Tunnel Vision for Cellphones

Honestly, I've gotta say yes on this one.

Connectivity's a big one. It'll at least stop people from screaming, "Hello? HELLO?" into their phones after we've crossed the Manhattan Bridge and are back underground. Miss, they can't hear you because YOU LOST THE SIGNAL.

Plus, as previously mentioned, you can contact emergency services if something goes down.

Another big plus (I hope, I pray) is the money it'll bring in. If cards are played right, the chance to wire the subway ought to be handled in such a way where corporations are paying the MTA to be the chief provider. That money -- of course, I could be way off -- is then used to upgrade the subway system/platforms/booths/security.

Or at least, the MTA could put up those signs that tell you how long it'll be before the next train shows up. We've all got dreams; mine are just a bit more far-fetched.

What if, for wahtever reason, you happen to be on a subway platform at an odd hour and something goes down? I'd feel better to be able to at least call my loved ones and tell them I'm dying. (I'm assuming that Police/EMT won't be able to reach me in time.)

I used to live in DC, where the subway is wired for cell reception (for Verison and, barely, analog), and I have to say, over all I prefer not having reception here. For me, the biggest issue isn't privacy/annoyance -- people will be rude with a cell phone or without, it's part of living in a big dirty living breathing city and I think we all need to suck it up.

The big thing for me is having an excuse to not be connected. In this era of instant connectivity with cell phones, text messaging, blackberrys, and nextel walkie-talkies (there's a special place in hell reserved for families who squack to each other in stores on their nextel phones... BEE-BEEP!) the one excuse left for being out of touch (apart from being in the bathroom... for most of us) is that we were in the subway. As soon as people know they can reach you in the subway, you're fucked.

Even though sometimes I'd like to contact people when i'm stuck on a train, the luxury of being beyond the reach of everyone who wants to reach me is more than worth it.

in vienna, the subway system is wired for cell phone use and it's pretty much the worst thing ever.

i agree with above poster that i much prefer panhandlers over people on cell phones.

DEAD BOMBERS TRACED



Personal documents of four suspected bombers were found near the bomb scenes of the London terror attacks, police have said.

All four suspected bombers died during the attacks, police suspect.

The men travelled down from west Yorkshire and arrived at Kings Cross station shortly before the attacks were launched on Thursday morning and their images were captured by CCTV cameras.

One man has just been arrested in west Yorkshire in connection with the attacks.

Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said three bombers died in separate Tube attacks and one was killed in the No 30 bus blast.

Detectives believe all four were British citizens, Brunt said.

It is still not clear if the attackers were all suicide bombers.

This follows witness reports of a man on the bus in an agitated state constantly looking into his bag before the blast in Tavistock Square.

Brunt said police had made a number of arrests in Leeds today in relation to last Thursday's bombings.

They were also poised to make arrests in London, he said.

The news comes as armed police search a house in Leeds after the Army used a controlled explosion to get in.

Hundreds of people had already been evacuated from the area around Hyde Park Road, Burley.

No one was in the house at the time but armed officers had been used as a precaution.

Five other homes in Leeds had earlier been raided by police hunting the terrorists behind last week's attacks.

Neighbours at one of the addresses said a 22-year-old man who lived there with his family had gone missing.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the raids were "directly connected" to Thursday's atrocity.

Hours later, police evacuated Luton railway station and car park to recover a vehicle suspected of being linked with the terrorist attacks.

The car was blown up in two controlled explosions.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13385127,00.html

from bbc

"Personal documents of four suspected bombers were found near the bomb scenes of the London terror attacks, police have said.

All four suspected bombers died during the attacks, police suspect."

The funniest thing is the police forces saying they were doing this because of what happened in London, and actually, Spain last year - because the bombs there were set off by phones.

Unfortunately, what they're not telling you, is that those bombs were set off by cellphone timers, not calls into the phones - so what, are we going to ban phones overall next? Don't think so, so the point of this was kind of goofy.

C'mon; it's the American sense of voyeurism. We like others hear us make drug deals, arrange parties, talk about getting laid, explain a wicked hangover...

I don't advocate cell phones in subways for the same reason we shouldn't have them in airplanes: privacy.

Privacy is a luxury in New York. Let's enjoy it as much as possible.

That's the beauty of text messaging; communication in (relative) silence. Maybe Sidekicks can be given out for free underground?

I'd rather hear only one side of a conversation (ie when someone's on a cell phone) than two (or more) people yapping loudly to each other.

Being forced to listen to inane convos on buses is enough without having to hear them on subways. This comes second worst only to when someone decides to sample all 75 available ringtones on their phone - at max volume - to pass the time.

Okay, fat stinking hog, I hate much of what you've ranted about, but don't dis the doo-wop guys - most of them are good, and I consider it a treat. As for the overly loud cell phone a-holes, them I could do without.

Yes, there should be subway cellphones. and the reason is bums! everytime I try to relax and enjoy the morning paper some bum or old lady comes in with a sob story like "I'm sorry to bother you, but I lost my job and have a family of nine to feed and have aids and my daughter has one leg and was gangraped and my son is going blind from diabetes and our home was destroyed by a tornado and my wife was killed in the world trade center bombing soooo if you could find it in your heart to spare some change I'd be most grateful, anything will help. God BLESS YOU!" and then some black guys singing doowop accappella will suddenly burst through or some dude playing an accordian, or breakdancers, or a guitar player, or some banjo playing harmonica one man band dude, one after the other. I fucking hate those guys. So yes, cell phones would be another way for me to ignore those panhandling bastards.

unfortunately people don't know how to use an indoor voice while talking on a cell phone. making cell phones available will only cause the subway to be that much more uncomfortable.

Travis! Good to hear from you! Talkin' to me?

dirt, the NYPD have been using cabs as undercover cop cars for years. They look like regular cabs, except they have a lot more antennaes and the driver weights about twice as much.

yes, there have always been Cops (uniformed and plain-clothed) driving taxis - even before the 'war on terror'

I barely think talking should be allowed on the subway, let alone cell phone conversations. People need to zip it. If portable stereos/boomboxes are deemed inappropriate for a subway car, then so should the inane prattling of the average New Yorker. Text messaging only on the subways!

Saw a 5.0 this morning who was using a taxi as his vehicle. He was uniformed but the cab just like any other. The war on terror takes on strange shapes. Or maybe this is an ancient city tradition.