Category: Rider Strategy

Seatless Trains a Reality!

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Holy crap!  Was the MTA listening to us?

Remember back in June when we were talking about how cool it would be to have train cars without seats (aka standing room only)?  Yeah, guess what?

They’re doing it!  (Read Here)

In about 6 months, retrofitted cars will hit the rails as part of a pilot program.  Among the trains involved in the pilot program, 4 out of 10 cars will be the standing room only cars.

These cars will have all flip-up seats.  Back in June, one of SUBWAYblogger’s commenters suggested that the seats lock in the upright position during rush hour.  Then, at other times, they could unlock, and people can sit down.  Well, that’s exactly what they are going to do!

Apparently, the Straphangers Campaign thinks that the public will oppose the seatless cars, but I couldn’t disagree more.

The seatless cars allow 18% more riders during rush hour.  There will be less jockeying for position as well because certain people (you know who you are) won’t be battling for seats.

Can’t wait to find out what lines are involved.

My New Favorite Spot to Ride

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So I have a new favorite spot to ride the train, but it is a tough spot to get.

I like to stand right on the very end of the train by the door that leads from one train car to another. I find that you can get lean on the door a little and the door to the little conductor cab. You know?

It’s a nice area because rarely (if ever) is there any passenger traffic to contend with. You can lean there in relative peace and quite without having to constantly shuffle while people get in and out.

Of course, I rarely bother getting a seat because when I do I get the hairy eyeball from the old ladies. So I always stand unless the train is very empty. So good standing space is hard to come by.

Unfortunately, this spot is often taken, and it can be hard to reach on a crowded train. Also, this is not a spot to stand if you only have a few stops to go. You don’t want to be that a-hole that has to climb over everyone to get off the train. So it is best for longer rides.

You should also be a little careful if you choose to try it. Sharp turns and jolts in the track are magnified on the ends. The ends of the trains have the most left to right movement for the riders, so you could get slammed into the wall you are leaning on if you aren’t careful.

What’s your favorite ride spot on the train?

Fantastic Subway Timing Today

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I must say, I had excellent subway timing today. It has been a really, really long time since I got to the platform and walked right onto the train both times today.

There was no waiting whatsoever for me today. I got to work early, and got home ahead of schedule.

I’m always a little afraid when that happens because it usually means that the rest of the week there will be no trains at all.

Adios Pope Benedict!

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Now, our lives can get back to normal. The Pope’s visit to NYC has caused some all around travel issues. If you were planing to go anywhere on the East side this past week, you were probably out of luck at many times.

No matter how you planned to travel, including by rail, there were rolling closures, frozen zones, and delays.

So now lets get back to normal!

Anyone have any good Pope stories?

Subway Schmutziness Down Year to Date

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Subway trash

The Straphangers Campaign released a report on the improvement of subway cleanliness. They say that the state of train dirt and has improved over the past few years.

I guess, for the most part, that is true in my observation.

They found that the L train and 7 train were the cleanest this year. The E and the Q trains rolled in with scores just above dumpster on wheels.

The scientific formula that governs train grime must be a combination of the train age, and overall usage. I find that the oldest cars just have a feeling of being dirtier. Then, throw on heavy usage, and it’s a recipe for grossness.

The strategy of having the lines individually managed may not be a great idea when it comes to custodian services. Something like cleaning the trains should simply be standardized across all the lines. Sure, increase the frequency on trains that are used more, and maybe a little less on lines lighter traveled. In general though, it should be something standard, and easy to manage.

“Passengers on the L and 7 are riding cleaner cars, thanks to more cleaners and better use of them,” said Gene Russianoff, campaign staff attorney. “We congratulate New York City Transit and hope that riders on the other lines will soon be seeing cleaner subway cars.”

Now, if only we could get them to do more than just empty the trash on the platforms (if that).

I said a long time ago that I don’t think it would be completely out of the question to have the platforms power washed a few times a week. Cleaning a station could be easily done with a power sprayer and the occasional brush. Look at the average train platform. Concrete or tile floors with white subway tile walls. Basically, a giant shower stall! So just break out the hose and go to town.

Cutting down on the black, sooty brake dust and dirt would be great. Aaaaaand that would keep the inside of the trains cleaner too!

Amtrak Strike Will Be a Subway Disaster

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Amtrak workers could go on strike as early as January 30th.  As with all strikes, there’s a much broader impact than you first think.

An Amtrak strike has affect on virtually all rail related travel.  What most people don’t realize is Amtrak controls the signals coming in and out of Penn Station.  This means all the rail switches are under their control.

Because of that, LIRR and NJ Transit trains cannot come in or out of Penn Station without them.  Even though multiple train companies use the rails, it is Amtrak doing the switch work.  If and when the Amtrak workers go out, Penn Station will grind to a stop.  It translates into the displacement of 85,000 LIRR riders and about 70,000 NJ Transit riders.

NJ Transit riders will be able to get close to the city, but not all the way in.  They would be able to ride as far as Hoboken, and then they would have to get off.  From there, they would need to take the PATH or Ferry.

LIRR riders would have to get off at Jamaica Station in Brooklyn.  From there, the only option would be to take the subway the rest of the way into Manhattan.

If the strike happens, there will be an enormous amount of volume on the PATH and subway.  Perhaps more than they are able to handle.  There would also be an insane amount of street traffic.

People would likely start to drive into the city.  If the option is drive to a PATH station or parking lot near a subway stop, people will probably just say “screw it” and drive all the way in.

Folks that choose not to drive are going to get crammed into PATH and Subway trains like they’ve never seen before.

January 30th happens to be a Wednesday.  I’d imagine that is a fairly slow day for incoming or outgoing tourist travel.  However, Thursday and Friday are going to get crazy.  People coming into the city for the weekend that had planned to take Amtrak will start to flood in using alternative methods.  Yikes.

Looming Snow Could be Subway’s First Test

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snowystairs.jpg

Tonight/Tomorrow’s snow could be the subway system’s  first test of 2008.  Wet weather tends to cause massive cluster f*cks on most lines.

All it takes is a hold up ad ONE point on a line, and the entire line suffers.   So what do we hope to avoid?

Snow in general isn’t an issue most of the time.  It’s when it melts.  So the first thing we are looking to avoid is having a lot snow fall, and then melt all at once.  When it melts fast, it causes flooding because the system can’t handle all of the water at once.  So that can cause issues with signals shorting out, or  third rails being under water.

The other scenario of disaster is if the snow falls as a slushy mess and then freezes.  This can cause some slipping issues on the areas of track that are above ground.  Eventually, a very thin, very slick layer of ice forms on the rails.  Trains try to stop and slide.  Or the reverse happens.  Trains try to move and the wheels slip.

So I guess it is just wait an see.  Be careful, that first step can be a…

Ringing in the New Year in Times Square

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It wasn’t that bad. Seriously. It was actually pretty cool, but then again, I didn’t have the typical experience that most revelers have.

I was actually working in Times Square. That night, more than ever, the value of the press pass became all the more apparent to me. I could walk around wherever I wanted inside the police lines.

So I got to see a lot of cool things right up close.

However, no press pass gets you through the sea of people all trying to leave Times Square at 12:01am.

I was shocked by how quickly the area clears out. I talked to a cop nearby about this, and he let me in on a little secret…

They turn off cellphone towers in the area for about 10 minutes before and after midnight. Why? One reason is to prevent terrorists from detonating a cellphone triggered bomb at midnight. The other is to discourrage people form lingering in the area after midnight.

What happens is people stand around and call their friends to make plans for the rest of the night. By turning off service, people natually start to wander out of the area because they can’t contact their buddies on the other side of town. They just go.

Pretty interesting, but I bet you won’t hear that one getting mentioned by the NYPD publicly.

Written and published via Blackberry.

Getting to Times Square on New Year’s Eve

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It’s time for the city to get rid of 2007 and move on to 2008 like only we can.  It’s time for the shit-show known as New Year’s Eve in Times Square.

Ask any New Yorker that has been around here for a few years or more.  They’ll likely tell you the last place on earth they would want to be on December 31st is Times Square.   Why?  Well let’s check the rundown.

– No Alcohol
– No Bathrooms
– No Seats
– No Walking Around
– No Bags

Ohh, and you have to be there by around 5pm at the latest if you want an even halfway decent view of the stages or ball drop.

Starting at around 4pm, the NYPD will close down the streets around Times Square and start filling in the revelers’ cages viewing areas.  As each area fills up, they close them off, and start filling the next one.  You have really no choice of where you want to be. You just go where you’re directed.  Then you are pretty much locked in there.  If you leave, there’s really not any getting back in there.

So there’s nothing quite like standing in a penned in area, packed with people while the chick next to you pops a squat because there are no bathrooms.  It’s definitely a once in a lifetime activity.  Then again, I suppose it is a badge of honor once you’ve done it.

SUBWAYblogger will be there!  (Yeah, after that enticing setup.)  SB will be “working” right smack in the middle of it all. Luckily, I won’t be trapped in the pens though.

So how do you get there?  The subway is the best way:

– All normal Times Square trains will be running every 3 – 12 minutes until 3am.  Then, for the rest of New Year’s Day, the system will run on a Sunday schedule.  Keep in mind, the bars are allowed to be open until 6am that night, so you’ll need to be in “Sunday Mode” as you stumble back to your apartment.

– N/R/W Uptown lines will skip the 49th Street station beginning at 7pm till 12:15am

– 1 Trains Uptown will skip 50th Street from 7pm till 12:15 am.  (That station is waaaay to small to handle the volume of people that will be there.

– From 7pm on, certain subway entrances will be closed as crowd volume warrants, so just be aware that you may need to hoof it to another entrance.

The MTA also reminds you that they are not cool with you shotgunning beers on the trains and buses.   [More MTA Info]

So after it is all over, SUBWAYblogger highly recommends walking as far as you can.  Just get a reasonable distance away from Times Square before even attempting to get on the subway.  Walking uptown to 59th Street really is not as far as it sounds.  Walking downtown to 34th Street is like nothing.  So you would probably be better off getting out of the thickest areas first.

Let you know how it all goes!

“Relief” Over Lack of Subway Fare Hike?

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I’m I the only one confused over everyone’s “relief” due to the recent news that the $2.00 fare will not be going up?

The mainstream media makes it out to be a reason for citywide celebration.  What’s the big deal?  The fact is that the other denominations of rides are likely going to go up.  They are going to probably go up even more than was originally intended.

Only 15% of riders actually purchase the single ride cards.  This must consist mostly of people that live outside the city and drive in.  Tourists and workers.  Tourists that only need a ride or two to get around for a weekend visit.  People that work in midtown, and have a random business meeting downtown might grab a quick subway ride.  That’s probably the bulk of your single ride fares.

About 30% of riders get the monthly unlimited (the preferred choice of SUBWAYblogger).  Then there’s the 37% that get the $10 + bonus ride cards.  That’s the buy 5 rides, get one free deal.

I was surprised to see that the bonus ride cards were the most popular, and I couldn’t figure out why.  Then the NY Post explained that the $10 card is the preferred option of lower income residents.  That makes sense because it is hard to shell out $76 in one shot for a 30 day unlimited.

So with the anticipated hike on the unlimited cards, we’re looking at $80.00 cards in our future.  Ehhh…not the end of the world I guess.

What I want to know is how do you just “all of a sudden” discover an extra $220 million laying around in the MTA bank accounts?  Uhhh hellloooooo!  That’s not something that just sneaks up on you.

It’s finance operations like this that make me wonder if the system would be better off it were privatized.  No multi-billion dollar business would ever let $220 million just sneak up on them.  Every minute of every day, there would be a team of accountants tracking every cent that swiped through the turnstiles.  If there were even a hint of a surplus, not only would they know about it immediately, but it would probably have been forecasted in the fist place.

So the fact that the MTA just reforecasted, and discovered the surplus only goes to show that a) People weren’t paying attention, and b) the people that did the last forecast obviously don’t know what they are doing.