Month: November 2006

Guy in wheelchair calls 911 to get out of subway

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elevator.jpgMichael Harris, and his motorized wheelchair, got off the 5 train in Brooklyn last week only to find that the elevator to street level was out of service. First of all, big freakin’ surprise. Anyway, he went to the station agent to told him to get back on a train and go back three stops. From there, he should have been able to find another station with a working elevator.

Harris got so pissed that he instead called 911. Firefighters showed up to carry him and his wheelchair to street level. First, they strapped him to the stretcher, and carried him up. He got a little dramatic with his description saying that they strapped him to gurney that “they use to carry out dead bodies.” A bit much we think.

They then went down to lug up his 300 pound wheelchair.

Mixed feelings about this story. Did this guy take it a little too far?

After all, it is no secret that the subway system is not at all handicap accessible. Only 23 stops in Manhattan have ramps and elevators. The whole system only has about 50 of the 400+ stops that have been converted.

Here’s a stat for you: There were over 1,000 service outages per year reporter for the 23 elevators in Manhattan from 2002 to 2005. Holy crap! Did they ever work?

Apparently the problem is that the homeless and drunks use them as toilets. And they tend to get vandalized a lot.

Here’s a solution. Install MetroCard swipes at all the elevators so that only the elderly and handicap can use them. That’s fair, right? If for some reason you have a temporary need to use them, go to the token booth agent and get a temporary card to swipe. That way, the bums and drunks can’t get on the elevators. Maybe then they will last longer.

Otherwise, the handicap get a special fare, and all the busses are handicap accessible. So don’t complain too much. You might have a case sometimes, but don’t push your luck.

Nice, comfortable wheelchair gloves can be very important for those who use them.

Holiday? What holiday? The subway news keeps flowing!

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citi_logo2.jpgJust because it is a holiday doesn’t mean that the MTA isn’t up to stuff.  The latest news is that the MTA is going to look into getting some $$$ from Citigroup to rename the subway stops at Shea stadium.  Yeah, so the new stadium is going to have a corporate name, so who cares if the stop is renamed.  If the Yankees ever lost their minds and renamed the new stadium, the signage in the Bronx would change instantly.

What’s stupid is that the Straphangers are getting kicking up a fuss over it because they don’t want to set a precident.  Honestly, who cares.  Does it really matter if a stop ends up being the “Duane Reade 72nd Street Stop.”  The more non-fare money the MTA can make, the better.  It keeps the cash in our pockets instead of the MetroCards.

Your convo is not so private

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I love when packs of little latino girls think that I can’t understand them when they speak spanish. Well, guess what, I can.

I especially love when they cop an attitude in spanish. I let them rant on and on about how dare I stand close to them in a crowed train. They spew on and on in spanish, then I shoot them a look. They immediately shut up.

Later on in the ride, one of them cracks a joke, and I purposely start laughing. All of a sudden, they realize I understand every word they are saying.

The best times are when they have been talking about really gross, private stuff. Then they realize that I know too. Priceless.

Understanding spanish in the subway allows you to hear a lot of crap you wish you didn’t know. It seems to be mostly latino girls that are stupid enough to think that they are the only ones on a NYC subway train that knows spanish. Sometimes there are clearly other latino people standing near by, yet they rant on about the dumbest stuff in their “secret language.”

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

How’s that for holiday traffic?

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wsh.jpg

Brothers and sisters, we are reminded yet again how much better the subway is for getting around this island called Manhattan. As if the pre-holiday rush weren’t enough, there was a major crash on the West Side Highway just after 4pm. A car headed north bound crashed and rolled over the divider into the south bound traffic in the area of 90th Street.

The West Side Highway is still closed hours after the accident. Only one lane of the north side is open, and the south side is completely closed. There were hours that both sides were completely shut down.

For all the bitching we all do, the subway is still hands down the best way to get around the city. When things go wrong, SUBWAYblogger admits that we do tend to go off the deep end a bit, but that’s just good office entertainment…right? Anyway, still the best.

As a result of the accident, the other bridges, side streets, and tunnels were packed with drivers. Over an hour to get through the Lincoln Tunnel. I’d sooner swim across the river.

As for us subway riders, we all got home on time. As a matter of fact, the system was pretty quiet tonight. Let’s hope it’s still quiet in the morning!

Let the crazy holiday games begin

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Many predict that today will be almost as bad as Wednesday in terms of commuter traffic. People are leaving the city for Thanksgiving today in an effort to avoid the insanity of tomorrow.

Unforunately, the idea spreads fast so there are more than a couple people scooting out today.

I bring it up because I already see a bunch of suitcases on the subway. I know I’ve made my possition on obnoxiously huge suitcases on the train during rush hour, but I can let it go this time.

When you think about it, there really isn’t going to be a good time to get your suitcase on the train over the next few days. So what the hell, do what you can. But as soon as the holidays are over, stop being a bitch, and keep your makeup suitcases out of our way.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Emergency Exits are for Emergencies!

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turnstile.jpg

Folks, the emergency exits are for emergencies; not your fat ass. They aren’t for your dump truck sized baby strollers either. So cut the crap and use the turnstile.

People use the emergency exits so often, that they are starting to break down! People allegedly can’t tell the difference between the service exits and the emergency exits which really doesn’t matter because you shouldn’t be using them anyway.

After the London subway bombings, the MTA spent $3.8 to install the emergency doors all over the subway system. They were installed mostly in places where there are those floor to ceiling turnstiles (pictured above). Those turnstiles are located at entrances where there is no agent. The problem is that in an emergency, only 20 people per minute can get out.

Unfortunately, people are in such a hurry that they use the emergency doors. When you open the doors, an alarm goes off, but that’s about it. Just a loud noise. The booth agent at the closest entrance is alerted, but what the hell are they going to do. Nothing. People use them so much that the alarms are just plain worn out.

So, next time I see your tubby but heading for the emergency door OR you and your stroller headed out, I’m going to slam the door shut. Another $3.8 million to fix the damn doors is all the reason they need to hike the fares even more. So fold your stroller up like you are already supposed to, or take the bus!

Thanksgiving Day Parade

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Things are already in motion for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here’s the parade info. 

Near my subway stop, there’s all kinds of gear being set up. Some of it looks like bleechers. I wonder what CEO you need to sleep with for those seats?

The MTA has also begun hanging yellow signs with holiday service advisories.

If you are planning on going to see the parade, take the subway. Don’t even attempt to drive. The parade route splits the city in half, so it is pretty hard to drive across town. So take the subway.

Sure, it will probably be crowded as hell, but it still beats driving. Don’t go near 34th Street. Just don’t. Save your sanity.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

A short but ohhhh so tastey week!

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This week is pretty much a waste of a week. Today, Monday, is a normal day but that’s about it.

Tomorrow, a few less people on the subway. Wednesday, for get about it. The subway will look like a ghost town (compared to a normal weekday).

Honestly, how much work is possibly going to get done this week? Everyone is just thinking about the last day they have to work. “All I gotta do is make it to Wednesday, and I’m home free!”

Also, Thanksgiving is a very suburbian holiday. Most folks head out of town to visit family outside the city. If not, you’re at least heading to the outer boroughs. So, the subway shall be empty for a couple days.

Then, there’s Black Friday. LOOK OUT! All of a sudden, everyone will be back at the exact same time…all headed for Macy’s.

What a genious marketing move since the 1920’s. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a multi-hour long commercial for Macy’s the day before Black Friday.

Just counting the days for now.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…