Category: This just in

Higher fares, but less service? Jigga please.

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So the MTA wants to up the fares on our subways and trains because they believe the “surplus” well is about to dry up.  Well, ok…I guess we can deal with that.  We all know everything is getting more and more expensive these days, so I suppose a hike was in the cards.  However, it still bugs me that there was an enormous surplus one year, and the next we need to raise the rates?  Anyway, a fare hike…I can deal with it.

However, the part that is the real bitch is that they want to also start a reduction in service.  Not so much in eliminating lines or stops, but just fewer trains.  In other words, we will have to wait longer for each train to come.

AMNY says:

“Under the proposal by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, riders on many subway and bus lines would have to wait an additional one to five minutes during off-peak hours. Midday riders would wait for up to 10 minutes for trains, while evening and late-night trains would run every 10 to 20 minutes, according to authority budget documents detailed Wednesday in The New York Times.”

I can even (somewhat) deal with waiting longer, but that isn’t the biggest problem.  The problem is that I will not be the only one waiting longer.  So will the 400 other people in the train platform.  If there are already 400 of us waiting for the train, what are we going to do with the dozens  of people pouring down the stairwells right behind us?

The longer the time between trains means the more people there are waiting to get on the next train that comes.  Already there isn’t enough room on each train to get everyone on board.  Invariably, there is always some percentage of schmucks that can’t fit into the far.  The train is bursting a the seams because there is not a square inch of space left.  So, they have to wait for the next train.  Consequently, reducing the frequency of trains is only going to make that problem worse.

Every week SUWBAYblogger ends up posting something about how ridiculously crowded the trains are.  Now, it seems, every train is going to be like that all the time!  I can deal with a rate hike, but it hard to deal with the stress of battling your fellow riders for space on each train.  It is hard enough to function at that hour of the morning.

The proposed bus service changes would affect about 65 percent of the system’s routes, saving the agency $15.1 million yearly.

SUBWAYblogger’s write up in the Gotham Gazette!

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SUBWAYblogger is the latest talk of the “blog” town!  Here’s the review in Gotham Gazette:

“Subway Blogger is a prolific blog about the daily grind of the subway rider. The site is far from the only transportation blog in the city (We have suggested several other blogs in the past), but this blog claims that it is unique because the posts are actually written and posted while the author is actually riding the subway, via Blackberry. So be careful the next time you’re making fun of a straphanger furiously typing on one of those tiny keyboards — they may be making fun of you.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to public transportation

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After my little morning trip to CT, I was quickly reminded that the UN General Assembly is in session this week. How was I reminded? Only by the fact that the entire east side of Manhattan is shut down for the next 3 days.

Foreign leaders from around the world will be in the city this weekend. In short, it is the year’s largest, planned traffic mess.

Pretty much every street and avenue is closed in the eastern 40’s up thru the mid 50’s. You can get around a little by foot in those areas but don’t count on it.

I attempted to come up to surface level after my morning trip to catch a cab back to the office. (It is on the company dime, so why not). However, the entire length of every street block’s sidewalk is blocked by metal police barricades. So you can walk on the sidewalks, you just can’t stop your car or get in a cab. I walked from GCT to 8th Ave just to get a cab.

The Secret Service has the entire perimeter of the Time Warner Center secured. There are multiple Washington DC limos parked outside ready to roll.

This is a long way of saying: Get ready New York. There are going to be a ton of extra riders in the system this week since driving on the east side is more or less impossible.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

I found where all the broken AC went

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I’ve made many posts where I mention that I’ve wound up on a car with no air conditioning. I’ve often wondered where the AC goes or why it isn’t functioning in those cars. Now, I have found the answer.

All of the missing AC is on the very car I am standing in right now. It has to be 40 degrees in here. It is down right freezing.

Have you ever been to “The Cold Room” at the Fairway up in Harlem? Basically, it is the biggest walk-in refrigerator you have ever seen. THAT is this car. You could easily store fresh meat in here for weeks.

I’m not really complaining. I do prefer a more brisk car than a hot, sweaty one. However, this may be pushing it slightly.

The subway air conditioning factory must have shipped the MTA a turbo model by mistake. Perhaps this company also makes the AC for the Super Dome, but they accidentally shipped it to NYC instead. Then, the city said, “What the hell, throw that S.O.B. on a subway, and get it the hell outta heeere.”

It could happen.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

9/11/06 Starts off with a Commute Nightmare

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Just as I was walking out of the apartment this morning, I heard the Penn Station is closed down. There is “police activity” on the Amtrack level of Penn Station. The LIRR and NJT traffic into and out of Penn has been suspened.

It is probably just a false alarm or precaution, but it certainly is not the way you want to start your day any day…let alone on 9/11.

I have no idea what that means for increased traffic on the subway, but I would imagine that it has at least some impact. People tend to jump over to the PATH trains to at least get themselves into the city. From there, you can at least get on the subway.

But guess what. You aren’t the only one who’s gonna think of that.

Ok: observation. There are a crapload more people riding today than normal. Every single station is pack full of people. This has to be all of the people who work downtown. You can’t get anywhere close to downtown today by car. Many of the main downtown avenues are closed because of the World Trade Center services today. Plus, President Bush is cruising around down there somewhere, so security is especially tight.

As a result, everyone opted for the subway over driving. Can’t say I blame them.

This can’t mean good things for this evening’s ride.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

 [UPDATE]  Penn Station is reopening and attempting to get back on schedule.

Delays uptown due to water?

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The 1, 2, and 3 trains this afternoon were experiencing major delays due to “an emergency water condition” north of 79th Street.

What the hell does that mean? I assume water on the tracks, but it hasn’t rained at all today. The only thing I can think of is that a water main broke.

I guess I will peak out the window when we go by. Right now, all I can see is a stopped 3 train next to us. We are both stopped between stations.

I sense an upcoming service change. Either all the trains are gonna go express or all off us are going to go local. We’ll see.

How vague is this, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are delayed because of train tracks ahead of us. Please be patient.”. That’s what just came over the train PA.

Uhhh…tracks in front of us is normal right? I’m no MTA engineer, but I always assumed tracks in front of the train meant we keep rolling.

Just once I would like them to be honest and blunt about it. “Listen up everybody, some shit is broke further down the tracks. Hopefully, we’ll get movin’ soon. Hang tight.”

The info they blab over the PA never actually describes what the problem I. After they are done with the announcement, all we know is that we are stopped, and will at some point begin moving. Well no kidding. I could tell that by looking out the window.

So instead of annoying us over the PA, just leave us guessing. Besides, you can’t speak understandable English anyway, and it always sounds like you are three cars away from the microphone.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Running late on a half day

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Oops. I am running a bit late today, and it is completely my fault. What’s a little sad is that today’s a half day anyway. The office is closing after lunch. So its in late and out early. Oh well.

As for the holiday weekend, I have no idea what’s in store. Just to give you a heads up, there won’t be any regular postings on Monday. I will resume the normal routine on Tuesday.

Between now and then, I hope to do some writing from home. Maybe a few holiday bonus stories…if you will. I have no idea at this point if/when I will be on the subway so we’ll play it by ear. (I hate that stupid saying…play it by ear.)

On another note, since I am leaving early, it will be cool to check out the activity during the midday. I’ll be heading further downtown for lunch this afternoon. Look forward to a unique post on that.

THIS JUST IN: Ok so I am writing this administrative post while riding the subway a normal, but I just saw the funniest thing. There’s this woman standing across from me who is attempting to put on lipstick and balance herself at the same time. The train just jerked around a little and she bumped her face into the lipstick tube as she was putting it on. So now their is red lipstick on her cheek. She thinks she got it all off, but nooo.

What’s the proper protocol here? New Yorker code of conduct states not to say anything to anyone at any time. Do I break the code and say something? I think not. Its Friday and I am sure her coworkers could use a laugh.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

The geeks made it!

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The Subway Challenge geeks made it, and broke the record in the process. (see previous post)

The record for riding the entire NYC Subway system was just over 25 hours or something. These guys made it in just over 24. So I guess that means that they have officially earned the title of “Wow, I have nothing to do this summer.”

Hey, I gotta hand it to them though, it was a cool idea. I wish I had thought of something like that.

The most comical part of the whole thing is how much media coverage they got. BBC World, AP, Reuters, CBS News, CNN, NBC, Daily News, AMNY, etc. They got media EVERYWHERE.

Think about if they got a sponsor!! They could have worn some sponsored t-shirts or something and made a killing with all of the free media they earned.