The only blog written from the NYC Subway system

I’m not even sure this headline is a real thought or phrase…let’s just go with it.

As suspected, the subway is an absolute shit show this morning. Waaaaay to many people trying to board at each station. There’s also way to many that clearly do not know “the rules.” The jump in front of people, stand in OUR waiting spots, etc. Clearly they are people the cab it or drive to work every day. Now that the east side is closed, they are SOL so they join us on the subway.

How exactly do you shut down the FDR anyway? Do people down there just tock up on supplies for days ahead of time?

Right now, my Blackberry is basically in the ear of the guy in front of me. His head is about 8 inches from my face. My man ain’t no little guy either. So we are cozy to say the least.

It makes typing out complete sentences a little tricky. For the most part, I’ve only got use of one hand. I’d be “throwin’ bows” in this guy’s face if I brought up both arms.

At least this party only happens once a year!

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

SUBWAYblogger is the latest talk of the “blog” town!  Here’s the review in Gotham Gazette:

“Subway Blogger is a prolific blog about the daily grind of the subway rider. The site is far from the only transportation blog in the city (We have suggested several other blogs in the past), but this blog claims that it is unique because the posts are actually written and posted while the author is actually riding the subway, via Blackberry. So be careful the next time you’re making fun of a straphanger furiously typing on one of those tiny keyboards — they may be making fun of you.”

After my little morning trip to CT, I was quickly reminded that the UN General Assembly is in session this week. How was I reminded? Only by the fact that the entire east side of Manhattan is shut down for the next 3 days.

Foreign leaders from around the world will be in the city this weekend. In short, it is the year’s largest, planned traffic mess.

Pretty much every street and avenue is closed in the eastern 40′s up thru the mid 50′s. You can get around a little by foot in those areas but don’t count on it.

I attempted to come up to surface level after my morning trip to catch a cab back to the office. (It is on the company dime, so why not). However, the entire length of every street block’s sidewalk is blocked by metal police barricades. So you can walk on the sidewalks, you just can’t stop your car or get in a cab. I walked from GCT to 8th Ave just to get a cab.

The Secret Service has the entire perimeter of the Time Warner Center secured. There are multiple Washington DC limos parked outside ready to roll.

This is a long way of saying: Get ready New York. There are going to be a ton of extra riders in the system this week since driving on the east side is more or less impossible.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I used to be a fairly regular Metro North rider before living in The City. So I am by no means a Metro North rookie. However, it has been a while since I’ve been aboard. A long while actually.

First, I have to say, the Mertro North trains gross me out more than the subway trains. Yeah, the seats have padding, but you can see how dirty and grimy they are. I am on one of the older trains with the red and blue seats. I don’t think these trains are ever cleaned. There is no possible way that these seats have ever seen even a damp rag let alone a good scrubbing.

I’ve seen the new trains on the Harlem line. They look nice. They are pretty much brand spankin new. The seats are big (and sanitary) looking. There’s also a few double-decker trains it looks like.

On the plus side, I do enjoy facing forward. Only on the B, D, and a couple other subway lines can you catch a train with a few forward facing seats. It helps with the motion sickness.

I am shocked how many people are on this train. It is almost as crowded as an inbound train. I jus assumed that everyone came INTO the city in the morning. Apparently though, there are people that live in the city but work in places like Stamford. That sounds completely backwards to me. Who would pay the extra money to live in the city when you work in CT? Why not just live in CT too. Then catch the train to the city when you feel the need for some “culture.”

I is nice and quiet too. Probably because most of the people are sleeping. The train runs pretty silently, and not a sole is talking. I have to admit that it is kinda nice. I guess if you put padded seats like this on the subway, everyone would fall alseep. Nobody would make it to work on time.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Today, SUBWAYblogger will travel by surface rail [insert shock and aww]. That’s right. In addition to today’s regular subway posting, we are hitting the rails of Metro North.

A business trip requires that we head north to visit clients in area know as “Connecticut.” No friends, that is not a neighborhood in Queens. It is in fact a whole other state…not the missing 6th boro.

Consequently, SUBWAYblogger is headed into subway routes not normally charted in this blog. This is because we must travel to Grand Central Station to catch our train. I know, many of you were unaware that there were “other trains” at Grand Central. In fact, it is more than just a transfer point to catch the 6 train. If you go up the mystery escalator, you will find even more trains, however, these are of the “above ground” nature.

I am now on the S train headed cross town for Grand Central Terminal. I will post again when the Metro North train hits daylight.

Wish me luck.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

You wouldn’t think that rain could cause so many problems on the subway, but it does. Apparently, the 2 and 3 trains are taking it in the rear today especially well.

This morning, there were downtown issues on the express tracks. This evening, it seems like they were never resolved, or just got worse.

The part that really sucks is that the rain brings more people into the subway. If there’s a quick storm, then there really isn’t a noticable difference. But if it rains for more than half a day, the subway gets slammed with people.

Thousands of people decide to go for the subway instead of walking. Unfortunately that means a lot more single stop riders. They jump on for only one stop and then get off. It causes insane holdups in the doorways. Above ground, it becomes impossible to get a cab, so those people come down here to. Then there’s the buses…fugetabowdit.

There’s nothing like being pressed up against a soaking wet stranger. Mmmm

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Ok so the second part of the headline doesn’t mean anything. It popped into my head, and I thought it was dramatic.
So anyway…yeah…you come here often? Ok this is getting awkward.

There have been a bunch of stalled trains the last couple days it seems. Every time we get a little rain, stuff start breaking all over the system. The 2 and 3 uptowns were running local around 72nd Street this morning because of a stalled train. How does something that doesn’t have an engine stall? The trains are all electric. Maybe they should say “powerless” instead.

Anyway, I have never been stuck on a stalled train (as I look for wood to knock on in this subway car). That must SUCK. Like I said, they must “stall” because there’s an electrical problem or something. So that leads me to believe that the air conditioning would be lost too. Double suck. I would shoot myself if I had to stand on a stalled, packed, air conditionless train for 30+ minutes while they fixed (assuming it stalls between stations). That is my personal hell.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Midget Michael Jackson.