots of stops smell bad, but Spring Street just STINKS!
- The 2nd Ave line is the biggest tease. Every time I hear them talk about it, I think “Thank God!!!” Then, I realize that I will be at least 35 before it opens its doors, and I will probably be married, have kids, and be out of the city by then. So it will basically have no relevance in my life. I wish they could have kept it a secret until two days before it opened.
- When you get on a train, step to the middle of the car. Do not stand by the door! This is particularly true if it is a busy time, there is no room in the doorway, or you are heavy-set.
- This is more of a personal preference thing than anything else… I never ever ever ever lean against the walls in a subway station. I have seen people peeing on them, spitting on them, and sleeping against them.
What bothers you about the subway?
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MY favorite pet peeve about subways is the door-blocker. YOu know, the person who hovers right in front of a door so they can be the first person off. What makes them doubly frustrating is that they are almost always the slowest, most confused passenger on the car, so they’ll shuffle off, often stop moving as soon as their feet touch the platform and block other exiting passengers, and then shuffle off towards the exits, leaving a massive jumble of people behind them waiting to get out, too.
In 1969 when I was 10 they actually began to build the 2nd Avenue subway and made it a few blocks underground before the project ran out of money. The joke was then that it would be finished by the time I was 35. Well, now I am 47 commuting between Miami and New York and I have kids who are age 5 and 9. Maybe by the time they’re 35 ?
So this post was really funny. Cincinnati doesn’t have a subway system, so I only use it when visiting places. The worst I’ve noticed is just not being able to hear and there being nobody around to help if you have no idea what you’re doing.
I have to take the C, so I have a lot of complaints about the MTA. But as many gripes as I have about the system itself (inconsistent service, inaudible announcements, etc.), my biggest is those people who delay the trains by holding open the doors, for themselves or for others. Those people are just infuriating, b/c they don’t just delay that train, but they hold up the entire system. And it’s always one of two things: they/their friend is too slow to make the train unless it’s held up, or they need to ask where it’s going, because they can’t read a map or ask someone on the platform. I hate those people-they make the rest of us late.
@Eric: Yes, UI hate that too! I often wonder if their blocks are deliberate or oblivious. Either way, they suck!
@Blaine: I wouldn’t count on it! I feel like this may be NY’s answer to Boston’s Big Dig.
@Tabbie: Thanks Tabbie! Glad you liked the post. Yes, it seems there are less and less people to ask. And, the ones in the booth are not the happiest people on earth. They almost seem to try not to be helpful.
@Anonymous: THAT IS THE WORST! I once saw some punk-ass kid stick his foot between the doors to jam them open until the conductor finally opened it up. It was ridiculous. If he had not been significantly larger than me and with about 4 other dudes who were even bigger than him, I would have done something about it!