September 6, 2005
A Strap to Hang On: The TranStrap
Besides fumbling with the newspaper, the subway game Gothamist plays is "Do we really need to hold onto the bar/pole to remain steady?" Sometimes, we're able to lean against the doors (yes, the MTA doesn't advise this, but we're skilled at it). Or sometimes we'll work on our balance and just plant our legs firmly on the ground and will ourselves not to topple into others. But most of the time, Gothamist grabs onto the bar or pole and whip out the Purell as soon as we're out of there.
That's why we're fascinated by the TranStrap. There are a couple of different kinds of TranStraps, but basically, you hook it onto the bar and actually be a straphanger. It seems particularly effective since the bar can be too high for some - or maybe you have sweaty armpits. The TranStrap has apparently hit Boston and we wonder if we'll see it in the city...it is washable, at least. And TranStrap has a good many transit rider links.
We literally screamed when Bart licked a subway pole in the ninth season Simpsons episode, The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson.
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This sounds ideal for short people! Sometimes I have trouble reaching the bar. And even when I can, I'm usually on my tippy toes, which makes it much more difficult to maintain my balance as the tains jerks back and forth.
question: if you cant reach the bar, how do you get it on and off?
went to their site, it looks pretty neat. I might have to recommend it to all my shorties.
Bart didn't really lick a subway pole. It was simply a studio set, shot in front of a live studio audience.
If you're going to carry around a TranStrap, might as well carry a beach chair instead.
Oh! OR...TranStrap should make a seat/swing that will hook onto the bar...bi-level seating on each train!
I already have TransStrap rage.
Urge to kill rising...
Brillant idea, but I see some problems with actually trying to use the thing on a packed C train at 5:30 on a Friday...
my friend licked a subway pole once...
As long as it wasn't Dan Hoyt's subway pole.
IMHO, the best option would be the John Steed technique. Carry a brolly and use it to give yourself a three-point stance for stability. And in a pinch, it can shield you from rain, too!
That Dan Hoyt story will be providing us material for weeks.
Ha! Dan Hoyt's pole and nut meat! Eew.
Touching (or licking for that matter) things in the subway might actually be good for you... If you live in NYC, using Purell is certainly silly -- either your immune system has seem those germs, or you will get them from somewhere else within the next few hours. I mean, unless you have an immuno-deficiency or something... I figure, with maximum exposure, my immune system is tough and I can simply not worry about this kind of stuff. Seems to work, I get sick maybe once a year...
Touching (or licking for that matter) things in the subway might actually be good for you... If you live in NYC, using Purell is certainly silly -- either your immune system has seen those germs, or you will get them from somewhere else within the next few hours. I mean, unless you have an immuno-deficiency or something... I figure, with maximum exposure, my immune system is tough and I can simply not worry about this kind of stuff. Seems to work, I get sick maybe once a year...
i completely agree with chelsea... having a lot of contact with small amounts of germs (like on subway bars) is probably actually very beneficial in helping your body develop antibodies against all sorts of things, causing you to actually get sick less.
i use mine when i can't find a seat and i have to say that it is much more comfortable than holding onto the pole, because you don't have to reach up to the bar. instead you can let your arm hang comfortably while you hang on to the strap. that may not sound like much, but try it and you'll notice the difference. as for the germ/pole issue, well, i'm not a germaphobe, but its also nice not to have to touch the pole.