May

14

Downtown Podiatry Ads are Gross

May 14, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | 5 Comments

Can we all agree that the quality of subway advertisments has gone downhill the past few months?

SUBWAYblogger especially hates the Downtown Podiatry ads. You know these?

They are the ads with photos of feet including hammertoes, blisters, bunions, etc. And the graphics look like they were done in 1983.

Yeah. GROSS.

The last thing I want to see on my way to work is gross bare feet with before and after shots.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Posted in Live Blogging On the Subway | 5 Comments »



May

13

My New Favorite Spot to Ride

May 13, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | 11 Comments

So I have a new favorite spot to ride the train, but it is a tough spot to get.

I like to stand right on the very end of the train by the door that leads from one train car to another. I find that you can get lean on the door a little and the door to the little conductor cab. You know?

It’s a nice area because rarely (if ever) is there any passenger traffic to contend with. You can lean there in relative peace and quite without having to constantly shuffle while people get in and out.

Of course, I rarely bother getting a seat because when I do I get the hairy eyeball from the old ladies. So I always stand unless the train is very empty. So good standing space is hard to come by.

Unfortunately, this spot is often taken, and it can be hard to reach on a crowded train. Also, this is not a spot to stand if you only have a few stops to go. You don’t want to be that a-hole that has to climb over everyone to get off the train. So it is best for longer rides.

You should also be a little careful if you choose to try it. Sharp turns and jolts in the track are magnified on the ends. The ends of the trains have the most left to right movement for the riders, so you could get slammed into the wall you are leaning on if you aren’t careful.

What’s your favorite ride spot on the train?

Posted in Rider Strategy | 11 Comments »

May

12

Fantastic Subway Timing Today

May 12, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | 2 Comments

I must say, I had excellent subway timing today. It has been a really, really long time since I got to the platform and walked right onto the train both times today.

There was no waiting whatsoever for me today. I got to work early, and got home ahead of schedule.

I’m always a little afraid when that happens because it usually means that the rest of the week there will be no trains at all.

Posted in Rider Strategy, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

May

9

Bed Bugs Attack in the Subway

May 9, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | 7 Comments

Bed Bugs on Subway

As if we don’t have enough things to dodge in the subway, like homeless bums. Now we have to watch out for bed bugs.

“…reported seeing the bugs on wooden benches at the Union Square and Fordham Road stations in Manhattan and The Bronx, respectively.”

I generally avoid sitting on those gross wooden benches on the platform, but now I definitely will. Bedbugs are being found on the benches.

In case you don’t know, all it takes is one of these little buggers riding home with you for your entire home to become infested. You might as well say good bye to every bit of fabric and furniture you own!

And they bite like crazy while you sleep.

I’d imagine that the bed bugs will easily spread via homeless people sleeping on he benches. They move around from place to place and spread the bugs. The fact that the benches are wood probably doesnt help the situation either.

Eeeww…now I’m all itchy.

Posted in This just in | 7 Comments »

May

9

Hudson Rail Yards Deal is Dead

May 9, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | Leave a Comment

The $1 billion deal for the Hudson Rail Yards development project is all of a sudden DEAD.

The deal fell through at some point late Thursday.  Apparently…

“…an “impasse” over zoning and the timing of payments, the rail yards’ owner said Thursday.” [Newsday]

So a big failing grade for the rail yard, as Gothamist puts it.  See their pictures of the development plans.

In case you’ve missed it, the Hudson Rail Yards were supposed to be developed into massive apartment buildings, a park, and more.  Bloomberg was also a big supporter.

Well, there goes that money too.  Lovely.

Posted in Transit Failures | Comment NOW »

May

8

MTA Transit Store Affiliate Program

May 8, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | Leave a Comment

The MTA is recruiting websites for their new (?) affiliate marketing system.

If you are a webmaster, they would looooove to pay you 5% for all the sales traffic you send to transitmuseumstore.com.  That’s right, cash money for selling transit schwag.

Transit Store

Well, we weren’t especially impressed with the program, so you won’t be seeing ads for subway gear here any time soon. A 5% share for low end items and transactions is a bit weak.

Think about the transaction volume.  Let’s say someone gets a nifty subway map necktie for the low low price of $38.00.  That’s $1.90 for you.  Yeah…not that thrilling.  And how huge is the market for subway stuff?

It was nice to be be asked though.  Apparently they have to pay off the actual transit museum because the stuff is under licence.  So that’s the reason for the low commission rate.

Maybe if they had kicked me some snazzy subway cuff links or something, I would have joined.  Maybe.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comment NOW »

May

8

Ikea Threw Up on the Train

May 8, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | 5 Comments

Thank goodness this is not a NYC subway car. However, I’d imagine it can’t be that far behind.

Ikea Train

This little gem is from the Toronto subway system, and I discovered it on this Canuck blog. In a recent advertising move, Ikea launched a campaign up there in Cana-dee-a.

They took over an entire train and decorated each car in “Ikea style” decor. You can see the pictures, if you can stomach it, by clicking here.

How long until that crap shows up on the S train?

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

May

7

Use the East River to Power the Subway

May 7, 2008 | by The SUBWAYblogger | Leave a Comment

Well here’s an idea that finally makes sense.

This year, the surging current of the East River will help provide power to a nearby subway station. The lights that lace the ornate interior of Manhattan’s Grand Central Station have largely been replaced by bulbs that burn brightly but save energy. There are plans to make the rooftop of a Queens bus depot bloom like a garden. [USA TODAY]

Do some more of that and maybe the MTA can get their finances under control.  Save a little dough.

Maybe they could figure our a way to turn the oppressive summer subway heat into electricity.

Posted in This just in | Comment NOW »

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