New York City Metblogs » subway

When does this train come?

till — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:00:04 +0000

One of my biggest issues with the subways are that you never really know when they run. When taking a bus, there is always a schedule at the stop which gives you an estimate as of when a bus might come, but I did not see something like that on the subway – maybe yet.

Of course I could check out the tripplaner website beforehand, but let’s reserve my beef with the tripplanner for another blog post.

So while I am really glad that the subway system runs all around the clock, I have also found myself numerous times standing on a platform in the middle of the night wondering when my dear train comes to bring me home. Just add to the uncertainty of time, the uncertainty about the overall service (”It’s the weekend, does the 2, 3 stop here?”), rats and all kind of weird people to make this experience a lasting one.

Last weekend I went out with some friends in Williamsburg and to get their I took a L-Train from Manhattan to Bedford Avenue and I noticed that the L is the first one of all the lines I’ve used that actually displays the time of when the next train runs right on the platform. At least in Brooklyn.

And while I was waiting for the the train at Spring St, they kept announcing an ETA for the next train every three minutes. Not that you need it so often, but it’s still a nice service.

So this is still pretty rare for NYC and the system is probably a pilot. All the people I talked to about it so far were joking about the MTA raising prices soon to compensate the spending on the panels. ;) Even though I oppose raising the prices (Of course!), I feel like this system is long needed.

Does anyone share my enthusiasm and know more?

Thank you leather pants lady

dhaval mehta — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:49:06 +0000

Yesterday while riding the quiet E train, a woman who was handicapped started smoking a cigarette on the train. No one got up no one complained. The doors opened at 71st Continental Avenue, some of the smoke exited the car. A few minutes later, she started smoking another cigarette. Again, no one complained, a lot of heads turned, but that was it.

She was in violation of the MTA NYC Transit code - Disorderly Conduct would have been the charge she could suffer.

This evening on the Queens bound F train, a woman had placed a giant shopping bag on the seat next to hers. I wanted to sit on this seat – even though there were other empty spots. So I squeezed on, having a portion of my behind take up a tiny bit space that remained empty on the chair. The woman proceeded to remove the shopping bag and got up.

“Thank you,” I said to her. “You’re welcome,” she responded with some bitterness in her voice.

Nice leather pants by the way, lady.

How Much Would You Have to Be Paid to Lick a Subway Pole?

Fern Cohen — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:47:05 +0000

My answer: you couldn’t pay me enough! But then again, I won’t touch a thing after I get off the subway until I wash my hands with anti-bacterial soap!

But check out this crazy kid who licked a subway pole for a mere $20!
here

Crying on the train

dhaval mehta — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:47:28 +0000

What can a person do when they’re feeling helpless and sad? Cry! But what if these emotions are so strong that you can’t help but do it on the train? Well you just go for it, I say.

Yesterday on the F train as I was listening to my iPod, I just turned to my left and saw this woman balling. She wasn’t hiding it, she was letting the tears flow freely and was also listening to something. I wondered if it was something touching that she had heard or if she’d just be handed some bad news.

I didn’t know what to do, she didn’t really look directly at me when she saw me crying, so I just continued listening to my music. But I always feel like talking to people on the subway who are crying. Just have them talk about it. You know?

If you’re reading this and were the woman who was in tears, I feel for you and it’s going to be OK.

If you were in the same situation, what would you do? Would you try to console them or would you just go about your daily business? Because on the one-hand you’re in a space that’s very public and open. Yet crying is a very personal and intimate release of emotions. When the two combine, it’s quite a complex matter, no?

E train and Q 39 Buses

dhaval mehta — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:56:18 +0000

The E train conductors aren’t always paying attention. The other day when a crowded evening train going towards Queens emptied out on 5th avenue/53rd street. An old lady with a cane stood there patiently until everyone was off. As she slowly moved towards the train, the conductor closed the doors and the train moved away.

Very sad.

And the Q39 is horrible. It’s a bus that’s around in Long Island City. Too many buses come at once and when they do, if you’re 2 feet away from the stop even at a red light, they don’t open the doors.