Tag: new york city subway

Snow in New York City

subwayblogger5 Comments

Snoooooooooow.

This morning’s snow really pisses me off.  I was totally getting into the thought of it becoming spring.  Even on Friday, it was really nice.  You barely needed a jacket.  Then, wham!  All this snow.

It’s total bull.

So it should make this morning’s commute a gem.  Actually, what will really be interesting is when it all starts to melt and flood the tracks.  That will be really pretty.

In the immediate sense, all we have to deal with is falling down the stairs as you enter the subway.  No biggie.

Unfortunately, the subway stairs have these metal plates on them that have diamond patters cut into them.  They also have a somewhat abrasive texture to them.

In wet conditions, they work pretty well.  It adds a little traction to what are otherwise tile (freaking stupid) stairs.  However, when it snows, the metal plates tend to cling to the snow.  Under foot traffic, snow gets tracked onto the stairs and then gets packed into the textured plates.  It builds up over time and then gets really slick.  Read More »

New Subway Geeks Break Subway Riding Record

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Chris Solarz and Matt Ferrisi

There’s a new geeky duo that claim the title of being the fastest to ride the entire New York City Subway system.  Back in December of 2006, some guys broke the old record by an hour.

The new record holders claim to have beaten the record by a couple of hours.  How did they do it? Math.

Chris Solarz and Matt Ferrisi are a pair of computer/financial geeks that used computer models to calculate the best plan of attack.  They entered in all of the relevant data, including number of stops, lines, train schedules, distances, etc.  Their program then did the trillions of riding combinations to produce the one that would yeild the fastest ride.

Apparently it all worked, because they smashed the old record without really breaking a sweat.  From the beginning, they started gaining time, finding themselves ahead of schedule.

This time, they are going to have to report their record to the Guinness Book with documentation.  The last record breaking caught a lot of media attention, and the attention of Guinness officials.  So when the previous record was broken, it was certified very quickly.

Along the way, the men had to get witness signatures and take plenty of photos to document the trip.  All of the documentation then gets turned in.  So as of now, they are the unofficial record holders.

The previous team did a far better job of publicizing their record breaking attempt (including sending info to SUBWAYblogger).  This crew flew under the radar for the most part.  Their attempt did get some mainstream coverge though.

A Little Subway Terrorist Chear for the Holidays

subwayblogger4 Comments

Here’s  disturbing blurb from the AP I came across today:

Federal authorities are warning law enforcement personnel of a possible terror plot against the New York City subway system during the holiday season.

An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press says the FBI has received a “plausible but unsubstantiated” report that al-Qaida terrorists in late September may have discussed attacking the subway system.

Anti-terror agencies say they have no specific details to confirm the plot has moved “beyond aspirational planning,” but are issuing the alert out of concern that an attack could come during the holiday season,” warns the memo, which is dated Tuesday.

While federal agencies often issue all sorts of advisory warnings, the language of this one is particularly forceful.

Goooood times.  So in addition to battling the tourists on 5th Avenue, and trying not to kill yourself inside Toys R Us, you now have to work about getting blown up on the subway.

I have to say, I did not notice any additional security in the subway system today.

Would now be a good time for the terrorists to attack?  Probably.  The subway will be at it’s peak volume all December long.

Then there’s the Presidential transition.  Bush already has one foot out the door.  He’s in no position to be able to make long term decisions appropriately because he won’t have to deal with the consequences.  All he will have to do is make it through the following couple weeks and then it’s Obama’s problem to deal with.  It’s probably the time that the country will be weakest.

Ho ho ho.

Escalators: Walk on the Left, Stand on the Right

subwayblogger3 Comments

If you miraculously find a working escalator somewhere in the New York City subway system…

1) Alert us immediately.  They are, in fact, an endangered species
2) Walk on the left side, and stand on the right.  Don’t be a dick and stand in the middle, or next to your girlfriend.

Folks, it’s a simple concept.  If you’re feeling a little lazy, had a rough night, have a bum leg, whatever…stand on the right side of the escalator.  Allow those of us that would like to walk on the left side to pass you.

If you want to ride all the way from top to bottom, no problem  Knock yourself out.  Just keep right.

Don’t believe me?  Tomorrow morning, get on the busy escalator and stand still on the left side.  Half way up, turn around and look behind you.  Be careful, you might get smacked.

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Ads Promoting Islam Coming to Subway Near You

subwayblogger28 Comments

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.
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 »