This Just In: The Subway Smells Really Bad

August 19, 2007 subwayblogger6 Comments

So there’s been a buzz around the blogs lately about the subway smelling really bad. Old news? Yeah, like who didn’t already know that?

Never fear…as per usual, AMNY is on the case of obvious news. They did a story about straphangers having to hold their noses at some subway stops. (BTW, AMNY.com has a new look. Glad to see Newsday finally made the move out of the early 90’s.)

So as we all know, this kind of story is the bread and butter of papers like Metro and AMNY. Since their entire existence depends on the city’s transit system for circulation, stories like this are good for a slow day I guess. However, it seems that the blogs have picked up on it for some reason.

Blogs like SUBWAYblogger, Subway Tracker (an AMNY product ironically enough), SAS, and Gothamist have long been tracking the subway stink. So what’s all the buzz about?

It seems that Herald Square (34th Street) seems to get the award for smelliest station. That’s no surprise to anyone that has gone through there. There’s one stairwell to the 1 train that always smells like a dead body that got pissed on.

Cleanliness is a serious subject for New York City Transit, and as part of a new customer service initiative, about 350 more cleaners will be on the roster by fall to keep stations fresher, trains cleaner and platforms and tracks clearer and safer. They’ll also be able to respond to specific stenches faster. (AMNY)

Uhh…no. That’s not the problem. The trash, dirt, etc is not what’s causing most of the smell. It’s the homeless bums using the subway as a toilet. Just the other day I was standing on the platform on my way to work. Just 8 feet away, a bum steps up to the edge and whips his schlong out, and lets loose. He then proceeded to yell at everyone standing around him.Read More »

What is the dirtiest subway station

June 27, 2007 subwayblogger26 Comments

So here’s a question…what’s the dirtiest station in the subway system? Every regular rider knows a stop that just makes their skin crawl to think about it.

One I can think of is 96th and Broadway on the 1, 2, and 3. That stop is old and disgusting. It fills up like a toilet any time there is a good rain.

59th Street Columbus Circle used to not be too bad until they started destroying everything to remove the asbestos.

Most parts of the Grand Central subway are gross too. Mostly the main concourse. It just smells like homeless feet and ass. It looks pretty run down too. However, branches off of it like the walk to the S train are in fairly good shape.

Your thoughts???

Live from the subway, back to you in studio… .

Two More Subway Deaths This Weekend

May 7, 2007 subwayblogger4 Comments

Two more people died on the subway this weekend, however, this time they weren’t subway construction workers.

In two separate incidents, a pair of homeless men were killed. One man died while walking between train cars. He apparently slipped and fell between the train cars as they were moving. That never ends up well.

The other man died from an apparent stabbing. However, this is the one that seems the strangest. The police were not ruling out a an existing health condition. When they arrived though, they found him bleeding from the chest, and pronounced him dead on the scene. I was unaware that “bleeding from the chest” could be a preexisting health condition. Maybe he already had a wound that started bleeding again?? They were also up in the air about foul play. So maybe the guy stabbed himself?

The homeless in the subway is apparently becoming a growing problem. The population living in the subway has grown 33%. That’s a bit much.

Above (click images for larger view): (Left) This shot was taken back in 1988 on an S train. If you look further down, you can see that there are people on all of the benches. The photographer says that people avoided this car like the plague because of the foul odor. (Right) Today, the condition doesn’t seem to have improved. It may not be as bad as the 80’s, but it’s still a problem.

Strollers + Bum + School Group = Suicidal SUBWAYblogger

April 26, 2007 subwayblogger6 Comments

OMG. I don’t even know where to begin to describe my morning commute today. It was so stressful, that I couldn’t even write about as I was witnessing it. Not to mention, it was so crowded that I could barely move my arms. If I had managed to pull my BlackBerry out to write, I would have thrown it as a weapon.

Here’s the rundown:

Homeless Bum: I get on the train, and it is somewhat more crowed than normal. However, I’m looking around over people’s shoulders, and I know I can see open spaces. So how crowded could it really possibly be? Ok, I squeeze into the train.

We get to the next stop and a bunch of people get off. Then I see it. A huge bum taking up 2 or 3 seats. Stinking up the place. Might be drunk…who knows.

The plot thickens…

The Stroller: The homeless guy has an old baby stroller stretched out in front of where he is sitting. It is literally sticking straight out from his legs, essentially road blocking the isle. So that’s why there was so much space. He was blocking people out. Also, on top of the stroller was two milk crate things with lord knows what inside. Then, there was something big rolled up in a large plastic bag on top. This thing was the size of an RV.

Here comes more trouble…

The Kiddies: We get to the next stop, and there’s a field trip of 8 year olds standing there. They flood onto the car using all the available doors, including the one where the bum was sitting. The come streaming on board with another 15 adults trying to get on too. Now we’re packed, and no one wants to be near smelly homeless guy.

Then the kids start bitching that they are being squished. “Don’t worry kids, no one else is going to be able to get on at the next stop.” “YEAH RIGHT!” I said out loud to the woman. Sure enough, half a dozen more people packed in at the next stop.

Finally, one of the teachers started telling people that there were “kids” on board that couldn’t be “crushed” anymore.

The fallout: The three things I hate the most…all happening right in front of me…on the same train. Ohh it’s 9am and I already need a drink.

Ooo that smell…

April 22, 2007 subwaybloggerLeave a comment

I think that’s a song.

Stumbled across another interesting blog today. This might become an addictive habit of searching for blogs to which I can relate.

Anyway, the blog in question, The Odd Broad, had a post about subway smells. Obviously, SB was attracted immediately.

Do you play the “What’s that smell game?” SUBWAYblogger sure does. However, it’s not always that easy to play. During peak commute times, it hard to move around to explore and trace down the scent. However, on a not-so-crowed morning, it may not be that difficult to locate where your local bum has taken a leak on the platform.

In case you didn’t know, the drains along the platform (usually where the wall meets the floor), bums use as their private urinals. Also, they tend to head to the ends of the platform. They will walk all the way to one end or the other and let loose off the edge. Just an FYI for the next time you stand near the platform edge or near a drain.

So yeah, playing “what’s that that smell” can be fun. However, when all you want to do is get away from people after a long day at work, smells can push you over the edge. Nothing like standing face to face with a sea of humanity on a hot summer day with the smell of rotting Indian food lingering in the air. Yum.

Ooo that smell…

April 22, 2007 subwayblogger3 Comments

I think that’s a song.

Stumbled across another interesting blog today. This might become an addictive habit of searching for blogs to which I can relate.

Anyway, the blog in question, The Odd Broad, had a post about subway smells. Obviously, SB was attracted immediately.

Catchy clarinet

March 14, 2007 subwayblogger1 Comment

So a guy got on my train to play us a little tune on his clarinet in hopes of scoring some pocket change. First off, the clarinet is a nice change. You don’t see many clarinet players in the subway. It seems to mostly be keyboards and guitars with the occasional trumpet thrown in.

I especially liked his little sales pitch, although the jury is still out on whether I believed it or not. He said:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I’m trying to make a little money and finish paying for school. Any help you can give me would be great.

He then proceeded to play his song.

A little more info…He didn’t seem like a college type. He was older, and looked like he may have been homeless. He had that sort of vibe about him. However, he did have a little mp3 player that he had on that must have had a beat or tune for him to listen to as he played. So that says that he at least had the money to buy the mp3 player and must have access to a computer.

Anyway, I say all this because not a single person gave him any money when he was done. I think it was because he looked homeless! I think no one bought his story of trying to pay his way though school. However, the fact that he had and instrument, mp3 player, and access to a computer for the mp3 player points to him perhaps not being a bum.

All I had on me was a $20. So I couldn’t help him out.

Last Stop: We don’t use those words anymore

February 20, 2007 subwayblogger2 Comments

City Hall Subway Loop The MTA is testing some new verbiage on the subway aimed at getting rid of the term “last stop.”

Normally, when you come to the end of the line, the announcer says that “this is the last stop.” Believe it or not, those words are dangerous. No, we aren’t kidding. Apparently, people flip out if the suddenly realize that they are still on the train at the last stop.

The riders panic and try to get off the train, when in reality, the train is just going to go pull a U-Turn and end up on the opposite side of the platform. But people don’t realize that when they hear, “last stop.” They must think the train is going to the rail yard for the night or something.

Also, the annoucement is being modified to advise riders that choose to stay on board that they must stay inside the cars until it as come to a complete stop. Obviously? Not really. Some people walk between cars while the train is in “the loop.” At that time, the train is making a sharp turn. The cars spread apart and come back together pretty quickly. That’s how a guy died back in January. He was standing between the cars taking a leak when the train made the sharp City Hall loop.

Stand between trains to pee, and you will DIE

January 16, 2007 subwayblogger1 Comment

Ouch…is that headline too harsh? Anyway…

Apparently, it is not possible to levatate between train cars as the MTA warning sticker pictured here illustrates.

An old homeless Veteran, Jose Montanez, died on the 6 train down at City Hall. Apparently, he had stayed on the train after leaving the last stop at the end of the line. The Sun reports that the guy was standing between train cars peeing when the train made a sharp turn.

When the trains turn or come to stop, the cars get much closer together. It is feared that he got stuck between the trains, and then fell on the tracks to his death.

So MTA, can we open up a few more bathrooms for these guys? You know they are just going to pee everywhere anyway, so can we at least give them some mildly maintained bathrooms to use in the mean time?

What is that smell and get a haircut

December 15, 2006 subwayblogger1 Comment

First of all, what is that smell. More importantly WHO is that smell coming from. I know SUBWAYblogger just wrote about the smell in the subway, but this morning’s odor is pretty impressive.

Anyway, guys with ponytails look like idiots. Unless you are in an active rock band, you have no excuse, so go get a haircut. When you have to borrow an elastic from a girl, well, that’s just the stupidest thing ever.

Hey, a little shaggy top is ok. But if your ears are covered or have to keep flipping your bangs out of your eyes, there is a problem.

I have a question for Hispanic women. Do you find it attractive when your men have their hair pulled back, but then have their entire hairline shaved perfectly straight. You know, many Hispanic men obviously sit for hours with a razor to sculpt their bangs, side burns, and the rest of their hairline. Many of the men obviously went a little to far up! They shave off the widow’s peak or move their forehead’s hairline up a quarter inch.

Anyway, is that attractive to you? Maybe Hispanic ladies like it. In which case, it makes sense that the men would do it. Otherwise, don’t these guys look a little too…gay?

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…