According to the Straphangers Campaign, the L and 7 train lines are the best overall lines this year.
Lines were ranked on:
– Frequency of Trains
– Reliability of Service
– Breakdown Rate
– Seat Availability
– Interior Cleanliness
– Clarity of Announcements
The 7 train struggled a little bit on breakdown rate and cleanlines
s while there are apparently never seats on the L train. Overall, they both offered superior service.
Interestingly, they are both part of the line manager program. These lines were selected to be part of a test program because they don’t share their tracks with other lines. The program assigns top level managers to run all operations associated with a specific line. That includes everything from train maintenance to platform trash pick up.
Let the drama begin. Apparently this September, straphangers will see ads on the subway promoting Islam. (Oh nooo !!)
This is a sample of the ads expected to be run this September in the New York City Subway.
How can we protect our children from these ads that will surely turn them into terrorists instantly?
Unfortunately, that’s not an exaggeration if you ask many New Yorkers including some Congressmen.
“I have no problem with the ad itself, but I have a very, very real problem with those behind it,” Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican, said Tuesday. He is urging the Metropolitan Transit Authority to reject the ads. [CNN]
What didn’t make it into the text version of the story, but did make it in the live interview with Rep. King was when he said that he was especially appalled by the ads running at a time when America will be “…mourning the 7th anniversary of 9/11.”
The opposition was quick to point out that the campaign starts on Sept 15th, and that Rep. King should get his facts straight. More importantly though, it shows that Rep. King is in fact more concerned with the fact that the ads promote Islam and Muslim beliefs. So he does have a problem with the ads themselves.
Personally, SUBWAYblogger says who the hell cares? The ads themselves are very mild (pictured above). I probably wouldn’t even notice them. Even if they were a little inflammatory, what’s the big deal? It’s an ad on the subway. Let them have their free speech. To get it down to redneck logic, censoring the ad is exactly what the terrorists want America to do.
What do you think?
[poll=7]
This should be an interesting topic of discussion.
Rep. King has sent a letter to the MTA demanding that the ads be kept from running. That’s pretty rediculous.
Dear Rep. King,
Wake up and do something that really matters. Here’s a few things if you’re out of ideas: Read More »
“If you [the average rider] saw something and called it in, it goes right there,” Mack told reporters at a committee meeting, kicking a garbage can.
“Why should I ride [the train] and inconvenience myself when I can ride in a car?” asked Mack, who has six free E-ZPasses. [New York Post]
In case you haven’t been following, the MTA Board is having a hissyfit because they are going to have their lifetime E-ZPasses and train passes taken away. Mack has SIX free E-ZPasses. However, he now claims to be paying them himself while behind the scenes trying to get board members to fight the proposed ruling.
Keep in mind folks, these jerks are multimillionaires who don’t want to pony up the money.
So his belief is that unless the trains are free, the board members won’t bother to ride…which relates back to his first quote.
The board members need to ride the train because, generally speaking, it is only the board members who get their complaints handled. When you and I report a problem, our complaints are ignored.
Last night around 11:30 a man jumped in front of the 23 uptown at 96th street. I was in the first car and it was really awful. The train conductor confirmed that it was a jumper; she said “he was facing the other direction; he just whirled around and jumped.” It was such a horrible experience, and they let us off the train before the medics even arrived, and I did not stick around to see any more.
As if we don’t have enough things to dodge in the subway, like homeless bums. Now we have to watch out for bed bugs.
“…reported seeing the bugs on wooden benches at the Union Square and Fordham Road stations in Manhattan and The Bronx, respectively.”
I generally avoid sitting on those gross wooden benches on the platform, but now I definitely will. Bedbugs are being found on the benches.
In case you don’t know, all it takes is one of these little buggers riding home with you for your entire home to become infested. You might as well say good bye to every bit of fabric and furniture you own!
And they bite like crazy while you sleep.
I’d imagine that the bed bugs will easily spread via homeless people sleeping on he benches. They move around from place to place and spread the bugs. The fact that the benches are wood probably doesnt help the situation either.
This year, the surging current of the East River will help provide power to a nearby subway station. The lights that lace the ornate interior of Manhattan’s Grand Central Station have largely been replaced by bulbs that burn brightly but save energy. There are plans to make the rooftop of a Queens bus depot bloom like a garden. [USA TODAY]
Do some more of that and maybe the MTA can get their finances under control. Save a little dough.
Maybe they could figure our a way to turn the oppressive summer subway heat into electricity.
Mack:
SUBWAYblogger 