An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see an “Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order” sign, just “Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience.”  – Comedian Mitch Hedberg

The late Mitch Hedberg had it right.

I wanted to write a post about the ridiculous state of the subway auxiliary services.  Unfortunately, it seems that WCBS beat me to it today.  Escalators and elevators are breaking down at a down right retarded rate.  I mean, is it asking too much to have these things work on any kind of reliable level?  Apparently, the MTA gives half of the normal training time that other elevator/escalator mechanics would receive.

Two-thirds of the elevators in the subway had at least one break down last year with people trapped inside.

The escalator at Columbus Circle has broken down so badly that they have walled it off temporarily while they work on it…just like 90% of the space down there lately.

It’s getting pretty bad.