Well, I felt inspired by a friend’s first subway ride this past weekend. I started poking around the blogosphere, and I found that a lot of people write about a their crazy subway experiences. So, I went to the blog search engines and typed in “crazy subway ride.” Here’s some of the highlights.

Bamboo Soldiers: (link)

We took a loud and crazy subway ride to 42nd street (after getting lost during a transfer when I led all 30 kids on a wrong train back to Brooklyn and didn’t realize it till they told me “Ms. Momii-Roberts I think we’re going back to school?”).

Kevin and the City: (link)

This whole trip was accompanied by a crazy subway ride complete with homeless crazy men, and Jackie and I belting out showtunes. So we smoke and drink and watch Jackie shave her armpits in front of us and I realize this girl is FIERCE with a mother-fucking capital F.

Karen in Connecticut: (link)

If the subway was like this all of the time, I don’t think anyone would ever use it. I’ll give you a little rundown (if I can remember it all).

1. We exited the park on 72nd St and took the B (orange) train.
2. At 59th St. (Columbus Circle), we switched to the 2 (red) train, which should’ve brought us to South Ferry (right in Battery Park). But there was construction going on. So the furthest downtown it went was 14th St.
3. At 14th St. we walked a few blocks (underground) to the L train, which took us to Union Square (14th St.).
4. At Union Square we boarded the 6 (green) train, which should’ve taken us to Bowling Green (basically Battery Park). But because of construction, it stopped at the Brooklyn Bridge. Read More »

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The MTA released a proposal today to increase fares on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North by 6.5%, and 25 cents for the subway.

Part of the proposal calls for a peak and off peak system to be implemented for MetroCard users.   Peak rides would cost $2.25.  Off peak rides would only cost $1.50.  These rates only apply to the pay-per-ride system.

Unfortunately, unlimited MetroCard rates would go up to $82.00, an increase of 8%.

Any proposed fare hike could take effect as early as next year.

At this point, I say bring it on.  I mean really, I am just tired of the whole debate. The fare hike is just a reality that is going to happen.  I mean sure, there are probably a dozen or more alternative ways to make up the missing revenue, but we simply don’t have the leadership to get any of them done.

There’s probably a way to not only avoid a hike, but to get a fare cut.  Unfortunately, the entire system is too highly politicized.  There are too many people involved in the process, so it makes any nontraditional method a complete nightmare implement.

That sounds strange doesn’t it:  “Stations getting wired for wireless.”

Anyway, after two long years of debate and negotiation, it seems that the MTA is finally moving forward with wiring stations for wireless access. 

Currently, cellphone reception is extreemly limited in the subway because your essentially burried under 50 of dirt and concrete…not so good for wireless communication.  So, the powers that be are looking to install access points in the subways so that our wireless devices will work.

Newsday reports that the a consortium called Transit Wireless has come to an agreement that simply needs to pass MTA board approval next week.  The plans call for 6 stations to be wired over the next 2 years. 

The remaining 270+ stops would be wired over the following 4 years. 

Just as a side note, if they are planning to move forward with this, wouldn’t it make sense to wire the 2nd Avenue Line during the constuction process?  I would think it would be easier to do it as it was being built versus doing it after the fact.  I digress.

Still no word about which stations will be wired first or who the wireless carrier will be.  Also, there will continue to be no service in the tunnels. 

The consortium will pay all of the $46 million cost, which means it will cost the MTA (and ulimately the riders) nothing.  Finally business decisions that make sense!

The entire concept of cellular service in the subway opens up a new weath of communication opportunities.  This could mean that the MTA will set up a text messaging service for train delays.  For example, if a line gets diverted because of a stalled train, riders could get a text message alerting them to the situtation.  It would now make sense because we would actually be able to get the text message while standing on the platforms. 

There’s also the more obvious advantages like being able to call someone to tell them you are going to be late because your train is inexplicably not running.  Maybe there will be more people that actually say something when they see something?!